Tag Archives: Georgia Cemeteries

Flipper Cemetery, Thomasville

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This cemetery, now commonly referred to as the Flipper Cemetery, is one of the oldest municipal burial grounds for African-Americans in Thomasville. Also known as the old Magnolia Cemetery, it’s distinguished by methodical plantings of oaks and other shade trees and is a well-maintained historical resource.

Flipper Family plot

Significantly, it’s the final resting place of Lt. Henry Ossian Flipper, the first Black graduate of West Point. Lt. Flipper died in Atlanta in 1940 and was buried in South View Cemetery. In February 1978, his remains were exhumed and he was re-interred in his hometown.

Rev. Jacob Wade (?-1873)

But it is also important for the numerous other prominent Black citizens of 19th-century Thomasville, including Rev. Jacob Wade, the first pastor of the African Baptist Church. Additionally, there are a few important vernacular monuments present, most importantly the three crosses and the Ruis obelisk. There are also quite a few typical Victorian and early-20th century memorials.

Cross monuments of Dall Mitchell, Violet Mitchell, foreground; Benetta Lowry?, right.

The birth and death dates are unknown, and with Dall Mitchell and Benetta Lowry, the names are not certain. Those two crosses have been repaired and it’s possible that information was lost. They are quite unusual and vernacular landmarks.

Benetta Lowry? cross monument

This shows the loss of part of the letters from the original monument, which was obviously taller than it is in its present configuration, and the challenge of identification.

Ruis-Wiggs obelisk

The Ruis-Wiggs obelisk is a concrete vernacular copy of other monuments common at the time, usually accomplished in marble or granite.

Marget (Margaret) Ruis (1889-1929)

Margaret and Mattie Ruis (1859 or 1869-1911) are memorialized on the obelisk, as well as Shep W. Wiggs (birth and death dates indiscernible).

There are numerous brick grave markers like the one seen above. Most do not identify the decedent and therefore present a great challenge for identification.

Kate Stewart (16 June 1885- 9 April 1886)

This is one of several damaged memorials in Flipper Cemetery that have been repaired.

Ezekiel Hambleton (19 October 1842-9 October 1892)

The presence of so many manufactured headstones in a Black cemetery of this era is an indication of a thriving and growing Black middle class.

Sophia James (4 July 1860-15 March 1883)

It appears, considering all the broken memorials, that the cemetery was once very poorly maintained, but thankfully, someone took the time and care to repair nearly all of the damaged stones.

Flipper Family plot

Also buried within the family plot, along with Lt. Henry O. Flipper, are his parents, J. Festus Flipper (1832-12 December 1918) and Isabella Buckhalter Flipper (1837-21 August 1887).

Springhill Methodist Church, Circa 1833, Thomas County

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Located in the Red Hills southwest of Thomasville, Springhill Methodist is the oldest church in Thomas County. The vernacular Greek Revival structure, built circa 1833, was restored by Charlie Howard Whitney in 2010. The congregation dates to 1822, when a log church was built by pioneers Peter McKinnon, Lockland Morrison, Angus Morrison, and one other man, whose name is lost to the ages.

John Ferrell, who wrote a history of the congregation in 1924, notes that regular services began in 1826. By the 1840s, the congregation numbered nearly 500 members. Over time, it dwindled to point that regular services weren’t feasible, but it still meets on fifth Sundays, a few times a year, and is available for weddings and funerals.

Urn atop Isabella Morrison tomb

The historic cemetery is a fascinating peek into the early history of the area.

Isabella Graham Morrison (1810-9 June 1843)

The tomb of Isabella Graham Morrison is the most notable memorial in the cemetery, not only because Mrs. Morrison was the wife of one of the founders of the congregation, Angus Morrison (1783-1865) but for its unusual appearance. Isabella, a native of North Carolina, and Angus Morrison, Sr., were married on 13 January 1830 in Telfair County and they had seven children. After Isabella’s death, Angus married Mary A. Strange (1818-1919) in 1852 and to that union two more children were born to Angus Morrison. He died at Sopchoppy, Florida, and is buried there. The unsigned but finely executed marble marker on the front reads: This tomb was erected to the memory of Isabella Morrison – consort of Angus Morrison – Who died in the triumphs of a gospel faith June the 9th 1843 aged 30 years – Leaving a husband, children, numerous relatives to mourn the loss of an affectionate companion, a fond dutiful mother, and faithful friend who always made it her motto in life to live the life of the righteous that her latter end might be as his.

