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
Boyd	Claura	Female	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1923	26	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Scott	Jane	Female	African American	Enslaved	Laborer		December 31, 1924	98	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Joseph	George	Male	African American	Free	Child	December 31, 1922	December 31, 1922	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
[??]	Barbara	Female	African American	Unknown					Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Barbara [M??] [??] is believed to be buried in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery. Little is known about her life.
Edwards	Fred	Male	African American	Enslaved	Fireman		December 31, 1922	62	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Thomas	Eluice	Male	African American	Free	Child	December 31, 1923	December 31, 1924	1	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Thomas	Lonnie	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1962		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Lonnie Thomas was born on May 6, 1879. He married Ethel Thomas, who worked as a hotel maid. Lonnie and Ethe had at least six children: Edward, Melvin, Hassie (or “Azzie”), Alfonzo, Charlie, and St. Elmore. Census records show that Lonnie owned his house on 160 Water Oak Street in Athens, Georgia. In 1910, Mr. Thomas went to court and won against someone who had wrongfully disposed of his personal property. His draft card for the military in 1918 listed the same address, along with his employer, the Georgia Plow Company, where he worked for many years as a laborer in the factory. He died from unknown causes on January 20, 1963, and was buried in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery. [Researched and written by McKenna Sanville]
Johnson	Curtis	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1983		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to his obituary, Curtis Johnson, who resided at 97 Broad Acres, died from unknown causes in September 1984. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked.
Nesbitt	Sibyl	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1918	December 31, 1921	2	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Hill	John	Female	African American	Free	Child	December 31, 1918	December 31, 1918	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Bradley	Lena	Female	African American	Free	Housework		December 31, 1918	48	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Scott	Magnolia	Female	African American	Free	Student		December 31, 1921	17	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Killian	Sarah	Female	African American	Free	Housewife	December 31, 1901	December 31, 1926	24	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
	Jane	Female	African American	Unknown					Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Jane is believed to be buried in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery. Little is known about her life.
Everaton	Mamie	Female	African American	Free	Housework		December 31, 1920	17	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Thomas	Laura	Female	African American	Free	Farmer	December 31, 1870	December 31, 1923	52	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.
Thomas	Arthur	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1943		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	The son of Margaret and Hamilton Thomas, Arthur Thomas was born between 1867 and 1870. Around 1906, he married Gertrude Thomas, and the couple had at least one child, Willie Mae Thomas. In 1910, he worked as a brickmason and rented a home at 288 Bridge Street. He died from unknown causes in 1944. At the time of his death, he lived in Atlanta. [Researched and written by Nic Rasool]
Johnson	James	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1971		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to his obituary, James Johnson, who resided at 151 Lyndon Avenue, died from unknown causes in October 1972. He was married to Ethel Johnson and they had at least one child, Blanche Johnson Jones. The funeral was handled by Hurley’s Funeral Home. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked.
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.
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.
	Walter	Male	African American	Unknown					Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Walter is believed to be buried in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery. Little is known about his life.
Fields	Bell	Female	African American	Free	Cook	December 31, 1881	December 31, 1926	45	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.
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.
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.
Bell	Andrew	Male	African American	Free	Reverend	December 31, 1896	December 31, 1958	58	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	The son of John J. Bell and Idea Bell, Andrew Bell was born on June 10, 1897 in Oglethorpe, Georgia. In 1910, the family lived on College Ave in Athens; Andrew did not attend school was unable to read or write at that time. Sometime before 1920, he married Mary B. Bell and moved to Atlanta, where he lived much of his adult life. He worked as a “Overseer” at the Country Club in 1920 and, according to his obituary, he was a “Reverend.” At 58 years old, he died from unknown causes on September 23, 1959 in Fulton County, GA. His funeral was held at the Dorsey Tabernacle Baptist Church in Athens on September 29, 1959.
Fields	Jno.	Male	African American	Free	Cotton Worker		December 31, 1918	35	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.
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.
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.
Bell	Vino	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1889	December 31, 1961	72	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Vino Bell was born around 1890. She married Dock Bell and the couple had at least four children: Willie, Susie, Daisy Lee, and Mary. In 1940, the family lived off Old Elberton Road in Bucks Branch. She died from unknown causes in 1962. According to her obituary, she lived at 473 Little Oak Street at the time of her death. Her funeral was held at Ebenezer Baptist Church.
Fields	Lelia	Female	African American	Free	Housework		December 31, 1921	51	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.
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.
Bryant	Lillie	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1894	December 31, 1970	76	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Lillie Wade Bryant was born around 1895. She appears to have married. At 76 years old, she died from unknown causes on April 25, 1971. According to her obituary, she lived at 872 W Broad Street at the time of her death.
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.
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.
Bugg	Edd	Male	African American	Free		December 31, 1953	December 31, 1986	32	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Edd W. Bugg was born around 1954. He attended Clarke Junior High School and his photo appears in the 1970 Yearbook. At 32 years old, he died from unknown causes on March 7, 1987. His funeral was held at Springfield Baptist Church.
Fortson	Jim	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1919	0	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.
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.
Bunkley	Carrie	Female	African American	Free	Housewife	December 31, 1894	December 31, 1946	52	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Carrie Woods Bunkley was born around 1895. She married Frank Bunkley and the couple had one child. In 193 and 1930, she was a housewife and the family lived at 447 Reese Street. At 52 years old, she died from unknown causes on May 30, 1947. Her funeral was held at the First AME Church.
Lyons	Hannah	Female	African American	Free	Housework		December 31, 1922	56	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.
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.
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.
Clarke	Gertrude	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1895	December 31, 1976	81	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Gertrude W. Clarke was born on December 24, 1894 (or 1896). She married Ivy C. Clark and, in 1920, the couple lived on S Thomas; she worked as a dressmaker and he was a “Truck Hand” in a “Cotton Warehouse.” In 1940, she was a widow living with her niece or nephew at 131 Linden Row. At 81 years old, she died from unknown causes on May 3, 1977. According to her obituary, she lived at 175 Glenhaven Ave at the time of her death. Her funeral was held at Ebenezer Baptist Church West.
Lyons	John	Male	African American	Free	Mason		December 31, 1920	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.
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.
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.
Clemons	Clifford	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1945		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to his obituary, Clifford T. Clemons died from unknown causes in July 1946. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave is unmarked.
Mack	Claudie	Female	African American	Free	Housework	December 31, 1885	December 31, 1924	41	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.
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.
Cheney	Alex	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1922	34	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.

Decedent

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