The churchyard of Mountain Creek A. M. E. is located in an isolated section of northern Sumter County and reached by a road of deep red clay, perched atop a hill. Named for a tributary of the Flint River, Mountain Creek may be a Freedmen’s congregation, but its history is a bit obscure, as is often the case with the historic Black churches I document. This little building is what beckoned me here in the first place, and it has proven to be as enigmatic as the congregation itself. When I saw the piano [below], I was sure this was the original church, but as I explored the property and learned of an Old Mountain Creek Cemetery, that quickly gave way to a different narrative.
The building is nearing collapse, and I now believe it was a schoolhouse, associated with Mountain Creek A. M. E.
The historic cemetery is full of stenciled headstones, and there are five gravesites painted a shade of bright blue, which some would call haint blue. They are the first of this color that I’ve encountered. [There is also an Old Mountain Creek A. M. E. Cemetery listed on Findagrave, which suggests the congregation was established elsewhere and later moved here. The earliest identified burial in that cemetery is 1902].
An historic church building serves the congregation today, and the front addition, known as the Dr. Russell Thomas and Sister Margarot Camp Thomas Fellowship Hall, was added in 1990.
The church is a typical late-19th/early-20th century form, with separate front doors for women and men.
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.
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
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.
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.
Fergerson Cemetery was established in 1907. Annie, Minnie, and Alice Fergerson gave the land to the city of Guyton to be used as a “colored” cemetery. There are nearly 500 marked graves. As is the case in many historic African-American cemeteries, there are many unmarked or poorly marked graves, but working with Lucy Powell, Pearl Boynes, Robert Hunter and Michael Garvin of the Fergerson Cemetery Committee, volunteer JoAnn Clarke has helped to document many of them.
Many handmade headstones can be found throughout the cemetery and these are important historical resources. I’ve documented a few random examples. I’ve attempted to edit them to make them more readable. Some turned out better than others.
Maria Dobson (1843-17 April 1934)
Maria Dobson was born in South Carolina, likely enslaved.
Willie Dobson (1878-1903)
Willie Dobson was the son of Maria Dobson (1848-1934).
Annabell McCloud (24 March 1878-4 February 1924)Jimmie C. Griffin (5 September 1890-28 September 1940)
Jimmie C. Griffin was a Mason, indicated by the symbol on his memorial. He was the son of Will Griffin, a native of North Carolina, and Katie Dobson of Guyton. His wife was Amy Griffin.
James Macon (18 January 1881-1 May 1946)
James Macon’s memorial notes that he was a Mason and a deacon of his church.
Annie Eliza Bryant Cross (27 September 1860-23 September 1941)
This memorial appears to have been made by the same craftsman as James Macon’s, in the previous photograph. Though it’s difficult to see, there’s a star at the top. Her mother’s maiden name was Caroline Kent and considering her birthdate, Annie was likely born enslaved.
Beatrice Massey (5 June 1916-20 January 1939)
This marker has design elements in common with the previous two.
Rena Cuthbert (18 August 1889-24 April 1943)
Mrs. Cuthbert’s memorial features a star. This is a common motif in cemeteries, but is more often found in African-American cemeteries.
Claudie Cuthbert (?-18 October 1945)
Claudie Cuthbert was the husband of Rena Cuthbert. He was a deacon of his church and a Mason. This stone features a flower engraving, that’s difficult to see in the photograph.
James Ishmal Sheffield (1862-21 December 1929)
Mr. Sheffield was born to Abraham and Rosa Sheffield, both natives of Bulloch County. Considering the dates, they were probably all enslaved.
Ben Curry (17 December 1853-22 March 1905)
Mr. Curry was likely born into slavery and hopefully his memorial will be raised out of the ground so he won’t be forgotten. Thankfully, volunteers are working to restore all of these endangered markers.
Elgrie Hayes (9 April 1858-13 January 19170
Mr. Hayes was likely born enslaved, as well. Knowing these people’s names and when they lived is something that needs to be documented all over the state. Sadly, many are lost to time, so the surviving records, i.e. burial sites, must be remembered.