Decedent and dates unknown


The most curious grave is a concrete slab featuring an unusual medallion. The identity of the decedent has been obliterated by time, and it appears someone painted the medallion to make it distinguishable. It was obviously made from a mold of some kind; it features a whimsical water bird, wearing glasses and a hat, with a coconut-laden palm in the background. I first though it to be a stork but now I’m not sure. If anyone knows the story of this one, please get in touch.

Jessey Applewhite (1854-1887) – Back side of marker

Zinc headstones (known to taphophiles and cemetery tourists as ‘zinkys’) were very trendy in the late 1800s, and were advertised to last as long as marble and other stone memorials. Many have survived nicely and can be found in cemeteries throughout the country, thanks to the excellent marketing of their primary manufacturer, the Monumental Bronze Company.

Margaret L. McIntosh Ferrell (1829-1891)

Margaret McIntosh was a native of a pioneer family of Brooks County, according to her obituary. She and James Ferrell were married in 1853 and had five children. Two died of tuberculosis, or consumption as it was known at the time. The disease was also noted as the cause of death for Margaret.

James Ferrell (1817-1893)

James Farrell outlived his wife Margaret by about two years. He was the son of Hutchins and Celia Morgan Ferrell.

Vernacular Headstones of Providence Methodist Cemetery, Stephens County

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It’s not unusual to find old cemeteries stretched beyond the boundaries of their more formal current configurations, and in the woods around historic Providence Methodist Church near Traveler’s Rest there are many vernacular headstones scattered along the fringes.

It’s safe to presume that these are among the oldest memorials in the cemetery, which dates to 1857. Local stone, be it granite, gneiss, or something similar, was readily available in the creeks and valleys near Providence, and as such was the logical material for marking the final resting places of some of its earliest members.

The marker pictured above is a great example of such a stone. Many were placed “as-is” but this one appears to have had a bit of finishing.

Robinson family plot

The Robinson family plot contains the most significant vernacular marker at Providence. Two of the three gravestones are slightly stylized, as as seen in this view, and contain text on the back side, although it’s nearly unreadable now.

M. B. Robinson (27 February 1908-1 December 1908)

The most important Robinson marker is this “Tree of Life” marking the grave of a toddler, M. B. Robinson. Findagrave identifies it by the name on the stone, which is Robson, but I believe this to be a phonetic spelling, since the more modern gravestone in the plot spells the name “Robinson”. We may never know much about these people, but they left behind a beautiful work of art with this enduring piece of folk art.

New Harmony Methodist Church, Hart County

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There is very little history to be found in regards to New Harmony Methodist Church. Our friends at Historic Rural Churches of Georgia date the structure to 1890, tentatively, but two local surveys I’ve consulted date it to 1870. Both dates are believable, since this style church was the most common in Georgia in the last half of the 19th century. These surveys also point out that it rests on a newer foundation, which is obvious.

The cemetery is quite interesting, as many of the graves are reburials, moved here when the Mt. Zion Cemetery was inundated by the creation of Lake Hartwell in May 1961.

Peter Albert “Lee” Fleming (1862-1898). Fleming’s wife and children’s names are also present on the modern stone which marks it.

There are more historic interments at New Harmony, perhaps, but the most fascinating marker is this yellow brick structure. It’s not quite a crypt and not quite a grave house. The brick is probably local to the area.

Decedent unknown

As a fan of vernacular monuments, I really liked this cross.

Dan Tucker’s Grave, Elbert County

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Sign marking the trail leading to Dan Tucker’s grave

Elbert County has always promoted Dan Tucker’s gravesite to visitors based on the assumption that the Daniel Tucker buried here is the “Old Dan Tucker” of 19th-century American folklore. There is no academic or even incidental agreement on this assertion, but it’s a great story, and the public access trail to the historic Tucker Cemetery is one of the nicest walks around. And as a big fan of vernacular gravestones, I’d suggest a visit to others who appreciate this underappreciated art form. Kudos to Elbert County for maintaining it so nicely. It’s a low rise path surrounded for most of its short distance by wooded slopes descending into Richard B. Russell Lake. The small cemetery has several other markers, three of which are identified.

