Tag Archives: Eldren Bailey Headstones

Jones Chapel Cemetery, Washington County

Situated on a ridge across from Jones Chapel, this historic cemetery is as important a resource as the church itself. It contains a nice variety of vernacular and commercial memorials, and formerly enslaved men and women, along with freedmen and their descendants, are buried here. My focus here is on the vernacular memorials.

Bessie H Jackson? (Aug 5, no year-22 July 1960 or 1961)

This vernacular memorial is topped by a cross made of shells and reads: Memory of You Forever.

Bidy Ann Talington (12 March 1900-6 January 1904)

Bidy Ann was the daughter of Sam and Hattie Talington.

Ransom Powell, Jr. (26 May 1899-6 May 1915)

This is a marble stone, likely bought as a blank and inscribed by a local craftsman.

Georgian Brinson (1870-22 February 1909)

This is a typical “stenciled” ledger stone in a common shape. It remains in relatively good condition.

Nias Gonder (4 March 1883-11 September 1923)

This is another typical stenciled stone.

Mattie B. Jones (30 September 1907-8 July 1908)

Ivy and an anchor are represented in the tympanum of this marker, and an accompanying poem reads: A little flower of love that blossomed but to die, Transplanted not above to bloom with God on high.

Little Sandra Leann Dixon (birth and death dates obscured)

This is the first Eldren Bailey headstone I’ve seen with the Blake Funeral Home identified. I’m not sure where it was located, but likely in Atlanta where Mr. Bailey lived and worked.

Newman Jackson (9 May 1910-8 August 1995)

This is one of two Jackson headstones with a distinctive dotted text. Though they were made 15 years apart, I believe the same person created both. In addition to the birth and death dates, it reads: Memories Your Children-We Still Love You

T. L. Jackson (1980-1980)

Piney Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Randolph County

Kuanita Evette Murphy states in her book, The History of the Piney Grove Missionary Baptist Church: From the Brush Arbor to the Sanctuary, that the congregation dates all the way back to 1834 and began as a brush arbor church. From the era of enslavement to the present day, Piney Grove has been a spiritual resource for its members and is among the oldest black congregations in present-day Randolph County.

There’s a large historic cemetery beside the church. The following memorials are presented randomly, for their vernacular importance.

Nellie Fillingame (Birthdate unknown-17 January 1938)

The roots of this tree look like they’re going to topple this nice old vernacular headstone.

Elijah Stergis (Birthday unknown-16 September 1916)

These two memorials by renowned sculptor Eldren Bailey were purchased through the Haugabrooks Funeral Home in Atlanta.

Roy Stergis (Birthdate unknown-died 1945)

It’s in a beautifully secluded location, far back in the woods down hilly roads of orange-red clay. This area of northwestern Randolph County is known locally as the Upper Corner. This historic congregation is still very active.

Evans Chapel C. M. E. Church, Webster County

Evans Chapel is located in the Church Hill community, just over the Marion County line in Webster County. I believe the present structure replaced a simple wood frame chapel, but don’t know when it was built, nor any other history of the congregation.

Mrs. Geneva Hill (?-12 November 1962) – Cox Funeral Home.

There is a large well-maintained cemetery beside the church. [It’s sometimes referred to as Churchill Cemetery.] I located two memorials made by Eldren Bailey, who I believe to be Georgia’s most prolific black creator of funerary art in the 20th century. Sadly, much of his creative work has been lost, so his cemetery memorials, made to order, represent his legacy. I document them whenever I find them.

Herman Alonzo Walker (1934-1968) – Haugabrooks Funeral Home

Mr. Walker was an Army veteran. He died in Atlanta, so I’m unsure if it was related to the Vietnam War, but he also has a government headstone in addition to this one.