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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton | Thomas | Male | African American | Free | Farm Laborer | December 31, 1867 | December 31, 1904 | 36 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Mary and Jack Cotton, Thomas L. Cotton was born on December 25, 1868. In 1880, he worked as a farm laborer and lived with his parents in Athens, Georgia. He died from unknown causes on February 2, 1905. |
| McQueen | Amanda | Female | African American | Enslaved | Seamstress | December 31, 1857 | December 31, 1915 | 58 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Amanda McQueen was born on March 26, 1858 and most likely spent her childhood enslaved. She married James McQueen, a laborer, and the couple had at least three children: Gerdine, Nelley, and Janie. In 1880, she worked as a laundress and lived with her family on Hull Street. As a widow in 1900, she lived alone and worked as a seamstress. According to the 1904 City Directory, she lived at 626 N Hull Street. At 58 years old, she died from unknown causes on December 31, 1916. |
| Wilder | Odessia | Female | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Rachel Wilder and James Wilder, Odessia Wilder was born at an unknown issue. In 1870, the family lived in Madison, Georgia; this is most likely his last known address. In 1870, the family lived in Madison, Georgia; this is most likely her last known address. | ||||
| Billups | William | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1971 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to his tombstone, William C. Billups died in 1972. His date of birth is unknown. | |||
| Jones | Thomas | Male | African American | Enslaved | Driver | December 31, 1829 | December 31, 1899 | 70 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Thomas Jones was born around 1830 and most likely enslaved. In 1870, he worked as a domestic servant and in 1880 he worked as a street car driver. He married Mary Jones in 1863 and the couple most likely did not have living children. In 1900, he lived at 529 Lumpkin Street. He died from unknown causes on October 13, 1900. |
| Sheppard | Anna | Female | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1861 | December 31, 1884 | 22 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Anna M. H. Sheppard was born on August 17, 1862 and most likely enslaved as a child. At 22 years of age, she died from unknown causes on April 25, 1885. | |
| Favors | Cynthia | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laundress | December 31, 1863 | December 31, 1943 | 80 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Cynthia Favors as born in July 1864 and most likely spent her first year of life enslaved. She married Tom Favors and the couple had a least four children: Lela, Ada, Lillie, and Homer. In 1930, the couple lived at 481 Billups Street and she worked as a laundress. After the death of her husband, she lived at 170 Dublin Street with her daughter. |
| Heard | Lizzie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1894 | December 31, 1957 | 63 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Lizzie Dorsey Heard was born around December 25, 1880 or 1895 (according to the Death Index). She most likely married Hill Heard, a farmer, and, according to the 1926 City Directory, they lived at 275 Field [Rd? St? Av?]. She died from unknown causes July 31, 1958. She was around 63 years old. | |
| Bullock | Fletcher | Male | African American | Free | Janitor | December 31, 1914 | December 31, 1957 | 42 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Fletcher Bullock was born around 1915. He married Janie Beatrice Bullock and the couple had at least two children: Fletcher Jr. and Willie. In 1940, he worked as a janitor and lived at 468 First Street. According to the 1956 City Directory, he worked as a construction worker and he and his wife lived at 426 First Street. He died from unknown causes on August 9, 1958. |
| Lyles | Eugene | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1972 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Eugene Lyles was born around 1870. He married Mattie Owens Lyles and, in 1930, they lived at 147 Plum Street. He worked as a plasterer in both 1910 and 1930. According to the 1956 City Directory, he still lived at 147 Plum Street. According to his tombstone, he died on November 25, 1973. | ||
| Thomas | Hamilton | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1909 | December 31, 1939 | 30 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Hamilton Thomas was born around 1910. At 30 years old, he died from unknown causes on December 26, 1940. | |
| Hardeman | Harry | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1896 | December 31, 1970 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Harry Hardeman born on May 23, 1897. The son of Juliette Cornelius Hardeman, a single mother and Athens washerwoman, Hardeman and his two sisters lived at 425 Pope Street. By all accounts, he appeared to be a mischievous child; he, at least once, was caught “casting pebbles” at another boy. Whereas a white child most likely escaped the attention of law enforcement, a black child in Jim Crow Georgia did not. Twelve-year-old Hardeman—for his harmless, childish antics—found himself before the local police court. As punishment for the ‘crime,’ reported The Weekly Banner, the Athens mayor “assessed the scrapper the sum of one dollar,” but remitted the fine after “one of the older darkeys in the court volunteered to administer the necessary chastisement, in the place of the absent parent.” During the First World War, he served stateside as a sergeant in the 157th Depot Brigade. Retuning to Athens after the war, he worked as a laborer and lived at 171 Church Street in 1920. According to the 1958 City Directory, he worked as a butler and lived at 405 Benning Street. He died on April 10, 1971 from an unknown aliment. | |