Path to Dan Tucker’s grave

Since the origins of the standard folk song “Old Dan Tucker” are unclear and may never be confirmed, there is no way of proving the identity of its namesake. Some credit the song to Dan Emmett, who popularized blackface minstrel shows and composed the song “Dixie”, but it has also been credited to J. R. Jenkins, and Henry Russell. Dan Emmett told his biographer that he wrote the song circa 1830-1821 when he was 15 years old. “Old Dan Tucker” was first published as sheet music in 1843. The earliest versions (there are many) employed Black Vernacular English, portrayed Dan Tucker as a drunken troublemaker, and breaks with many social conventions. He was a Black man in these iterations. At least four versions with different lyrics and identities for Tucker were published in the 19th century. Some suggest it’s based on a notorious sea captain and widely despised colonist named Daniel Tucker. This seems a bit far-fetched to me. More likely, as has been suggested, it’s derived from earlier minstrel tunes.

General view of Tucker Cemetery

Elbert County’s Dan Tucker was Daniel Tucker (14 February 1740-7 April 1818), a Virginia native who served as a captain of the Amelia County Militia during the Revolutionary War. For his service, he was awarded a land grant on the Georgia frontier. He developed a successful plantation, Point Lookout, with an enslaved workforce, ran a ferry on the Savannah River, and served as a minister, particularly known, through oral tradition, “…to bring Christianity to those he enslaved.” He was a neighbor and good friend of Governor Stephen Heard.

Frances Tucker (25 April 1790-19 May 1818). The nice vernacular headstone, of local material, reads: Sacred to the memory of Frances Tucker W of Rev Eppes Tucker – Born April 25 1790 – dp this life May the 19 1818 -Age 28 years.

A 1957 Georgia Historical Marker, which is no longer standing, claimed this about Daniel Tucker: “…Esteemed by his fellow planters, he was loved by the Negroes who composed the many verses of the famous ditty, “Old Dan Tucker,” a favorite song at corn shuckings and other social gatherings.” There is no evidence whatsoever to support this claim, other than local tradition. While I never dismiss it outright, oral history is spotty at best. I mean no ill will in pointing this out, and I enjoyed my visit to Dan Tucker’s grave. I never gave it much thought when I first heard it on The Andy Griffith Show and Little House on the Prairie as a boy.

Decedent unknown. I’m working on translating the name but haven’t gotten it yet.

There are several unidentified stones in the cemetery, all relatives or in-laws of Daniel Tucker as best I can discern.

Frances Epps Tucker (4 April 1750-6 August 1823). The stone reads: In Memory of Frances Tucker W. O. Daniel Tucker-who was born April the 4th 1750-dp this life Aug the 6th 1823-Age 73 Yr. [The maker of this marker used a backward capital D for the letter R, and for the number 5 in the birthdate, quite an unusual characteristic.]

Daniel Tucker’s grave is also quite primitive.

Rev. Daniel Tucker (14 February 1740-7 April 1818)

A newer military-issued marker has been placed in recent years, and it’s a good thing, as these memorials are all fading fast.

Heard Cemetery, Circa 1800, Elbert County

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Entrance to Heard Cemetery

This historic cemetery near the lost plantation village of Heardmont is best known as the final resting place of Stephen Heard (1741-1815), who served briefly as governor of Georgia, from 1780-1781. It’s also referred to as the Stephen Heard Cemetery, Heardmont Cemetery (historic), and God’s Acre Cemetery. The earliest identified burial dates to 1800. It has been maintained by the Daughters of the American Revolution, though I’m not sure if that arrangement is still in place. It’s very well maintained. A granite marker near the entrance states: John W. McCalla, husband of Mary Allen McCalla, daughter of Singleton W. Allen*, deeded ten acres more or less, to the order of the “Daughters of the American Revolution” on November 24, 1903. The northeast corner, known as Heardmont Cemetery and church lot, to be reserved for burying purposes of the family members and relatives of Singleton W. Allen. *-Singleton Walthall Allen, Sr. (1793-1853), married Jane Lanier Heard, daughter of Stephen Heard.

