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
Stanton	John	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1947		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	John R. Stanton was an Athens resident who was born around 1899. He was married and had multiple siblings. He died from unknown causes on October 25, 1948 and was buried in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery on October 31, 1948. [Researched and written by Abby Lauterbach]
Hawkins	Rebecca	Female	African American	Enslaved	Housework	December 31, 1848	December 31, 1926	78	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Nesbrit	Hellen	Female	African American	Enslaved	Cook		December 31, 1919	70	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Newsome	Susie	Female	African American	Enslaved	Cook	December 31, 1860	December 31, 1926	66	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Binns	Elizzebeth	Female	African American	Free	Teacher		December 31, 1925	24	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Jones	John	Male	African American	Free	Drayman		December 31, 1919	40	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.
Echols	Hiram	Male	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1923	53	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.
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.
Strickland	Willie	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1973		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	The son of Edward Strickland and Jennie (Wagner or Wagoner) Strickland, Willie Strickland was born in Athens, GA around 1898. He grew up on First Street, and after marrying Bertha Mae Harvey in 1937, the couple moved down the street to another residence on First Street. Throughout his life, Strickland had many different jobs including working in a saw mill according to the 1920 census, a cotton mill according to the 1930 census, and as a maid according to a 1931 Athens directory. During the Second World War, Strickland registered for the draft, but was not drafted into service, most likely because he was already married and 43 years old at the time. He died from unknown causes on April 6, 1974 in Athens, and was buried in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery. [Researched and written by Casey Serrano]
Hayes	Annie	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1921	December 31, 1922	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Norman	John	Male	African American	Enslaved	Laborer		December 31, 1923	68	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Boland	Mary	Female	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1922	49	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Jones	Louvenia	Female	African American	Enslaved	Housework		December 31, 1919	65	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.
Ector	Benjiman	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1920	0	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.
Flanigan	Albert	Male	African American	Free		December 31, 1880	December 31, 1967		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to his obituary, Albert Capp Flanigan, who resided at 87 Broad Acres, died from unknown causes in June 1968. The funeral was handled by Hurley Funeral Home. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked
Teasley	Annie	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1983		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Annie S. Maxwell Teasley was born in 1917. At 67 years old, she died on November 13, 1984. At the time of her death, resided in Fulton County and, according to her obituary, had three sisters and a daughter. [Researched and written by Nicole Powell]
Hayes	Magnola	Female	African American	Free	Housework		December 31, 1922	18	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Haynes	Rachel	Female	African American	Free	Student	December 31, 1904	December 31, 1920	15	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Odoms	Corene	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1921	2	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Booke	Ben	Male	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1926	50	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Jones	Margaret	Female	African American	Enslaved	Laborer		December 31, 1920	87	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.
Ector	Carrie	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1918	0	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.
Flanigan	Melvin	Male	African American	Free		December 31, 1914	December 31, 1976		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to his obituary, Melvin Coot Flanigan, who resided at 190 Cleveland Avenue, died from unknown causes in December 1977. The funeral was handled by Hurley Funeral Home. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked.
Teasley	Dottie	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1973		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Dottie Susie Teasley, who resided at 275 Fourth Street, died from unknown causes in March 1974. The funeral was handled by Mutual Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Hearel	Eddie	Male	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1922	37	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Osborne	Anna	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1919	December 31, 1919	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Booth	Richard	Male	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1920	38	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Jones	Robert	Male	African American	Free	Railroad Employee		December 31, 1920	54	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.
Ector	M.	Male	African American	Free	Janitor		December 31, 1925	49	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.
Freeman	Edward	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1965		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to his obituary, Edward M. Freeman, who resided at 237 North Church Street, died from unknown causes in May 1966. He was married to Julia A. Freeman. The funeral was handled by Hurley Funeral Home. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked.
Terrell	Charles	Male	African American	Unknown			December 31, 1933		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Charles Terrell Jr. was born around 1916. His parents, Charles Terrell and Julia Stuts, were both Athens natives. His father, “Chas” Terrell was noted to be a carpenter before his son was born, being listed along with his wife Julia in a 1912 Athens, GA directory living at 347 First Street. In the 1931 directory, however, “Chas” Terrell is said to be a cook, living on 389 Meigs St. On October 6, 1934, Terrell Jr.’s life was cut short after passing away at a tender age of 18 while he was still a schoolboy. The place of death is recorded to be 376 Odd Street. The cause of death was noted to be an acute dilatation of the heart, or nowadays known as dilated cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle), with contributary causes of importance being listed as fever and overexertion. He was buried five days later in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery on October 11, 1934 with his family in attendance. [Researched and written by Bita Jadali]
Hemphill	Susie	Female	African American	Free	Domestic		December 31, 1926	51	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Owens	Emberly	Female	African American	Enslaved	Laborer		December 31, 1924	99	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Bowmans	Jack	Male	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1924	60	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Joseph	Anna	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1919	0	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.