| Jackson | Cora | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1886 | December 31, 1887 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Cora Jackson was born on July 15, 1887 and died on February 7, 1888. The infant was only 7 months old at the time of her death. | ||
| Pope | Ida | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1883 | December 31, 1964 | 81 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Ida Ruby Neal Pope was born around March 18, 1884. In 1910, she had property on Vine Street. In 1935, she was married to Simon Pope, a janitor at the University of Gerogia. Accoridng to the 1958 City Directory, she lived alone at 524 Vine Street. At age 81, she died from unknown causes on September 11, 1965. | |
| Cox | Mollie | Female | African American | Free | Laundress | December 31, 1872 | December 31, 1934 | 62 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Mollie Cox was born around 1873. She married Richard Cox, a cotton mill laborer, and the couple had at least one child: Archie Cox. In 1900, she worked as a cook. According to the 1931 City Directory, she lived at 236 Bridge Street. At the time of her death on December 3, 1935, she worked as a laundress and lived at 237 Bridge Street in Athens. |
| McQueen | Carrie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1883 | December 31, 1883 | 1 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Carrie McQueen died in 1885; she was 1 year, 3 months, and 11 days old. She most likely was the infant daughter of Nettie and W. M. McQueen, who, according to the 1897 City Directory, lived at 630 Hull Street. She was the sibling of Mamie N. McQueen and William McQueen. | |
| Williams | Harriet | Female | African American | Free | House Keeper | December 31, 1852 | December 31, 1930 | 76 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Harriett Dardey, Harriet Williams was born around October 11, 1853. At 76 years of age, she died from arterio sclerosis on February 24, 1930. According to her Death Certificate, she was a “house keeper” and lived in Atlanta, Georgia. |
| Billups | Betty | Female | African American | Enslaved | Domestic | December 31, 1859 | December 31, 1937 | 76 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Sally and Joe McCree, Betty McCree Billups was born around 1860 and most likely spent her childhood enslaved. She married Simon Billups, a farm laborer, and the couple had at least thirteen children: including Jordan, Louis, M. J., Fannie, Sally, Anna, and Ivy. In 1910, however, only five children were living. She worked as a laundress in 1910 and was listed as a "domestic" at the end of her life. She died from apoplexy caused by a second stoke on December 8, 1938. As a 76 year old widow, she had been living at 670 W Broad Street at the time of her death . |
| Jones | Julius | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1907 | December 31, 1941 | 34 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to his tombstone, Julius C. Jones was born in 1908 and died in 1942. | |
| Simmons | Mitchell | Male | African American | Free | Church Employee | December 31, 1905 | December 31, 1964 | 59 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Anna B. Simmons, Mitchell Simmons was born on November 2, 1906. In 1910, he lived with his mother and grandmother in Madison, Georgia. In 1920, he worked as a theatre porter in Atlanta and lived with his mother in the city. By 1930, he had moved to South Carolina and was married to Thelma Simmons. The couple had at least one child: Mitchell J. Simmons. According to his Second World War draft registration, he worked for Reverend Frank Gantt and lived at 814 Hampton Street in Columbia, South Carolina. He died from unknown causes on February 12, 1965. |
| Feaster | Annie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1893 | December 31, 1913 | 20 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Annie Ree Feaster was born on February 24, 1894 and died on July 3, 1914. According to a newspaper article published on June 13, 1911, she appeared in court for a criminal or civil case against the state. | |
| Heard | M. | Unknown | African American | Free | December 31, 1887 | December 31, 1888 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to the tombstone, this 7 month-old infant was born on October 12, 1888and died from unknown causes on May 14, 1889. | ||
| Bunkley | Robert | Male | African American | Free | Pressing Club Proprietor | December 31, 1894 | December 31, 1938 | 45 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Luna Strickland and Frank Bunkley, Robert L. Bunkley was born on December 12, 1895. As a youth, he was a hack driver (1910) and worked as a pressing club proprietor for much of his adult life. He married Mildred Bunkley sometime after 1920. According to the 1937 City Directory, he owned a billards saloon at the corner of Hull and Washington Streets and lived at 449 Reese Street. On August 7, 1939, he died at St. Mary’s Hospital from a post-operative cerebral embolism, after his right leg had been amputated. He was only 45 years old and had been living at 449 Reese Street at the time of his death. |
| Lyles | Mattie | Female | African American | Free | Laundress | December 31, 1880 | December 31, 1934 | 55 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Isabel Owens and Coloumbus Hardman, Mattie Owens Lyles was born on March 12, 1881. She married Eugene Lyles sometime before 1910. In 1910, she worked as a washer woman and, in 1930, she was a housewife. She died from diabetes mellitus and candidiasis disease on August 25, 1935. According to her Death Certificate, she was a housewife living at 147 Plum Street. |
