Tag Archives: Georgia Black History

Dixon Branch Missionary Baptist Church, Screven County

Leave a reply
A white building labeled 'Dixonbranch' with a porch and surrounding greenery, set against a backdrop of trees and a grassy area with visible grave markers in the distance.

Dixon Branch Missionary Baptist church is a historic Black congregation near Rocky Ford, organized by freedmen on 27 June 1871. The name refers to Dixon Branch, a nearby tributary of the Ogeechee River. There were many plantations in this area, and after emancipation, formerly enslaved people who had once been forced to worship with their enslavers desired their own places of worship. They likely met in a brush arbor for their earliest services but eventually built a formal church (circa 1900), which was a typical white clapboard structure, with a “wedding cake” steeple to the left. That structure was replace by the current building, but I haven’t been able to confirm a date.

A peaceful cemetery scene with several gravestones and flowers, shaded by a large tree, surrounded by green grass and trees in the background.

The small historic cemetery features a variety of memorials, ranging from vernacular to commercial, and many of the early families still have ties to the congregation. The examples presented here are completely random.

A weathered gravestone partially obscured by fallen leaves and surrounding foliage, featuring the engraved name 'F.J. Nelson.'
F. J. Nelson (birth and death dates unknown)

This simple marker memorializes someone who is now lost to history. I am always hopeful that someone will know these forgotten souls.

A weathered gravestone surrounded by tall grass and small plants in a cemetery.
Maud Singleton (21 May 1888-March 1897)

This memorial is of a typical vernacular style, featuring stenciled letters with a floral design. Maud Singleton was the young daughter of M. H. and G. A. Singleton.

A cemetery with several tombstones visible in a grassy area. In the foreground, a tall gravestone for R. Rease, born August 15, 1847, and died June 22, 1917, is prominently displayed next to a smaller stone marker.
R. Rease (15 March 1842-22 August 1907)

This commercial monument contains the sentiment: “A kind wife mourns in thee, a husband lost. The poor, a friend who felt, what friendship cost.”

Close-up of a gravestone with inscriptions indicating the date of birth and death, surrounded by grass and various flowers in the background.
Johnson Bradley (8 February 1868-9 March 1925)

Mr. Bradley, a Prince Hall Mason, was born in South Carolina to Joe and Nancy Bradley. His wife’s name was Lydia. His memorial contains the sentiment “There is rest in heaven”.

A gravestone for Deacon Arthur Oldredge, featuring an engraved image of a robed figure and inscriptions with his name, birth and death dates, and a biblical quote.
Deacon Arthur Oldredge Burke (27 December 1889-22 July 1964)

Deacon Burke was obviously an important member of Dixon Branch Missionary Baptist Church. His memorial may be the nicest in the cemetery. It features a Sacred Heart of Jesus relief, which is most often associated with the Catholic faith, though it has been adopted by Christians of all affiliations.

Gravestones of Rev. James and Ruby Cail in a cemetery, decorated with flowers and a small American flag between them.
Rev. James Cail (7 October 1931-30 November 2017) and Ruby Cail (28 July 1933-3 December 2015)

Rev. James and Ruby Cail led Dixon Branch Missionary Baptist Church for many years. A rosary adorns Mrs. Cail’s memorial.

A small building with a white exterior and a sloped roof, featuring a covered porch and double doors at the front. The sign above the entrance reads 'DIXONBRANCH'. Surrounding the building is a green lawn and some shrubs, with a reserved parking sign on the right.

Gable Front Cottage, Burroughs

1 Reply
A small white house with blue trim and a falling roof, surrounded by lush greenery, in Burroughs, Georgia.

Burroughs was a community of formerly enslaved people in southwestern Chatham County who, in the 1870’s and 1880’s, were given the opportunity to buy the land they were living on from their former enslavers. Today, St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church and New Ogeechee Missionary Baptist Church are the tangible links to that past. Simple vernacular housing, such as the example pictured here, were once common in the community, but are rapidly vanishing.

St. Bartholomew’s Day School, 1897, Burroughs

2 Replies
St Bartholomew's Day School, a historic black school in Burroughs, near Savannah, Georgia.

The St. Barholomew’s Day School was constructed in 1897. It was operated by the St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church until 1916, at which time Chatham County rented the building and took over its operation. It was closed as a school in 1951 and has since served as the parish hall.

National Register of Historic Places

William Root House, Circa 1845, Marietta

2 Replies
The historic William Root House in Marietta, Georgia, surrounded by a white picket fence and landscaped garden.

