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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wilburn | Boyd | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1921 | 21 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Wright | Inez | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1977 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | According to her obituary, Inez Flanigan Wright, who resided in Dayton, Ohio, died from unknown causes in March 1978. The funeral was handled by Hurley Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked. | |||
Hunter | Sebe | Male | African American | Free | Merchant | December 31, 1921 | 35 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Ramey | Geo. | Male | African American | Free | Farmer | December 31, 1923 | 51 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
[Pearl?] | Ossie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1888 | December 31, 1956 | 68 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Ossie was born around 1889 and died on March 18, 1957. She was 68 years old at the time of her death. She may have had the last name “Pearl.” | |
Whitfield | W. | Male | African American | Free | Blacksmith | December 31, 1864 | December 31, 1938 | 74 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | W. M. Whitfield was born on April 18, 1865. According to the 1938 City Directory, he worked as a blacksmith and lived with his wife, Mittie, at 495 Reese Street. At 74 years old, he died from unknown causes on June 13, 1939. |
Colbert | Guy | Male | African American | Free | Student | December 31, 1922 | 18 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Morton | Frank | Male | African American | Free | Tailor | December 31, 1893 | December 31, 1933 | 40 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of William and Clara H. Morton, Frank B. Morton was born around 1894. In 1910, he lived with his mother and siblings on Chase Street. He worked as a butcher in 1910 and as a waiter in 1917. During the First World War, he served in the 157 Depot Brigade and was stationed at Camp Gordon. On November 8, 1924, he married Mary Gray. In 1930, he worked as a laborer. He died from myocardial weakness and nephritis on December 27, 1934. According to his Death Certificate, he worked as a tailor and lived at 784 Chase Street. |
Stricklyn | Mary | Female | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1921 | 45 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Shanks | Otis | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1891 | December 31, 1956 | 65 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Otis Shanks was born around 1892 in Thompson, Georgia. In 1916, he “was arraigned on a charge of disorderly conduct and his cash bond was forfeited.” According to his First World War Draft Card, he worked as a truck hand for Southern Railroad and lived at 499 River Street. During the war, he served stateside in the 157 Depot Brigade at Camp Gordon. After the war, he married Christine C. Shanks. He worked as a laborer at the gas plant in 1930 and a “helper” in 1940. According to the 1952 City Directory, he worked as plant operator at Atlanta Gas Light and lived at 139 N Newton Street. At 65 years old, he died from unknown causes on June 19, 1957. After his death, his wife applied for a military headstone. |
Killian | W. | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1951 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | According to his obituary, W. H. Killian Sr. died from unknown causes in March 1952. He married Ruth Moon Killian, and the couple had at least three children, William Herty Killian Jr., Archibald Killian, Alfred Killian, and Clarence Killian. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked. | |||
Davis | James | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1948 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | According to his obituary, James W. Davis, who resided at 178 Strong Street, died from unknown causes on June 28, 1949. He married Mrs. Minnie Reid and had at least five children. The funeral was handled by Mack & Payne Funeral Home. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave is unmarked. | |||
Bates | Alice | Female | African American | Free | Laundress | December 31, 1891 | December 31, 1974 | 83 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Alice Johnson Bates was born on April 10, 1892. In 1940, she worked as a laundress and was married to William Bates; the couple lived at 1537 W Broad Street in 1940. She was widowed in 1943 and, sometime before her own death on June 27, 1975, she moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where she lived at the time of her death. The funeral was held at 4pm on June 29 at Hurley’s Chapel in Athens. Burial at Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery followed. |
Jones | Lillie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1970 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Lillie May Jones died on January 9, 1971. At the time of her death, she lived at 105 Walton Street. | |||
Grant | Render | Male | African American | Free | Chauffer | December 31, 1922 | 23 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Merritt | J. P. | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1924 | 51 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Wiley | Serema | Female | African American | Free | Seamstress | December 31, 1922 | 49 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Thomas | Codelia | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1878 | December 31, 1956 | 78 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Codelia A. Thomas was born in 1879 and died from unknown causes in 1957. | |
Holbrook | Rowena | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1891 | December 31, 1968 | 77 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Anna Hughes and Eugene Shepard, Rowena Antoinette Shepard Holbrook was born around 1892. In 1928, she lived at 1847 Broad Street with her husband, Stephen Holbrook, a carpet layer. According to the 1958 City Directory, the couple lived at 1347 W Broad Street. She died from unknown causes in 1969. | |
Green | Rudell | Male | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1924 | December 31, 1924 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | ||