| Thomas | Tommie | Male | African American | Enslaved | Labroer | December 31, 1863 | December 31, 1939 | 76 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son or Margaret and Hampton Thomas, Tommie Thomas was born on May 15, 1864 and most likely enslaved. In 1870, he lived in Athens with his parents. He still lived with them in 1880, but also worked as butcher in that year. In 1930, he worked as a foreman for the transfer company. He died from chronic nephritis on March 11, 1940. According to his Death Certificate, he worked as a laborer and lived at 168 Warsaw Street. |
| Harden | Edgar | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1891 | December 31, 1953 | 61 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Mary Harden, Edgard Harden was born on November 2, 1892. As a 16 year old in 1910, he worked as a “poster” and did not attend school. During the First World War, he served as a corporal in Company D, 346 Service Battalion. He married Cora Harden and, according to the 1952 City Directory, he and his wife lived at 658 Hull Street. He died from unknown causes on June 26, 1954. | |
| Jackson | Alfred | Male | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1821 | December 31, 1883 | 62 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Alfred Jackson was born around 1822 in Virginia and most likely spent most of his life enslaved. He married Louisa Jackson and the couple had at least six children: Camilla, Edward, Albin, Bettie, Mary, and Judy. He worked as a day laborer in 1870 and a white washer in 1880. He lived on River Street. He died from unknown causes on February 14, 1884. |
| Pope | Simon | Male | African American | Free | Janitor | December 31, 1869 | December 31, 1939 | 70 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Washington Pope, Simon G Pope was born on July 4, 1870. He married Ida Pope and the couple had at least four children: Edwin, Leroy, Edmund, Celastine, and Simmie. He worked as a day laborer in 1900, gas worker in 1910, oil mill laborer in 1920, and janitor in 1940. He owned a house at 524 Vine Street in 1940. He died at home from a spontaneous hemorrhage and chronic myocarditis on October 31, 1940. At the time of his death, he worked as a janitor for the University of Georgia. |
| Crowder | George | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1896 | December 31, 1932 | 35 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Chatie T. and George Crowder, George Crowder was born between 1897 and 1898 in Warren, Georgia. He married Lizzie Mae Powers on February 28, 1915 and they had at least one child. He worked various jobs, including a public laborer (1920 Census), laborer (1926 City Directory), and a porter (1931 City Directory). In 1931, he lived at "50 Brays Al[ley]. He died from a “sudden natural cause” on August 21, 1933. According to his Death Index, he lived at 50 Madison Avenue and worked as a common laborer. |
| McQueen | Mamie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1881 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Mamie McQueen died in 1885. She most likely was the infant daughter of Nettie and W. M. McQueen, who, according to the 1897 City Directory, lived at 630 Hull Street. Hull Street. She was the sibling of CarrieMcQueen and William McQueen. | |||
| Williams | Lula | Female | African American | Free | Domestic | December 31, 1896 | December 31, 1922 | 26 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Roda Calloway and Mark Johnson, Lula Jane Williams was born in August 1897. She married Ed Williams and, in 1920, the couple lived on Lyndon Street. She worked as a cook in 1920. She died from [??] on February 26, 1923. According to her Death Index, she worked as a domestic and lived at 882 Water Street. |
| Billups | Willie | Male | African American | Free | Teacher | December 31, 1903 | December 31, 1962 | 59 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Mary Billups, Willie Lewis Billups was born on either March 1, 1904 or May 15, 1903. As a child he lived on Reese Street. At the time of Second World War, he lived at 123 Pope Street and was self-employed. According to the 1958 City Directory, he worked as a teacher Athens High and Industrial School and lived at 1820 W Hancock Avenue. He died from unknown causes on Feburary 27, 1963. |
| Jones | Ida | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1888 | December 31, 1948 | 60 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Ida Jones was born in 1889. In 1920, she lived with her husband, John Jones, a drayman, and their four children: William, Suise, Bernadett, and David. According to the 1942 City Directory, she lived at 425 Cleveland Avenue. At age 61, she died on June 29, 1949. | |
| Sims | Minnie | Female | African American | Free | Cook | December 31, 1874 | December 31, 1930 | 56 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Caroline and D. Charlie Whales, Minnie Whales Sims was born around 1875. She married John H. Sims and the couple had at least four children: Robert, M. C, Susie, and George. She worked as a Laundress in 1910 and a cook in 1930. At 56 years old, she died from [??] on November 4, 1931. At the time of her death, she lived at 499 Madison Avenue and worked as a domestic. |
| Fields | Lillie | Female | African American | Free | Nurse | December 31, 1888 | December 31, 1956 | 68 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Lillie Fields was born around June 2, 1889. She married Henry C. Fields, a Cotton Sampler, and she worked as laundress in 1910. She sold her milk cow in 1915 and lost ownership of her property on Fourth Street to sheriff’s sale in 1916. In 1920, the couple lived at the same property at 226 Fourth Street and she worked as cook. In 1940, she worked as a nurse. She died from unknown causes on May 2, 1957. |
| Heard | J. | Unknown | African American | Free | December 31, 1893 | December 31, 1893 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to the tombstone, J. T. Heard Jr. was born on July 31, 1894 and died August 30, 1894. It was the sibling of M. L. Heard. | ||