The William Root House is a typical I-House form with a shed room at the rear (Plantation Plain), enhanced by a vernacular Greek Revival portico. Built circa 1845, it is one of the oldest houses in Marietta and an inspiring preservation success story. It was facing demolition when it was saved by Cobb Landmarks and now serves as a cultural and historic focal point. It was originally located two blocks east on the northeast corner of Church and Lemon streets and has been relocated twice. In 1893, the house was repositioned on its original lot. In 1989, it was relocated two blocks to its present location and restored. It is now an award-winning house museum, operated by Cobb Landmarks.

William Root (1815-1891), a native of Philadelphia, moved to Marietta in 1839, five years after the city’s founding. He began working as an assistant in William H. Kitchens’s drug store in Augusta in 1836, then relocated to Hamburg, South Carolina, in 1837. After a brief return to Philadelphia in 1838, he came back to Augusta in 1839 and then moved to Marietta to open a new drug and grocery store for Kitchens. On 15 September 1840, he married Hannah Rhemer Simpson (1807-1886).

The business grew quickly and Root became an influential pioneer citizen of Marietta. He helped establish St. James Episcopal Church. In 1844 he purchased the business from Kitchens and built this home about a year later. The Roots had five children (one son died as a toddler), and, according to the 1860 census, four enslaved people in their service. Cobb Landmarks has identified two of the enslaved by name: Lall Burge, who was likely a butler, or house servant, and Elsay Blake, also a domestic laborer.

With Atlanta and environs in the crosshairs of the Union armies, the Root family relocated to Washington, Georgia, in June 1864. They returned to a ruined Marietta on 15 July 1865, but fared better than many others, who lost everything. They were able to reoccupy their house. According to family papers, William Root noted, “Our dwelling, though damaged, was in tolerable condition.”

In 1866 William Root opened a new store on the Marietta Square, and owned the entire block bounded by Church, Ardis, Cherokee, and Lemon streets, the block on which the Root House originally stood. Marietta quickly rebuilt after the war and by the 1870s, Root’s sons joined him in business. He sold it to John R. Winters in 1884 and retired.

National Register of Historic Places

Gable Front Cottage, Liberty County

4 Replies
An abandoned house surrounded by overgrown grass and trees, featuring a porch with white columns and peeling paint.

This utilitarian cottage has always been a favorite of mine. I never stopped to photograph because there was always an old car parked on the side and it wasn’t a convenient stop on the highway. I’ve passed it hundreds of times and always wanted to document it. I finally did a few weeks ago. It’s located between Flemington and McIntosh (the settlement in Liberty, not the county to the south).

Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church, Tift County

1 Reply
A white church building with a steeple, set against a clear blue sky and surrounded by trees. The entrance features a set of stairs and a ramp, with a small grassy area in front.

This church is located near the Brighton community. I haven’t been able to locate any history, but this is obviously a newer structure. The earliest burial I found in the adjacent cemetery was 1908. The Tabor brothers, who died in the tragic Tift County bus crash of 1959, are also interred here.

The Tift County School Bus Crash of 1959

1 Reply
A gravestone engraved with the name 'Leroy Tabor' and the years '1953 - 1959'.
Memorial for Leroy Tabor (1953-1959), St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, Tift County

The Tift County School Bus Crash of 1959 happened nearly 70 years ago, but is still remembered by many as the county’s worst tragedy. Nine children lost their lives. Becky Taylor’s 2019 Tifton Gazette article about the anniversary of the crash highlighted survivors who still had vivid memories of the day. Two siblings who died that day, Leroy and Billy Tabor, are buried at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church.

Leroy Tabor, victim of school bus crash of 1959, Tift County, Georgia.
Leroy Tabor, public domain image via Find a Grave.

On the morning of 3 March 1959, a school bus carrying Black students to the segregated Tift County Industrial (now J. T. Reddick) and Wilson High and Elementary schools, plunged into the cold waters of a farm pond on Lower Brookfield Road, which was in the process of being paved at the time. The fact that the bus was overcrowded didn’t cause the wreck, but got significant attention in the press. Estimates ranged from 60-100 students on the bus. No one knows for sure, but it was definitely overcrowded, according to survivors. Driver Doyle Jones, “who had been making the bus route rounds for 23 years, said his bus hit two bumps in succession on the dirt road, causing him to lose control. The bus turned over on its right side and plunged into the water The vehicle was about two-thirds submerged.”