A second generation Irish American from Hanover County, Virginia, Heard was the son of John Heard 1717-1788), and Bridgett Carroll (1719-1784). He set aside his schooling in the 1750s, and along with several of his brothers, joined George Washington’s Virginia regiment in the French and Indian War. He was promoted to captain by the future president and the men maintained a lifelong friendship.

This wall surrounds the entire cemetery.

He and his family came to Georgia in 1759, and in 1766 was the beneficiary of a 150-acre land grant for service rendered during the French and Indian War. Tensions remained high among the British settlers and the Creek and Cherokee peoples, and after both tribes signed the Treaty of Augusta in 1773, land north of the Little River was opened to settlement. To help protect new settlers from Native American incursions, Heard and his brother Barnard constructed Fort Heard, at present-day Washington, in 1774. Around the same time, Stephen and Barnard, along with their father, established another fort, known as Heard’s Fort, seven miles north of Fort Heard near Fishing Creek.

The Heards were patriots (Whigs) and were part of a larger group of rebels that included Nancy Hart, Elijah Clarke, and John Dooly. Far from being embraced by their fellow settlers, these colonists were the target of British sympathizers, known as Tories. As the British occupied Georgia, the Tories committed widespread acts of violence, culminating for Stephen Heard in the loss of his wife, Jane Germany, and their adopted daughter. The Tories invaded the Heard property and forced the women outside and into the snow. They later died of exposure.

His resolve greater than ever, Stephen Heard participated in the Battle of Kettle Creek on 14 February 1779. The battle was a major setback for the British in northeast Georgia, as only 270 of a force of 600 survived, but Tories continued to create chaos in the area. During one such campaign, Heard was captured and taken as a prisoner to Fort Cornwallis in Augusta. Legend holds that he was saved by one of his slaves, Mammy Kate.

Heard was appointed governor by the executive council of the House of Assembly on 24 May 1780 and served just over a year, departing the office on 18 August 1781. Clay Ouzts writes: “During his term, the British, who had overrun most of the state, were in control of its principal cities, and the backcountry was in a state of anarchy. Heard’s Fort functioned temporarily as Georgia’s capitol, but raids by Tories and Indians forced Heard and the council to move about continually to avoid capture by the British.“

Elizabeth Darden Heard (October 1765-5 June 1848)

After the Revolutionary War, Heard was granted nearly 7000 acres. He built Heardmont about 30 miles north of Washington on land which became part of Elbert County in 1790. He married Elizabeth Darden (1765-1848), a great niece of George Washington according to Findagrave, and they had nine children. Heard was an early justice of Elbert County, a delegate at the state constitutional convention of 1795, and a member of the committee that laid out the county seat of Elberton in 1803. He died at Heardmont on 15 November 1815. Heard County is named for him.

Col. Stephen Heard (13 November 1741-15 November 1815) The memorial doesn’t mention his brief service as governor, but notes: He was a soldier and fought with the great Washington for the liberties of his country…

Mammy Kate and Daddy Jack: Forgotten Black Patriots

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There are no known contemporary images of a woman enslaved by Stephen Heard known simply as Mammy Kate, but early references described her as imposing, over 6 feet tall, very strong and fearless. She also declared herself to be the daughter of an African king. These firsthand accounts are part of an oral tradition among the descendants of Stephen Heard that have elevated Mammy Kate to near mythological status for her bravery in freeing Heard from his British captors at Augusta during the American Revolution.

On 14 February 1779, Heard was present at the Battle of Kettle Creek and was subsequently captured and imprisoned at Fort Cornwallis in Augusta. He would have been executed had he remained there. Hearing of his capture, Mammy Kate set out on his horse, Lightfoot, and after reaching Augusta, gained the trust of the British soldiers at Fort Cornwallis by doing their laundry, and therefore got close to Heard. The story goes that she convinced him to get into a basket and she carried him out on her head. This part may be apocryphal, but is central to the story. She did in fact get Stephen Heard safely back to Fort Heard, (present-day Washington, Georgia). Mammy Kate was given her freedom for this daring act, as well as a small plot of land and a four-room house. She continued to live at Heardmont alongside her husband, Daddy Jack, who remained enslaved and worked as Heard’s gardener. Ironically, Mammy Kate left her nine children to Stephen Heard’s children upon her death. It does raise questions as to the broader relationship dynamics at work but there is nothing to be found, even in genealogical resources that I’ve consulted.

