Decedent

Gospel Pilgrim Decedents has a comprehensive list of men, women, and children interred in the cemetery. Using grave markers, obituaries, and death certificates, we have complied a list of individuals buried within the cemetery and, to the extent possible with archival silences, developed short biographies of each persons' life. Some decedents have marked graves, while others do not.

In part, this data is based on an early 2000s GIS survey of the cemetery, which was completed by David Berle, Gail Tarver, Taylor Ladd from the University of Georgia's Horticulture Department. The Athens-Clarke County Death Certificate data was, likewise, transcribed by Leah Richier, an graduate alumni of the University of Georgia's Department of History.

Last Name	First Name	Gender	Race	Status	Occupation	DOB	DOD	Age	Grave Location	Grave Marker	Biography
Nesbrit	Hellen	Female	African American	Enslaved	Cook		December 31, 1919	70	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Hill	Mamie	Female	African American	Free	Domestic	December 31, 1880	December 31, 1922	42	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Cobb	Minnie	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1943		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Minnie Lee Crawford Cobb died from unknown causes in February 1944. The funeral was handled by Mack & Payne Funeral home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave is unmarked.
Brewer	[??]	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1904	December 31, 1920	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Shanks	Armina	Female	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1924	31	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Laney	Minnie	Female	African American	Free	Cook		December 31, 1920	28	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Fields	Bell	Female	African American	Free	Cook	December 31, 1881	December 31, 1926	45	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Thomas	Margret	Female	African American	Enslaved	Cook		December 31, 1919	80	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Thronton	Tommie	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1953		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Mrs. Tommie Upshaw Thornton, who resided at 170 Lendon Avenue, died from unknown causes in September 1954. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Newsome	Susie	Female	African American	Enslaved	Cook	December 31, 1860	December 31, 1926	66	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Hill	Patsy	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1925	50	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Colbert	Mary	Female	African American	Free	Nurse		December 31, 1946		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Mrs. Mary J. Colbert, the mother of Mrs. Mamie Harden and a “veteran nurse civic and religious leader,” died from unknown causes in November 1947. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave is unmarked.
Bridy	Camilla	Female	African American	Enslaved	Cook		December 31, 1924	74	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Shaw	Henry	Male	African American	Free	Mason		December 31, 1922	36	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Lawrence	Orrin	Male	African American	Enslaved			December 31, 1920	82	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Fields	Jno.	Male	African American	Free	Cotton Worker		December 31, 1918	35	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Thomas	Matt	Male	African American	Enslaved	Driver		December 31, 1923	60	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Walker	Jessie	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1954		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Jessie Walker was born in 1890 in Athens, GA. According to the Athens Daily Herald, he was still living in Athens in 1917 and listed among the Clarke County men registered for the First World War draft. He moved to Michigan sometime after this and married Evie Walker with whom he had a daughter named Ora Lee Walker, later Ora Lee Gardner. According to the 1930 US Census, Walker lived with his family and two men who rented rooms in their home at 518 Beaver St. in Lansing, MI. His obituary of September 10, 1955, placed his residence at 131S Case Street in Lansing, and stated that he would be returned to Athens, GA to be buried in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery. [Researched and written by Avery Scott]
Norman	John	Male	African American	Enslaved	Laborer		December 31, 1923	68	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Hiram	Ellen	Female	African American	Free	Cook		December 31, 1919	56	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Dallas	Elzia	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1965		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Elzia Duck Dallas, who resided at 742 Madison Avenue, died from unknown causes in August 1966. The funeral was handled by Hurley Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave is unmarked.
Brittin	George	Male	African American	Free	Carpenter		December 31, 1925	50	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Shaw	Warren	Male	African American	Free	Presser		December 31, 1922	33	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Lee	Della	Female	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1923	48	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Fields	Lelia	Female	African American	Free	Housework		December 31, 1921	51	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Thomas	Orrie	Female	African American	Free	Cook	December 31, 1867	December 31, 1923	56	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Thomas	Palace	Female	African American	Enslaved	Housework		December 31, 1924	71	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Walker	Nathaniel	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1954		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	A lifelong Athens resident, Reverend Nathaniel Thomas Walker was born on February 22, 1887. He was drafted for the First World War in 1917, and according to the Athens Daily Herald, he was part of a group of men sent to France. Walker had requested a military exemption, but it was rejected: as the newspaper noted, “two young men who are in the ministry failed to exempt [from military service] – on account of the fact that they did not file proof to their claim in the prescribed manner.” After his return from the war, he married Susie B. Walker, with whom he took care of a stepdaughter, Christine B. Barnette. He worked as a preacher, and between 1931 and 1944 he was the reverend of Union Missionary Baptist Church. He lived at 160 Water Street in 1917, and resided on Finley Street in 1920. In August 1955, he passed away from unknown causes and was buried in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery. [Researched and written by Abby Lauterbach]