Per the Associated Press: “Fortunately, the bus was not alone on the road. Carl Lowry and Charles Ahrens were in a car behind the vehicle. Jack Withers saw the accident as he drove by. Ambulances and authorities were telephoned…” The driver had kicked out the windshield and with the help of students began pulling people out of the wreckage.

Gravestone of Billy Tabor, engraved with his name and dates 1950 - 1959, situated on grassy ground.
Memorial for Billy Tabor (1950-1959), St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, Tift County

Those whose lives were lost were: Gloria Jean Davis, Age 7; Leroy Tabor, Age 7; Rufus Harrell Greene, Age 8; Henry Edward Johnson, Age 8; Bobby King, Age 8; Billy Tabor, Age 9; Bernice Henderson, Age 14; Artie Lee Simmons, Age 14; and Erlene Wilcox, Age 14.

Billy Tabor, victim of school bus crash of 1959, Tift County, Georgia.
Billy Tabor, public domain image via Find a Grave .

Mt. Pisgah Primitive Baptist Church, Bulloch County

Leave a reply
Exterior view of a white wooden building with a metal roof, featuring steps and a porch, surrounded by grass and trees.

Also known as Fish Trap Primitive Baptist, Mt. Pisgah Primitive Baptist Church is a Freedmen’s congregation established by Elder Aaron Munlin in 1883. It’s one of the oldest Black congregations in Bulloch County. Elder Munlin was born into slavery in South Carolina in 1843 and was sold to an enslaver in Bulloch County in 1856. After the Civil War, he helped establish other congregations of Black Primtive Baptists in Bulloch County, including Banks Creek and Bethel.

According to Alvin D. Jackson of the Willow Hill Heritage and Renaissance Center: “Mt. Pisgah Primitive Baptist Church is located in Bulloch County, Georgia. It was organized on November 21, 1883. There were only 5 people present at the time of the organization. Brother Howard and Sister Martha Kirkland, Brother Cain Parrish, Elder Aaron Munlin and a white Brother, Elder J. L. Smith, who acted as clerk during the organizational. These few met on Thursday, before the 4th Sunday in November and constituted the church (Mt. Pisgah). The door of the church was open to accept members. On came – Brother Andy Donaldson. They chose Elder Aaron Munlin to be their pastor. These few began doing work for the master in their own way and God blessed them.”


“Elder Aaron Munlin served as pastor 18 years. He was a great man, sold as a slave, the founder of Sister, Bank Creek Primitive Baptist Church and Moderator of the Mt. Pleasant Association. He departed from this life April 11, 1911. The 2nd pastor was Elder Washington Hodges. He served 20 years. The 3rd pastor was Elder Hershel Smith who served 12 years.”

Eureka Church Cemetery: A Landmark of The Level, A Lost Community of Evans County

2 Replies
Gravestones in a grassy area with a dilapidated building in the background surrounded by trees.
Eureka Church seen from the cemetery, 18 August 2013.

The cemetery associated with historic Eureka Church is the last remaining public landmark of The Level, a Black community near Hagan. The church collapsed circa 2018. A nice collection of vernacular memorials set Eureka Cemetery apart as a historic resource for Evans County. I am sharing random shots, including commercial markers, but focusing on the vernacular pieces.

A weathered gravestone in a cemetery, engraved with the name 'A.J. Collins' along with dates and age information, surrounded by dry grass.
A. J. Collin(s) (1886-1952)

I believe the name was misspelled on this memorial, as there are others buried here whose name is Collins.

A weathered gravestone marking the burial site of Leasan Ray, who died on June 29, 1915, at the age of 75 years.
Leasan Ray (1850?-29 June 1915)

Like many in this Freedmen’s congregation, Leasan Ray was likely born enslaved.

A weathered gravestone engraved with the name 'Mary Wright,' the inscription 'Died Mar. 22, 1911,' and 'Aged 79.' The stone is surrounded by dry leaves and grass.
Mary Wright (1858?-25 March 1911)

The fallen marker notes that Mary Wright was aged 59 years at the time of her death.

A gravestone marking the burial of Mary Rease, with her birth date of March 10, 1868, and death date of June 27, 1926, inscribed along with a message about grace.
Mary Rease (10 March 1868-27 June 1926)

This is one of the earlier commercially made memorials in the cemetery, featuring a dove.