| Bunkley | Mildred | Female | African American | Free | Pressing Club Worker | December 31, 1891 | December 31, 1940 | 49 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Mildred Bunkley was born around 1886 and competed the first year of high school. Sometime after 1920, she married Robert L. Bunkley, a pressing club proprietor, and worked alongside her husband at the pressing club. For most of their life, the couple lived at 449 Reese Street. According to the 1937 City Directory, they lived at 449 Reese Street. On August 21, 1941, she died from unknown causes. She was in her late 40s at the time of her death. |
| Lyons | C.H.S. | Male | African American | Free | Academic | December 31, 1880 | December 31, 1954 | 74 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | C. H. S. (or C. M. S.) Lyons Sr. was born on July 25, 1881. He may have worked as a professor or teacher. According to the 1952 City Directory, he was president of the Union Baptist Institute (known Jeruel Academy) and lived at 427 Baxter Street. He died on June 26, 1955. |
| Thomas | Bennie | Unknown | African American | Free | December 31, 1940 | December 31, 1989 | 49 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Bennie Thomas was born in 1941. At 49 years old, this individual died from unknown causes. | |
| Harden | Cora | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1891 | December 31, 1975 | 84 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Cora Jones Harden was born around June 15, 1892. According to the 1952 City Directory, she was married to Edgar Harden and they lived at 658 Hull Street. She died on November 26, 1976. She was around 84 years old at the time of her death and lived at 530 W Hancock Avenue. | |
| Jackson | Louisa | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laundress | December 31, 1825 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Louisa Jackson was born around 1826 in Georgia and most likely spent most of her life enslaved. She married Alfred Jackson, a day laborer and white washer, and the couple had at least six children: Camilla, Edward, Albin, Bettie, Mary, and Judy. She worked as a washer and ironer in 1880 and lived on River Street. She died sometime after 1880. | ||
| Porter | Walter | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1889 | December 31, 1960 | 71 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Walter Porter was born around 1890. He married Susie Porter and the couple appears not to have had living children. He worked as an insurance agent in 1910, a tailor in 1920, a hotel servant in 1930, and a porter in 1940. At that time, the couple owned a house at 554 Strong Street. According to the 1958 City Directory, he and his wife lived at 554 E Strong Street. At 71 years old, he died from unknown causes on March 6, 1961. |
| Davis | Addie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1905 | December 31, 1906 | 0 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Addie May Davis was the twin daughter of J. W. and M. C. Davis. She was born on December 5, 1906 and died seven months later, on June 6, 1907. According to the 1904 City Directory, J. W. Daivs worked as a mail carrier and lived at 24 Strong Street. In 1909, he was married to Minnie Davis and they lived at 178 Strong Street. This is most likely their child. | |
| Meriweather | Senie | Female | African American | Free | Laundress | December 31, 1876 | December 31, 1905 | 29 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Maria and James Meriwether. Senie or Sena Meriwether was born on April 5, 1877. In 1880, she lived with her parents and siblings at 295 Thomas Street. According to the 1904 City Directory, she worked as a washerwoman and lived at 26 Rock Spring Street. At 29 years old, she died from unknown causes on April 8, 1906. |
| Williams | Willie | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1914 | December 31, 1965 | 51 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Willie Asa Williams was born around 1915. He died from unknown causes on December 6, 1966. | |
| Billups | Burrell | Male | African American | Free | Restaurant Owner | December 31, 1873 | December 31, 1937 | 61 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Isabelle and John Billups, Burrell W. Billups was born on July 4,1874. In 1911, he was a registered voter living in Athens. He married Janie Billups and the couple had at least two children: Katie and Arabella. He worked as a restaurant owner in 1920 and the family lived at 367 Chase Street. They still resided at that address in 1931 and 1938. He died from P. O. suppurative peritonitis on June 28, 1938. |
| Jones | Robert | Male | African American | Free | Mason | December 31, 1876 | December 31, 1936 | 60 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Susan Harris and Robert Jones, Robert L. Jones was born on July 9, 1872 (or 1877). Around 1908, he married Effie Jones and the couple appears not to have had children. He worked as a brick mason in 1910 and as a “Tiel Setter” in 1930. He died from apoplexy on February 12,1937. According to his Death Certificate, he worked as a brick mason and lived at 167 Paris Street |
| Small | Howard | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1908 | December 31, 1972 | 65 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Howard Small was born April 9, 1909. According to his Second World War Draft Card, he lived in Atlanta, Georgia and his next of kin was Louvenia Guinn, a friend. By 1951, he was living in Seattle, Washington. He died from unknown causes on April 5, 1973. | |
| Fields | Susie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1858 | December 31, 1926 | 68 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Alice Tomas and Jack Shaw, Susie Shaw Fields was born around August 1859 and most likely enslaved as a child. In 1880, she worked as a servant. She married Eldon Fields, a teamster, and she worked as a washerwoman in 1900. In 1920, she worked cook and lived at 144 Warsaw Street. She died from [myoclonia?] and nephritis on September 29, 1927. |