Published accounts of this story emphasize that Mammy Kate lived in “freedom from care and want” and that she loved her “kind” master. It should be pointed out that, ultimately, African-Americans, even free African-Americans, didn’t have carefree lives or a sense of self determination at this time and such accounts should be taken at face value and within a broader context.

Daddy Jack (Heard)-Birth and death dates unknown, Heard Cemetery, Elbert County

Even less is known about Daddy Jack than Mammy Kate. I was unable to find any mention of their countries of origin in Africa or their children.


A 2011 article in the Athens-Banner Herald notes that Mammy Kate was the first Black woman in Georgia honored as a patriot by the Sons of the American Revolution and Daughters of the American Revolution. Daddy Jack was also afforded this honorific. Heard’s descendants, who have diligently worked to preserve family stories over the centuries, were happy to see the recognition for Mammy Kate and Daddy Jack.

Mammy Kate (Heard)- Birth and death dates unknown. Heard Cemetery, Elbert County

The very presence of two marble slabs bearing their names in the Heard Cemetery is proof that Mammy Kate and Daddy Jack were held in high esteem. Unfortunately, there are no birth or death dates on their memorials. They were likely installed at the same time, possibly years after their deaths. I can’t think of another enslaved man or woman who died before Emancipation that are honored in this way, though I imagine there could be a few in existence.

Joseph D. Brantley Family Cemetery, Washington County

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Nancy Melissa Massey Brantley (7 September 1845-3 December 1879)

I don’t often photograph family cemeteries, as many aren’t publicly accessible, but this one was open and very inviting, with great landscaping, spring blooming bulbs, and obvious good maintenance. There are always stories in these places, and a bit of this one unfolded from the pen of the late Georgia-born writer, Van K. Brock, with whom I coincidentally corresponded many years ago.

The cemetery is identified in different sources as the Joseph D. Brantley Family Cemetery and the Massey-Brantley Cemetery. According to Findagrave, Joseph Daniel “Joe” Brantley, Sr. (13 November 1845-17 November 1900), the namesake, isn’t buried here, but at Mount Gilead Primtive Baptist Cemetery, also in Washington County. He was the grandson of James Brantley, who migrated to Washington County from Tar River, Chatham County, North Carolina. Joe Brantley served as a private in Company A, 28th Georgia Infantry during the Civil War. Nancy Melissa Massey, a Washington County native, was his first wife. They had three daughters and a son.

Almarintha “Marintha” Cowart Brantley (3 March 1859-5 October 1888)

Van K. Brock wrote that “Marintha gave birth to five children while caring for seven stepchildren. One of her children died at birth. She died trying to give birth again.” I’m not sure about the “seven” stepchildren, as Joe and Nancy only had four children, but I may be missing an aspect of that. At any rate, Joe and Marintha’s three children who died at, or near, birth are buried here.

Infant deaths were common at this time in history.

Infant Daughter Brantley (5 October 1888-5 October 1888)

Of the three Brantley infants to die, Victory was the first, and the only one given a name.

Victory Brantley (26 February 1884-29 May 1884)

Joe and Marintha had another daughter and two sons who lived to adulthood. They are buried elsewhere. Not long after Marintha’s death, Joe married his third wife, Beulah Haddock Brantley (17 October 1869-11 September 1901), on 17 February 1889. Beulah bore Joe seven more children, all but one of whom survived to adulthood.

Jones Chapel Cemetery, Washington County

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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)

Rev. J. W. Irwin Memorial, 1948, Tennille

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Rev. J. W. Irwin (?-11 January 1948), Women Missionary Society Cemetery, aka Tennille Colored Cemetery

In an historic African-American cemetery characterized by many sunken graves and damaged markers, the headstone of Rev. J. W. Irwin stands out as a vernacular masterpiece. It’s one of the most unique handmade memorials I’ve encountered anywhere. The poured concrete stone is pierced by four holes, roughly representing the shape of a cross. Rev. Irwin’s name and date of death are handwritten on the surface. I hope to learn more about Rev. Irwin.