Odoms	Corene	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1921	2	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Hirams	Rubin	Male	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1922	55	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Davis	James	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1948		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to his obituary, James W. Davis, who resided at 178 Strong Street, died from unknown causes on June 28, 1949. He married Mrs. Minnie Reid and had at least five children. The funeral was handled by Mack & Payne Funeral Home. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave is unmarked.
Browner	Richard	Male	African American	Enslaved	City Employee		December 31, 1921	63	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Shaw	Will	Male	African American	Free	Chauffer		December 31, 1926	38	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Lewis	Ellen	Female	African American	Free	Housework		December 31, 1920	55	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Ford	Malinda	Female	African American	Free	Farmer		December 31, 1920	55	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Tompkins	Corine	Female	African American	Free	Domestic		December 31, 1922	24	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Warrick	Anges	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1969		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Agnes (Aremita) Heard Warrick was born in Athens, Georgia on October 13, 1897. On March 1, 1927, she married Ronald M. Warrick. At age 72, Warrick died on January 15, 1970 and was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery in Athens, Georgia. Her last known residence was in Fort Pierce, Saint Lucie, Florida. [Researched and written by Taliesin Utz]
Osborne	Anna	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1919	December 31, 1919	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Holbrooks	Rosa	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1919	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Diggs	Minnie	Female	African American	Free	Teacher		December 31, 1995		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Minnie Diggs died from unknown causes in 1996. A 1922 graduate from Morris Brown College, she was active as an alumni and a local community member. She was remembered as “a very powerful, strong women; not in stature, but in determination.” She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Buedon	Ora	Male	African American	Free	Gardener	December 31, 1920	December 31, 1920	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Shenault	Carrie	Female	African American	Free	Housework		December 31, 1919	53	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Lewis	Fannie	Female	African American	Enslaved	Teacher		December 31, 1923	63	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Fortson	Jim	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1919	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Foster	Jos.	Male	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1918	19	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Varnell	Will	Male	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1925	55	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Washington	Hector	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1946		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Mrs. Hector Mary Washington, who resided in Atlanta, died from unknown causes in January 1947. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Owens	Emberly	Female	African American	Enslaved	Laborer		December 31, 1924	99	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Holmes	Geo.	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1923	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Diggs	William	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1972		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to his obituary, William Diggs, who resided at 357 DuBose Avenue, died from unknown causes on January 27, 1973. The funeral was handled by Mutual Funeral Home. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked.
Bunkley	Lula	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1925	54	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Shortey	Bobie	Female	African American	Free	Cook		December 31, 1924	35	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Logan	Fanie	Female	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1925	28	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Johnson	Louise	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1961		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Louise Johnson died from unknown causes in September 1962. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Lyons	Hannah	Female	African American	Free	Housework		December 31, 1922	56	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Foster	Lorenza	Male	African American	Free	Child	December 31, 1926	December 31, 1926	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Wagner	George	Male	African American	Enslaved	Plasterer		December 31, 1918	65	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Watson	Victoria	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1973		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Victoria Watson, who resided at 175 Glenhaven Avenue, died from unknown causes in October 1974. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Owens	Isibella	Female	African American	Enslaved	Laundress		December 31, 1918	65	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Holmes	Mattie	Female	African American	Free	Child		December 31, 1920	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Dixon	Laura	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1946		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Laura Annie Dixon, who resided at 201 Butler Street in Atlanta, Georgia, died in January 1947. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Burnes	Mamie	Female	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1926	37	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Simmons	Harett	Female	African American	Enslaved	Laborer		December 31, 1921	95	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Lumpkin	Dan	Male	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1926	45	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Johnson	Ethal	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1975		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Ethel Johnson, who resided at 151 Lyndon Avenue, died from unknown causes in August 1976. She was married to James Johnson and they had at least one child, Blanche Johnson Jones. The funeral was handled by Hurley’s Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Lyons	John	Male	African American	Free	Mason		December 31, 1920	56	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Gant	Ellen	Female	African American	Enslaved	Farmer		December 31, 1919	110	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Wales	Cassie	Female	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1921	48	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Whitield	Mittie	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1961		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Mittie Whitfield, who resided at 495 Reese Street, died from unknown causes in December 1962. The funeral was handled by Hurley Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Parrott	Henry	Male	African American	Enslaved	Laborer		December 31, 1918	70	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Houston	Florence	Female	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1920	21	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Edwards	Roberta	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1948		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Roberta Woods Edwards, the wife of Joseph Edward, died in November 1949. The funeral was handled by Mack & Payne Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Carter	Lillie	Female	African American	Free	Housewife		December 31, 1919	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Sloan	Lucinda	Female	African American	Enslaved	Laborer		December 31, 1919	80	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Lumpkin	Rosa	Female	African American	Free	Domestic		December 31, 1918	52	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Johnson	Reese	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1957		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Reese Johnson, who resided at 130 Water Street, died from unknown causes in June 1958. The funeral was handled by Mutual Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Mack	Claudie	Female	African American	Free	Housework	December 31, 1885	December 31, 1924	41	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Garfield	Carrie	Female	African American	Enslaved	Housewife		December 31, 1924	63	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Walker	[??]	Female	African American	Free	Child	December 31, 1924	December 31, 1924		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Wilcox	Dora	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1970		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Dora Sapp Wilcox, who resided at 550 W Hancock Avenue, died from unknown causes in February 1974. The funeral was handled by Mutual Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Patterson	Nellie	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1922	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Howard	Aurodite	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1919	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Ellis	Sarah	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1945		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Sarah Ellis died in November 1946. The funeral was handled by Mutual Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Cheney	Alex	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1922	34	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Smith	Betney	Male	African American	Enslaved	Cook		December 31, 1922	71	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Lungkins	Elnora	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1912	December 31, 1921	10	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Johnson	Seaborn	Male	African American	Unknown			December 31, 1946		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to his obituary, Seaborn Johnson, who resided in Monroe, Georgia, died from unknown causes in August 1947. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked.
Mack	Cynthia	Female	African American	Unknown	Housework		December 31, 1921		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Gleen	Albirdie	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1919	5	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Walker	Charlie	Male	African American	Enslaved	Reverend		December 31, 1919	65	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Woods	Lizzie	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1977		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Lizzie Beth Woods, who resided at 200 Washington Drive, died from unknown causes on July 9, 1978. The funeral was handled by Hurley Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Payne	Jesse	Male	African American	Free	Child		December 31, 1926	1	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Huff	J.	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1923	1	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Evans	Julia	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1961		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Julia Evans, who resided at 360 First Street, died in December 1962. The funeral was handled by Hurley Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Clarke	Joseph	Male	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1923	13	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Smith	Lizzie	Female	African American	Free	Housework		December 31, 1922	48	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Jones	Charlie	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1959		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to his obituary, Charlie Grant Jones, who resided at 462 Reese Street, died from unknown causes in January 1960. The funeral was handled by Hurley’s Funeral Home. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked.
Mack	Mollie	Female	African American	Free	Domestic		December 31, 1925	40	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Grady	Mary	Female	African American	Free	Cook		December 31, 1919	22	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Walker	Fannie	Female	African American	Enslaved	Farmer		December 31, 1920	70	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.

Decedent

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