Davis | Rebekah | Female | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1921 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Rebekah Davis was born in 1832 in Georgia. She was enslaved to Dr. and Mrs. Edward Ware. As a young woman, she married Ned Davis (also enslaved) and the couple had 7 children. Later, at least one of her sons moved to Chicago as a grown man. Three of her sons remained in Athens, and James A. Davis worked as a mail carrier. After the Civil War, she worked as a seamstress. She appears to have learned to read and write in the later years of her life and she was an active member of the First A.M.E. Church. She lived at 179 Strong Street in Athens, Georgia until her death from unknown causes on January 19, 1922. Her obituary, published in the Athens Daily Herald, described her as “one of the oldest citizens of Athens and was the oldest member of the First A. M. E. church.” She was 90 years old. But even after death, the white newspaper remembered her as a ‘faithful slave,’ an element of Lost Cause ideology. “‘Aunt Rebekah’ . . . as a family servant of Dr. and Mrs. Edward Ware, who lived on Hoyt street, during the ante bellum days, and her husband Ned Davis, belonged to Captain John Thomas, and was her personal servant. Ned died many years ago. These darkies were servants in the homes of two of the best known and most aristocratic families of the day, and were well known to many of the white people of the time,” stated the obituary. [Researched and written by Trey Smith] | |||
Collins | Female | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1917 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, this female member of the Collins family died in 1918. She was most likely married to Reverend Collins, who preceded her in death in 1894. | ||||
Shaw | Charles | Male | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
Holsey | [??] | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
McQueen | Mahala | Female | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1909 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Mahala Wooden McQueen survived four wars throughout her lifetime, including the War of 1812 at the time of her birth. She later sewed and mended clothes for soldiers in the Mexican American War, Civil War, and the Spanish American War. Born at Cherokee Corners in Oglethorpe County, and was enslaved to the Hill family. Her obituary notes her labor for the Barrow family in raising David Crenshaw Barrow, former University of Georgia Chancellor from 1906 to 1925. At the time of her death, she birthed twelve children with only two surviving, Sam McQueen and a daughter, Julia Witheld. She passed away at 98 years old in her cottage home at 658 Hull Street on March 22nd, 1910. | |||
Wilder | Charlie | Male | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Rachel Wilder and James Wilder, Charlie Wilder was born around 1860. In 1870, the family lived in Madison, Georgia; this is most likely his last known address. He died from unknown causes on an unknown date. | ||||
[Brydie?] | Eugene | Male | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
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. | ||||
[Jones?] | [??]mar | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
Johnson | William | Male | African American | Unknown | Reverend | December 31, 1841 | December 31, 1908 | 67 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | William D. Johnson was born in Maryland on March 19, 1842. In 1879, he married Alice V. Johnson of Georgia. The couple had at least five children. As a clergyman, Johnson could read, write, and owned his own house at 529 Lumpkin Street. He died from unknown causes on April 10, 1909. |
Kenney | Charlie | Male | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1964 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to his tombstone, Charlie Kenney died on August 16, 1965. | |||
Blont | [J or G?] | Unknown | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1942 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | |||
L. | C. | Unknown | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1888 | December 31, 1890 | 2 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to the child’s tombstone, C. H. L. died on October 14, 1891. The child only lived 2 years, 4 months, and 7 days. | |
Harris | R | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
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. | |||
Blont | [Gary?] | Male | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
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] | |||||
Smith | D | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
[Campbell?] | Charles | Male | African American | Unknown | Janitor | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Charles Campbell most likely worked as a janitor and was married to Marzella Campbell. According to the 1937 City Directory, they lived at 660 W Hancock Avenue. | |||
Wilson | Annie | Female | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Annie Wilson died sometime in April. | ||||
[??] | Mattie | Female | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
Hawkins | Daviet | Male | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
[Hunter?] | Annie | Female | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
[Campbell?] | Female | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Known as "Mother" on her tombstone, she most likely a member of the Campbell family. | |||||
Smith | Flournoy | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Laborer | December 31, 1941 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to the 1931 City Directory, Flournoy Smith worked as a labor and lived at 160 Hendrix Avenue. They died from unknown causes on May 6, 1942. | ||
Foster | [??] | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
[Campbell?] | Andrew | Male | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Most likely a member of the Campbell family. | ||||
Cannon | Sharoy | Unknown | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1963 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to the tombstone, Sharoy Cannon died in 1964. | |||
Franklin | [?] | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