| Heard | Mattie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Teacher | December 31, 1862 | December 31, 1942 | 78 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Mattie I. Heard was born around 1863 and most likely enslaved. She married William Heard, a blacksmith, in 1897 and the couple does not appear to have had living children. She worked as a teacher in 1900, 1910, and 1920 At the time of her husband’s death in 1939, they lived at 475 Reese Street. She died from unknown causes on November 13, 1943. |
| Bush | Annie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1895 | December 31, 1961 | 65 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Annie B. Bush was born around 1897. Before 1920, she married Clarence Bush, a grocery store wagon driver. She, herself, worked as a laundress during the 1920s and 1930s. In 1930, she lived with her husband at 850 Broad Street. According to the 1958 City Directory, they remained at that address. Little is known about her adult life and she died from unknown causes on April 14, 1962. | |
| Lyons | Lottie | Female | African American | Free | Academic | December 31, 1911 | December 31, 1956 | 45 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The granddaughter of Charlotte and Edward Derricotte and the daughter of Ophelia M. and Charles Lyons, Lottie M. Lyons was born around 1912. In 1920, she lived with her parents at 427 Baxter Street. She was the Dean of Woman at Ft. Valley State College (now Fort Valley State University). She died from unknown causes on May 19, 1957. |
| Thomas | Susie | Female | African American | Free | Cook | December 31, 1872 | December 31, 1969 | 97 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Hannah and G. Thomas, Susie Lee Thomas was born around 1873. In 1880, she lived with her parents on Richardson Street and attended school. She married Anderson Thomas and the couple had at least two children. She worked as a laundress in 1910, a farm laborer in 1920, and a cook in 1940. She died from unknown causes in July 1970. According to her funeral notice, she lived at 130 Hickman Drive. |
| Harris | Marion | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1899 | December 31, 1911 | 11 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to his tombstone, Marion O. Harris was born on September 18, 1900 and died on April 16, 1912. He was only 11 years old at the time of his death. | |
| Jackson | Thomas | Male | African American | Free | Doctor | December 31, 1896 | December 31, 1930 | 34 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Sweetie Poline and Thomas Nathaniel Jackson, Thomas N. Jackson was born on June 12, 1897. As a child in 1900, he lived on Barber Street with his family. He graduated from Knox Institute in 1915. At the start of the First World War, he lived at 133 Cleveland Avenue and worked as a grist mill operator. During the war, he was a student at the Army Training Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1930, he worked as a physician in Athens. He died from [??] on November 8, 1931. According to the Death Certificate, he worked as a physician and lived at 133 Cleveland Avenue. |
| Porter | Susie | Female | African American | Free | Laundress | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Susie Bason Porter was born around 1886. She married Walter Porter and the couple appears not to have had living children. In 1930, she worked as a laundress. In 1940, the couple owned a house at 554 Strong Street, according to the 1958 City Directory, they remained at 554 E Strong Street. At 82 years old, she died from unknown causes in 1968. | |||
| Davis | J. | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1905 | December 31, 1906 | 0 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | J. W. Davis was the twin son of J. W. and M. C. Davis. He was born on December 5, 1906 and died nine months later, on September 8, 1907. According to the 1904 City Directory, J. W. Daivs worked as a mail carrier and lived at 24 Strong Street. In 1909, he was married to Minnie Davis and they lived at 178 Strong Street. This is most likely their child. | |
| Merriweather | W. | Unknown | African American | Free | December 31, 1912 | December 31, 1930 | 17 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to the tombstone, W. G. Merriweather was born on November 26, 1913 and died on July 20, 1931. This individual was only 17 years at the time of their death. | |
| Williams | Willie | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1940 | December 31, 1962 | 22 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Willie James Williams was born around 1941. He died from unknown causes on 1963. | |
| Blont | [J or G?] | Unknown | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1942 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | |||
| Jones | Arthur | Male | African American | Free | Waiter | December 31, 1907 | December 31, 1927 | 19 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Mamie Howell Jones and Brown Jones, Arthur B. Jones was born on May 12, 1908. In 1910, he lived with his parents in Stone Mountain, Georgia. He, then, lived in Fulton, Georgia with his grandparents in 1920. In 1940, his parents lived at 1063 W Hancock Avenue; this may be his last known address as well. He died from myocelitis on February 8, 1928. According to his Death Certificate, he worked as a waiter and was living in Athens, Georgia. |
| Smith | Ada | Female | African American | Free | Cook | December 31, 1881 | December 31, 1916 | 35 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Ada D. Smith was born on April 29, 1882. She married Tom Smith and the couple had at least five children: Minnie, Agnus, Violet, Wyatt, and Robert. She worked as a washerwoman in 1900 and as a cook in 1910. According to the 1914 City Directory, she lived with her husband at 367 Athens Avenue. At 35 years old, she died from unknown June 16, 1917. |
