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.
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.
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
The Hillary family from Sapelo is a large family. Several members still live in Hog Hammock.
Thanks for sharing the cemetery and these headstones.
You are on to something new. A lot more of us now will love these old headstones and cemeteries than just the old houses. 👍
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