Ector	Piety	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1879	December 31, 1921	42	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Lyons	Hannah	Female	African American	Free	Housework		December 31, 1922	56	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.
Freeman	Bessie	Female	African American	Unknown			December 31, 1945		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Bessie Samuel Freeman died in October 1946. The funeral was handled by Mack & Payne Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Thomas	Ethal	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1944		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	The daughter of Charles and Fannie Walker, Ethel Walker Thomas was born in May of 1884. As a teenager and young adult, she resided in Sandy Creek with her family, where she worked as a laborer on their farm. She did not attend school, but she was able to read and write. In 1910, she married Lonnie Thomas, and the couple had several children: Edward, Melvin, Azzie, Charles, Elmore, and Alfonza. According to the 1920 census, she lived on Oak Street with her husband and children and worked as a washerwoman. In 1930, she resided at the same address with her family and worked as a maid for a private family. She died from unknown causes on February 1, 1945. [Researched and written by Jake Underwood]
Hill	[??]	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1918	December 31, 1918	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Owens	Isibella	Female	African American	Enslaved	Laundress		December 31, 1918	65	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Boyd	Claura	Female	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1923	26	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.
Simmons	Harett	Female	African American	Enslaved	Laborer		December 31, 1921	95	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Edwards	Fred	Male	African American	Enslaved	Fireman		December 31, 1922	62	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Lyons	John	Male	African American	Free	Mason		December 31, 1920	56	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.
Freeman	Julia	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1963		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary Julia A. Freeman, who resided at 237 North Church Street, died from unknown causes in June 1964. She was married to Edward M. Freeman. The funeral was handled by Hurley Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Thomas	Bennie	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1989		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to his obituary, Bennie Thomas, who resided at 230 Pauldoe Street, died from unknown causes in February 1990. The funeral was handled by Mutual Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Hill	John	Female	African American	Free	Child	December 31, 1918	December 31, 1918	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Parrott	Henry	Male	African American	Enslaved	Laborer		December 31, 1918	70	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.
Killian	Sarah	Female	African American	Free	Housewife	December 31, 1901	December 31, 1926	24	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.
Everaton	Mamie	Female	African American	Free	Housework		December 31, 1920	17	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Mack	Claudie	Female	African American	Free	Housework	December 31, 1885	December 31, 1924	41	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.
Gilbert	Robert	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1952		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to his obituary, Robert Gilbert, who resided at 346 Bowie Street SW in Atlanta, died from unknown causes in January 1953. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked.
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]
Hill	Mamie	Female	African American	Free	Domestic	December 31, 1880	December 31, 1922	42	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Patterson	Nellie	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1922	0	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.
Laney	Minnie	Female	African American	Free	Cook		December 31, 1920	28	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.
Fields	Bell	Female	African American	Free	Cook	December 31, 1881	December 31, 1926	45	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Mack	Cynthia	Female	African American	Unknown	Housework		December 31, 1921		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.
Griggs	Mary	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1966		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Mother Mary Thomas, who resided at 541 Irene St NE in Atlanta, died from unknown causes in September 1967. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
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]
Hill	Patsy	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1925	50	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Payne	Jesse	Male	African American	Free	Child		December 31, 1926	1	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.
Lawrence	Orrin	Male	African American	Enslaved			December 31, 1920	82	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.
Fields	Jno.	Male	African American	Free	Cotton Worker		December 31, 1918	35	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Mack	Mollie	Female	African American	Free	Domestic		December 31, 1925	40	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.
Griggs	Joe	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1949		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to his obituary, Joe Henry Griggs, who resided at 280 Cain St NE in Atlanta, died from unknown causes in May 1950. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked.
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.
Hiram	Ellen	Female	African American	Free	Cook		December 31, 1919	56	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Payne	Jessie	Male	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1924	22	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.
Lee	Della	Female	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1923	48	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Smith	Lula	Female	African American	Free	Laundress		December 31, 1919	45	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.
Marshall	Nannie	Female	African American	Enslaved	Housework		December 31, 1919	80	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.
Harris	Nora	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1966		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Nora Harris, who resided at 462 Madison Avenue, died in October 1967. The funeral was handled by Hurley Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
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]
Hirams	Rubin	Male	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1922	55	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.

Decedent

Get in touch