| Fields | Eldon | Male | African American | Enslaved | Janitor | December 31, 1848 | December 31, 1924 | 76 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Eldon Fields was born on September 12, 1849 and most likely spend his childhood enslaved. In 1880, he worked as a carriage driver and lived at 440 Jackson Street. He married Susie Shaw Fields around that time. By 1900, he lived with his wife at 144 Warsaw Street and worked as teamster. He, then, worked as an janitor in an office building in 1920. He died from “paralysis following apoplexy” on January 29, 1925. |
| Heath | Lula | Female | African American | Free | Boarding House | December 31, 1873 | December 31, 1912 | 39 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Lula Shaw Heath was born sometime between 1874 and 1878. In 1910, she ran a boarding house and lived with her husband, Charley Heath, their child, Charley, and two borders at 317 Chase Street. She died from unknown causes on September 15, 1913. |
| Bush | Clarence | Male | African American | Free | Deliveryman | December 31, 1896 | December 31, 1964 | 66 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Lula Bush, Clarence Bush was born on January 25, 1897. In 1900, he lived with his grandfather and mother on Broad Street. Sometime before 1920, he married Annie Bush and the couple most likely did not have living children. He worked various jobs during his lifetime, included “poster” (1910), a “grocery store wagon driver,” (1920) and “grocery store deliveryman” (1930). According to the 1958 City Directory, they lived at 850 Broad Street and he worked as “firman” at “Holmain Hotel.” In addition to those jobs, he served in the First World War as a private. He died from unknown causes on November 28, 1965. |
| Lyons | Collins | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1913 | December 31, 1915 | 2 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to his tombstone, Collins T. Lyons was born on June 17, 1914 and died on August 7, 1916. He was 2 years and 1 month old. | |
| [Thomas?] | Lucius | Male | African American | Free | Printer | December 31, 1866 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Randal Thomas, Lucius Thomas was born around 1867. In 1880, he lived with his father and siblings in Athens. He married Julia Collins Thomas and the couple had at least five children: Mary L., Walter, Sylvester, Violet, Charley, and Eugene. In 1900, they lived at 21 Washington Street and he worked as a printer. According to the 1910 Census, he worked as a “Type Setter.” In 1920, he worked as a printer and lived at 588 Hancock Avenue. He died from an unknown cause on an unknown date. | ||
| Harris | Robert | Mae | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1835 | December 31, 1913 | 76 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Robert Harris was born around 1836 and most likely enslaved as a young man. At 76 years old, he died from unknown causes on August 6, 1914. According to the 1909 City Directory, Robert Harris and Robert Harris Jr. both lived at 226 Flint Street. Robert Harris—a one-legged criminal mastermind with a perchance for jail breaking—appears regularly within the local newspapers; this could be the same man or his son. | |
| Jackson | Sweetie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1874 | December 31, 1934 | 59 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Sweetie Poulain Jackson was born on November 15, 1875. She married Thomas Jackson, a miller, and the couple had at least seven children: Farris, Thomas, Burnett, Babe, Samuel, and Lloyd. In 1910, the family rented a house on Cleveland Avenue. According to 1931 City Directory, she and her husband lived at 133 Cleveland Avenue. At 59 years old, she died from unknown causes on July 17, 1935. | |
| [Powers?] | Harriet | Female | African American | Enslaved | Seamstress | December 31, 1838 | December 31, 1909 | 72 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Harriet C. Powers was born around 1837-1839 and, as a young woman, enslaved on the plantation of John and Nancy Lester in Madison County, Georgia. At around 18 years old, she married Armstead Powers in 1855. The couple had at least nine children, including Amanda, Leon Joe (Alonzo), Nancy, Lizzie, and Marshall. In 1870 and 1880, she was “Keeping House” and lived with her family near Sandy Creek, Georgia. As skilled seamstress and folk artist, her intricate quilts were displayed at the Clarke County Cotton Fair and were highly sought after. Today, only two of her quilts survive; one hangs American History Museum of the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. and the other hangs in the Museum of Fine Art in Boston. According to the 1889 City Directory, her husband lived at 27 Angle [St? Rd?]; she most likely lived at this address as well. She died from unknown causes on January 1, 1910. |
| Davis | Clifford | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1893 | December 31, 1919 | 26 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Jennie L. and Will Davis, Clifford L. Davis was born on February 13, 1894. As a child, he attended school and lived with his family at 425 Bridge Street. In 1910, he worked as a tagger in a warehouse. At the start of the First World War, he lived at 237 Bridge Street. During the war, he served stateside as a private in the 157 Depot Brig. He died from unknown causes on December 6, 1920. |
| Mi[??] | Mamie | Female | African American | Unknown | 70 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Mamie Mi[??] died on October 31, [19??]. She was 70 years old at the time of her death. | |||
| Williams | Maria | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1877 | December 31, 1890 | 8 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Jane and Isaac Williams, Marie Williams was born on January 26, 1878. In 1880, she lived with her parents at the corner of Foundry Street and Connecticut Street. At 8 years old, she died from unknown causes on March 30, 1886. | |
| Blont | [Gary?] | Male | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