[Carey?] | Floarey | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
Au[??] | Ned | Male | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
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] | |||
Franklin | R. | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Mattie Franklin and Eddie Ted Johnson, Eddie Johnson was born on May 9, 1920 and died on from unknown causes on November 13, 1947. He is buried alongside R. Franklin—who is most likely a sibling. | ||||
[Carey?] | Eddie | Male | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
W | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | |||||
J. | S. | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
[Carey?] | Clara | Female | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
McQueen | William | Male | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1887 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to his tombstone, William McQueen died in 1888. He most likely was the infant son of Nettie and W. M. McQueen, who, according to the 1897 City Directory, lived at 630 Hull Street. He was the sibling of Carrie McQueen and Mamie N. McQueen. | |||
[??] | 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. | ||||
Smith | Julia | Female | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1939 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Julie E. Smith died on July 11, 1940. She is buried alongside Winnie Moore. | |||
G | S | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
W | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | |||||
[Carey?] | Anna | Female | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
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. | |||||
W | J | Unknown | African American | Unknown | 77 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | |||
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. | |||||
B[??] | Gar[?]le | Unknown | African American | Unknown | 37 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | |||
Mack | Cynthia | Female | African American | Unknown | Housework | December 31, 1921 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | ||
Stach Family | John | Male | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
W[??] | Unknown | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1931 | 50 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | |||
B. | W. | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
Green | Unknown | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1934 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to the tombstone, [??] Green died on [August?] 4, 1935. | ||||
S[??] | Emma | Female | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
[Strickland?] | [??] | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
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. | |||
Brown | Eliza | Female | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
Marcellus | Male | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | |||||
Stryckland | [??] | Unknown | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1931 | 42 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | At 42 years old, [??] Stryckland died on November 20, 1932. | ||
M. | W. | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
White | Anna | Female | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1913 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Anna E. White died on October 24, 1914. | |||
Cole | Mary | Female | African American | Unknown | Laundress | December 31, 1859 | December 31, 1942 | 83 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Mary Camilla Cole was born sometime between 1850 and 1870; it is unknown is she was born free or enslaved.. She married William Cole and gave birth to nine children. In 1910, only two of her children, Hansel Cole and an unnamed child, were living. In 1910, the family lived on John Street in Athens. According to the 1942 City Directory, she worked as a laundress and lived at 320 Cleveland Avenue. She died from unknown causes on February 15, 1943. |
Johnson | Seaborn | Male | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1946 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | According to his obituary, Seaborn Johnson, who resided in Monroe, Georgia, died from unknown causes in August 1947. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked. | |||
H[??] | Olivia | Female | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
Whitelock | Martha | Female | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1896 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Martha Whitelock died from unknown causes in 1897. She may have been the wife of John Whitelock (or Whittlock), who worked as a laborer and lived at 805 Athens Avenue, according to the 1894 City Directory. | |||
Jackson | [L.?] | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
Hill | [??] | Unknown | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1923 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to the tombstone, [??] W. Hill died from unknown causes in 1924. | |||
H. | H. | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
Whitfield | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | |||||
Thoma[??] | [??]nno | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
Hiram | Hary | Male | African American | Unknown | Farmer | December 31, 1927 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Harry Hiram most likely lived at 164 Herring Street and worked as a farmer in 1912. According to his tombstone, he died from unknown causes on October 30, 1928. | ||
Ha[??] | Mamie | Female | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
[Jackson?] | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | |||||
Collins | Male | African American | Unknown | Reverend | December 31, 1893 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to his tombstone, Reverend Collins died in 1894. | |||
Edwards | Female | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | |||||
Infant of A. S. Brown | Unknown | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1912 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | According to the obituary, the infant of A.S. Brown and his wife died from pneumonia in February 1913. The baby was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; its grave may be unmarked. |