Ebenezer Cemetery, McIntosh County

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A weathered gravestone in a cemetery, leaning slightly, with the name 'Z. Farday' inscribed, born February 1945 and died January 18, 1934.
Izear Day [5 February 1915-18 January 1931]

Though the headstone pictured above is the most unique in the cemetery, I have chosen to document the site due to its considerable collection of vernacular headstones. Ebenezer (spelled Ebernezer on the sign) is actually two cemeteries, located off Churchill Road near I-95. A fenced section is the white cemetery while the surrounding larger cemetery is the domain of African-Americans, a few of whom were born into slavery and others who represent the first generation after emancipation. The African-American section is what is represented here.

A close-up image of a weathered gravestone featuring the name 'Charlie Field Thorpe', the date of death '1914', and the age '37'. A star symbol is also engraved above the text, with visible cracks in the stone.
Charlie Ifield Thorpe [Circa 1877-1914]

The predominant vernacular form in this cemetery is the homemade star-adorned headstone, a locally made type that is well-represented in the nearby Gould Cemetery at Harris Neck. It’s possible that all of these were the work of the same maker. They follow in no particular order but many of the examples are memorials for the Thorpe family.

Close-up of a weathered gravestone in a cemetery, featuring the name 'Thelma B. Thorpe' and the date 'Died Nov. 1819,' with a star symbol above the text.
Thelma B. Thorpe [Unknown-18 November 1941]
A weathered gravestone with the name 'A.L. Thorpe', inscription details including birth date of March 16, 1861, and death date of September 9, 1912, set against a grassy background.
Alice Thorpe [5 December 1851–16 September 1923]
Gravestone of Eddie Horpe, who died in 1922 at the age of 12, featuring a star symbol.
Eddie Thorpe [Circa 1880-1922]
A weathered gravestone inscribed with the name 'James R. Pean' and details of his birth on August 26, 1847, and death in March 1839, aged 93, surrounded by green grass.
James C. Thorpe [20 August 1847-16 March 1939]
Weathered gravestone in a cemetery with inscriptions; surrounded by grass.
Affie White [1842-16 August 1931]
A weathered gravestone marked with a star, inscribed with the name 'Ida Leake', the date '1921', and the age '36'. The gravestone is set in a grassy cemetery.
Ida Leake [Circa 1885-1921]
A weathered grave marker engraved with the name 'Irvin Weldon', born August 1904 and died March 2, 1978, surrounded by green grass, with a small American flag and a decorative butterfly near the base.
Irvin Weldon [16 August 1909-19 February 1936]
A weathered tombstone with inscriptions, surrounded by grass and trees, marking the grave of someone who died in 1923.
Rachel (York) Shellman [1881-6 October 1923] Born at Broxton GA
A weathered grave marker in a grassy cemetery, engraved with the name 'Susie Gross,' her birth date of September 26, 1855, and her death date in April (year not fully visible), accompanied by a star symbol.
Susie G. Ross [25 September 1855-6 April 1943]
A weathered gravestone with an engraved star, marking the burial site of R.B. Pomfret, born September 12, 1870, and died May 7, 1919, set in a grassy area.
Reverend Pompie Anderson [12 September 1870-7 May 1949]
A gravestone with the inscription 'James B. Burch, born 1877, died 1951' and a star symbol, surrounded by grass in a cemetery.
James B. Churchill [17 January 1897-19 February 1951]
A weathered gravestone in a grassy cemetery, with engraved text reading the birth date of 1917 and the death date partially obscured.
J. C. Churchill [22 May 1867-16 May 1951] This stone features an O. E. S. Masonic emblem but is eroding quickly.
A weathered gravestone in a grassy cemetery, engraved with the name 'Mary E. Chichil', and dates indicating a birth in July 1936 and death in July 1938.
Mary E. Churchill [5 July 1879-17 July 1968] Wife of J. C. Churchill
A weathered gravestone in a grassy cemetery, inscribed in memory of Mary Anne Jackson, who died September 19, 1904.
Mary J. Jackson [Unknown-9 September 1925]
Gravestone of Proverb R. Roberson, Pvt 548 QM Service in World War II, born June 6, 1910, died December 18, 1955, with a small American flag beside it.
Proverb R. Roberson [6 June 1910-18 December 1955] Private 548 Quartermaster Service BN World War II
A gravestone marking the resting place of Pernellar Roberson, born in Buckville, South Carolina, who died on January 6, 1925.
Pernellar Roberson [Unknown-3 January 1925] Born in Buckville SC, Died in Christ
Gravestone marking the burial site of Bro. Willie N. Alston, born January 15, 1895, and passed away December 13, 1974, with flower decorations and an inscription reading 'One Worthy of Remembrance.'
The headstone for Brother Willie N. Alston is professionally made, but his footstone (below) and those of two other family members are more modern interpretations of vernacular types common in African-American cemeteries of the early 20th century.
A gravestone decorated with small pebbles arranged in a cross pattern, featuring a metal nameplate. White flowers are placed nearby.
Brother Willie N. Alston [15 January 1895-December 1974] Footstone
Grave marker of Brian K. Niston, born September 1, 1975, died December 6, 1983, surrounded by flowers.
Brian Keith Alston [1 September 1975-6 December 1983]
Gravestone of Jessie Alston, born July 14, 1944, died July 14, 1968, set in a grassy cemetery.
Jessie Alston [29 July 1941-14 July 1968]
Close-up of a weathered gravestone in a cemetery, inscribed with the name 'Hattie B. Hiley,' born September 1881, and died June 10, 1922, with the phrase 'At Rest' below.
Hattie Hillery [15 September 1881-10 January 1928] This stone is the same style as two found in Behavior Cemetery on Sapelo Island and may have connections to those.

4 thoughts on “Ebenezer Cemetery, McIntosh County”

  1. Rafe Semmes's avatarRafe Semmes

    Very interesting!  (Willie?) Alston I believe was the name of the young black man at the center of the desegregation efforts in McIntosh County in the 1960’s, during the long reign of Sheriff Poppell, as detailed in the book “Praying for Sheetrock.”  I wonder if he is one of the Alstons buried here. Have you looked at the Ceylon Cemetery in nearby Darien?  It is just east of the Waffle House on the north side of GA 251, across from Hodges Ford, near the intersection of I-95.  It has an interesting front gate (cast iron?) but I have not been inside it to look around yet. Rafe SemmesMidway GA

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  4. Charles Stapleton's avatarCharles Stapleton

    You are on to something new. A lot more of us now will love these old headstones and cemeteries than just the old houses. 👍

    Sent from my iPhone

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