| Jones | Mamie | Female | African American | Free | Laundress | December 31, 1885 | December 31, 1970 | 85 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Mamie Howell Jones was born on March 11, 1886. She married William Brown Jones and the couple had at least three children: Arthur, Thomas, and Clifford. In 1910, the family lived in Stone Mountain, Georgia. In 1940, she worked in “laundry” and they lived at 1063 W Hancock Avenue. According to the 1956 City Directory, she and her husband lived at 1063 W Hancock Avenue. She died from unknown causes on July 19, 1971. |
| Smith | Rosa | Female | African American | Enslaved | Domestic | December 31, 1862 | December 31, 1934 | 72 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Lottie and Mr. Jones, Rosa Jones Smith was born around July 4, 1863 and most likely enslaved as a child. She worked as a laborer in 1880 and a private family nurse in 1910. As a widow, in 1910, she lived 293 Cherry Street. She died from [??] and pneumonia on January 17, 1935. At the time of her death, she worked as a domestic and lived at 389 Dubose Avenue. |
| Flag | Ida | Female | African American | Free | Laundress | December 31, 1899 | December 31, 1945 | 56 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Ida J. Flag was born around 1900. Sometime before 1930, she gained and lost a husband. As a widow, in 1930, she worked as laundress and lived with her sister, Emma Virgil, at 1490 W Broad Street. In 1940, her and her sister lived at 268 Parris Street. She died from unknown causes on July 28, 1946. At the time of her death, she was 56 years old. |
| Hicks | Charles | Male | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1840 | December 31, 1915 | 75 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Charles Hicks was born around 1841 and most likely enslaved as a child and young adult. In 1904, he worked as a cook and lived at 21 N Findley Street. He was married to Mary A. Hicks and, according to the 1915 City Directory, they lived at 169 N Findley Street. According to a 1914 newspaper report, he was a contributing member of the Methodist Church. He died from unknown causes on December 8, 1916. |
| Campbell | John | Male | African American | Free | Porter | December 31, 1876 | December 31, 1943 | 67 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Ann Harden, John B. Campbell was born on March 18, 1877 in Athens, Georgia. In 1900, he was serving as a sergeant in the 48th Volunteer Infantry and stationed at Naquilian, Philippine Islands. Rather than return to Athens following his tour of duty, he moved to Chicago and, according to the 1910 Census, worked as a railroad porter. He died from unknown causes on July 4, 1944. He may or may not have returned to Athens, Georgia before his death. Mrs. Katie Thomas, of 748 Hull Street, applied for a military tombstone for his grave in 1944. |
| Lyons | Joseph | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1892 | December 31, 1940 | 48 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Joseph R. Lyons was born between 1892 and 1893. At 48 years old, he died from unknown causes on September 12, 1941. | |
| Thompson | Florence | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laundress | December 31, 1861 | December 31, 1961 | 100 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Maria Derricotti, Florence Thompson was born around 1862 and most likely enslaved as a child. In 1900 and 1910, she worked as a washerwoman and, as a widow, lived with her mother at 148 Strong Street. She died from unknown causes in 1962. |
| Harris | R | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
| [??]ll | Se[??] | Unknown | African American | Free | 34 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | |||
| Jackson | Albon | Male | African American | Free | Doctor | December 31, 1900 | December 31, 1940 | 40 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Sweetie Poulain Jackson and Thomas Nathaniel Jackson, Albon Louis Jackson was born on February 17, 1901. As a 17 year old, he attended school and lived with his parents at 133 Cleveland Avenue. In 1917, he graduated from Knox Institute and then attended Dartmouth College, Meharry Medical College, and the University of Illinois School of Medicine. For a time, he lived and practiced medicine in Albion, Michigan and Chicago, Illinois. “He returned to Athens, his hometown, where he was able to take up much of the practice of his two brothers, the late Doctors Thomas N. and Farris L. Jackson.” In 1937, he and his wife, Katie, lived at 133 Cleveland Avenue. According to Atlanta Daily World (Apr 23, 1941), “Dr. Jackson was active in civic and fraternal groups. A member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, he bears the distinction of fostering many of the Alpha projects in cities where he has lived. His friendly smile and cheerful disposition won for him many friends. He is survived by a wife, father, three brother, Dr. Samuel Jackson, dentist, Athens; Dr. B. L. Jackson, dentist, Tuskegee Institute, Lloyd Jackson undertaker of Athens; cousin and a host of friends to mourn his passing.” He died from unknown causes on April 21, 1941. |
| Powers | Viola | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1890 | December 31, 1967 | 76 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Rosa and Peter Powers, Viola Powers was born on December 27, 1891. In 1900, she lived with her parents in Eddins, Georgia. According to the 1952 City Directory, she lived at 257 N Finley Street. She died from unknown causes on June 25, 1968. | |