A weathered gravestone in a cemetery, surrounded by dry grass and a blurred background of other tombstones and trees.
Unfinished

This marker has no information, but was likely meant for a family.

Close-up of an old gravestone partially covered with grass, displaying the engraved name 'Sarah Davis', with the words 'Bob Small Sister' visible.
Sarah Davis (Birth and death dates unknown)

The only information, other than the decedent’s name, notes that she was Bob Small’s sister.

A weathered gravestone in a cemetery, inscribed in memory of Venus Bacon, with dates of birth and death visible, surrounded by dry grass.
Venus Bacon (2 January 1820-9 October 1889)

Venus Bacon’s marker is an early commercial form with stenciled lettering.

A weathered gravestone marked 'In Memory of O.F. Kennedy, Born July 19, 1877, Died September 15, 1892, with an inscription about the blessed dead.
O. F. Kennedy (19 July 1877-15 September 1892)

The hearts were a nice addition on this handmade memorial.

Gravestone of Sammie Wright, a private in the 157th Depot Brigade during World War I, located in Georgia. The stone displays his birth date of May 23, 1895, and death date of August 19, 1958.
Sammie Wright (23 May 1895-15 August 1958)

Mr. Wright was a Private, 52 Co, 157 Depot Brigade, World War I.

Weathered grave marker in a grassy area covered with fallen leaves, featuring faded inscriptions.
Illegible

I have tried to interpret the words on this memorial to no avail.

A weathered hexagonal stone marked with a faded red star, surrounded by dry grass and fallen leaves.
Unidentified

The red star likely denotes a Masonic affiliation.

Weathered grave marker partially obscured by dry leaves and grass in a natural setting.
York Jones (Birth date unknown-1935?)

All the Jones family memorials have a similar shape and were likely the work of the same maker. This small stone has faded badly.

Old gravestone partially obscured by dry leaves and grass, featuring engraved text and weathered surface.
Jim Jones (dates illegible)

I will try to add birth and death dates if I am able to interpret them. I believe they all may be children.

An old, weathered gravestone with inscriptions partially visible, situated in a wooded area covered with fallen leaves.
Mary Jones (1937-1938)

Like the memorial for Jim Jones, Mary Jones’s features the name in cursive.

An unusual geometric carving on a headstone, featuring a right angle and a triangular point.

The memorial for D. V. Richardson is perhaps the most notable work in the cemetery. It features hand lettering and an unusual symbol, seen in detail above. It appears to have something to do with carpentry or, perhaps, Masonry.

A weathered grave marker in a cemetery, partially covered in moss, with inscriptions indicating the name, birth date, and death date of the individual it commemorates.
D. V. Richardson (11 August 1892-16 July 1930)

Elder Abraham Jackson, Veteran of the United States Colored Troops

Leave a reply

Elder Abraham Jackson was the patriarch of Jackson Town, a historically Black neighborhood near Collins, Georgia, and he and his family were among the earliest burials in what would become the Jackson Cemetery, still dominated by his descendants and cousins today. The cemetery is very well-maintained.

Gray granite tombstone commemorating Elder Abraham Jackson, born 1837 in Barnwell, South Carolina, died April 17, 1915, a Union Army veteran of the Civil War, with details about his military service and his wife Rilla Collins.
Elder Abraham Jackson (1837-17 April 1915) and Rilla Collins Jackson (1840-17 March 1915)

Born enslaved in Barnwell, South Carolina, Elder Jackson later served (1865-1866) in Co. C, 1st Regiment South Carolina Volunteer Infantry (Colored), which was redesignated Co. C, 33rd Regiment, United States Colored Troops. He married Rilla, whose last name remains unknown, in the 1850s.

A gravestone commemorating Anna Collins, wife of Henry Collins, who died on June 3rd, 1904, at the age of 14 years, 9 months, and 28 days, located on a grassy area.
Anna Collins, (Circa 11 October 1888-8 June 1904)

This memorial for Anna Collins, the very wife of Henry Collins, is the earliest grave I found in Jackson Cemetery. She may have been Elder Jackson’s sister-in-law.

Gravestone of Nellie Jackson, wife of George Jackson, born January 23, 1862, died June 23, 1904. The stone features an inscription addressing her husband and children.
Nellie Jackson (28 January 1862-23 June 1904)

Nellie was the wife of George Jackson. Her vernacular memorial, which has been repaired, is very similar to that of Anna Collins. It reads: Dear husbad (sic) and children. as you is now, once was I, and as I am now you must be. Remember death and follow me.