| Davis | Madison | Male | African American | Enslaved | Legislator | December 31, 1832 | December 31, 1901 | 68 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Madison Davis was born around September 27, 1833 and spent his youth and young adulthood enslaved to a carriage maker. His father, who was from Ireland according to the 1900 Census, may have been a white slaveholder. Davis married Ella Davis and the couple had at least six children: Willie, Annie, Lizzie, Mattie, Mana, and James. During Reconstruction he served as a Republican in the Georgia House of Representatives. Later in life, he worked as a merchant, postmaster, and a real estate agent. In 1900, he was living at 27 Newton Street and just two years later, on August 20, 1902, he died from unknown causes. |
| Milner | Ella | Female | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1861 | December 31, 1942 | 81 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Ella L. Milner was born in 1862 and most likely enslaved as a child. She married Sam Milner, a warehouse worker, and the couple had at least one child: Roberta Milner. She did not work during her married life. As a widow in 1930, she lived alone at 168 Peabody Street. She died from unknown causes in 1943. | |
| Williams | Jane | Female | African American | Enslaved | Domestic | December 31, 1836 | December 31, 1890 | 54 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Jane Williams was born around 1837 and most likely enslaved. She married Isaac Williams and the couple had at least one child: Marie Williams. In 1800, she worked as a servant and lived at the corner of Foundry Street and Connecticut Street. At 54 years old, she died from unknown causes on January 13, 1891. |
| Boyd | Rosa | Female | African American | Free | Wife | December 31, 1871 | December 31, 1915 | 44 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Rosa S. Boyd was born on July 1872 in Florida. In 1883, she married Willie Boyd, a shoemaker, and was either the mother or step-mother of at least eight children: Barlien, Rosa, Willie, Lucy, Racheal, Lydia, Thelma, and Constance. In 1900 and 1910, the family owned a house at 307 Pope Street. According to the 1915 City Directory, he worked as shoemaker and they lived at 437 Pope Street. She died from unknown causes in 1916 and was 44 years old around at the time of her death. |
| Jones | William | Male | African American | Free | Cook | December 31, 1879 | December 31, 1964 | 84 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | William Brown Jones was born on September 18, 1880. According to his First World War Draft Card, he worked as a cook at the State Normal School. He married Mamie Howell Jones and the couple had at least three children: Arthur, Thomas, and Clifford. In 1940, he worked as a cook and the family lived at 1063 W Hancock Avenue. According to the 1956 City Directory, he and his wife lived at 1063 W Hancock Avenue. At 84 years old, he died from unknown causes on January 19, 1965. |
| Smith | D | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
| Foster | Ethel | Female | African American | Free | Domestic | December 31, 1893 | December 31, 1958 | 65 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Born around 1894, Ethel Foster was the daughter of Charlotte and Lorenzo Foster, a City Hall Janitor. In 1920, she worked as a cook and lived with her brother, Henry Foster, on Flint Street.According to the 1958 City Directory, she worked as a maid and lived at 373 Flint Street. She died from unknown causes in 1959. |
| Hill | Harrison | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1930 | December 31, 1930 | 0 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to his tombstone, Harrison Hill was an infant who died on December 4, 1931. | |
| Campbell | Miller | Male | African American | Free | Soldier | December 31, 1880 | December 31, 1935 | 55 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Miller L. Campbell was born around 1881. He enlisted as a private in the 1Cl. Hospital Corps in 1905; his military records described him as a man of dark complexion, with brown eyes, standing 5 foot 5 ½ inches tall. He most likely married Jane Campbell and lived at 748 Hull Street. He died from unknown causes on July 13, 1936 and was around 55 years old at the time of his death. |
| M. | W. | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
| [Tiller?] | William | Male | African American | Enslaved | Metal Worker | December 31, 1854 | December 31, 1935 | 81 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Eliza and Charles Tiller, William Tiller was born around 1855 and most likely enslaved as a child. In 1880, he was married to Ella Teller and they lived with extended family on River Street. He worked in a “in a Gin Shop” in 1880, as a “Tinner” in 1910, 1920, and 1930. He died from cerebral apoplexy and chronic nephritis on November 9, 1936. According to his Death Certificate, he worked as a Sheet Metal Worker and lived at 190 Fifth Street. |
| Harris | Mary | Female | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
| [Re?]id | Male | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | |||||
| Jackson | Samuel | Male | African American | Free | Dentist | December 31, 1905 | December 31, 1945 | 40 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Sweetie Poulain Jackson and Thomas Nathaniel Jackson, Samuel S. Jackson was born in 1906. In 1910, he lived with his parents and siblings at 133 Cleveland Avenue. In 1920, he attended school in Athens. While still living with his parents in 1930, he now worked as a dentist. On December 29, 1934, he married Mayme L. Sapp, but is listed as “single” in the 1940 Census. At that time, he worked as a dentist and lived with his brother, Albon Louis Jackson, at 133 Cleveland Avenue. He died from unknown causes on April 21, 1941. |
| Poyner | Thomas | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1895 | December 31, 1966 | 69 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Thomas Poyner was born on October 15, 1896 (or around 1898). From his residence in Tignall, Georgia, he served in the 342 Labor Battalion during the First World War. According to the 1952 City Directory, he lived with Eddie F. (most likely his wife) lived at 115 Trail Creek Street. He died from unknow causes on April 25, 1967. |