Samuel “Pop” Smalls, Sr. (1919-25 September 1997)
In contrast to the many vernacular memorials in Fergerson Cemetery is the crypt of Samuel Smalls, Sr., known as Pop Smalls. He was one of the most prominent members of Effingham County’s African-American community and served on the Guyton City Council. A World War II Navy veteran, he was the owner of Small’s Funeral Home and was involved in numerous social and civic organizations.
This historic African-American congregation is located west of Forsyth in the Collier community. I haven’t been able to track down any history, but the cemetery has some wonderful vernacular headstones by the prolific but little-known sculptor Eldren Bailey (1903-1987). A few of Mr. Bailey’s sculptures are in museums, but many are long lost. His cemetery memorials represent the breadth of his work and they are quite fragile. Collectively, from the coast to the mountains, they are an important resource which should be better known.
Memorials by Eldren Baileyin Wrights Grove Cemetery
These historic memorials are in varying states of condition and are presented in no particular order.
Coleman Brown (28 August 1900-30 June 1965)
Banks Funeral Home handled the arrangements for Mr. Brown. This memorial features a flower in the tympanum.
Emma Brown (13 July 1905-8 August 1961)
Banks Funeral Home also handled Mrs. Brown’s funeral. Her memorial features a garland of flowers, still in good condition.
Earlie L. Jones, Sr. (Birthdate unknown-1 January 1956)
Earlie Jones’s memorial was handled by Haugabrooks Funeral Home and the memorial also features a garland of flowers.
Freeman Fambro (Birthdate unknown-23 May 1963)
Mr. Fambro’s arrangements were handled by Walker’s Funeral Home. The memorial features a garland, placed slightly differently than the others.
Jessie Lee Benjamin (Birthdate unknown-4 July 1963)
Seller’s Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements for Jessie Lee and Jerry Lee Benjamin.
Jerry Lee Benjamin (Birthdate unknown-death date unknown)
Rena P. Wilson (16 July 1869-17 August 1934). The text* on the stone is difficult to read, which isn’t an insult to the maker, but rather an indictment on the state of education available to black Georgians in the Jim Crow era. *Bon July 161869 -Di.d. Au 17 1934-Age 65 3-Mont 1 Day- At rest
The challenges facing African-Americans in tracing their ancestry have been widely publicized in recent years and among them is the absence of marked graves in cemeteries dating from the days of slavery well into the Jim Crow era. Groups like the Black Cemetery Network are working against time to research and document these important resources.
Dunwoody Cemetery, in a patch of palmetto and oak beside Interstate 95 near Darien, is a perfect example of such a place. The beautiful vernacular headstone of Rena P. Wilson, who was born just after slavery’s end, is the only memorial I could locate here. Most of the earlier markers were made of wood and are long lost to the elements.
The land where Dunwoody is located was originally part of a grant from King George II to Sir Patrick Houston dating to 1757. When the land was purchased by James Smith upon Houston’s death in 1798, it was named Sidon and became part of Smith’s network of profitable rice operations along Cathead Creek. A tabby plantation house, slave dwellings, and this slave cemetery made up the main part of the plantation, which was operated by Smith’s daughter, Elizabeth Dunwoody. All traces of the plantation are now gone, except this cemetery.
Situated at the end of a dirt road and surrounded by fields and forest, the Joiner Cemetery [also, more properly, known as Wallace Cemetery] is typical of many rural burying grounds at first glance.
Further inspection reveals that it’s anything but typical. It contains a mixture of Victorian and vernacular memorials. I’m only focusing on the vernacular examples here.
Vernacular Memorials of Joiner Cemetery
All of the vernacular memorials in Joiner Cemetery feature similar design elements, notably saw-tooth frames around text and the use of stenciled letters; unfortunately, most have some sort of damage and should be considered highly endangered. I believe they are made of poured concrete and are not all contemporary to the burials, as is most evident with the Mashburn burials. The font of the stenciled letters is not contemporary to their death dates.
Eliza Joiner Bullington (18 August 1839-4 July 1884)
The Eliza Joiner Bullington memorial is the most extraordinary in Joiner Cemetery. The top of the stone contains a pictograph featuring a hand print, an unknown symbol, and a star in a circle, representative of heavenly eternity as best I can guess.
Eliza Joiner Bullington, Detail
The crowded text, surrounded by a saw-tooth frame found on other vernacular memorials in the cemetery, reads: Mrs. Eliza Wife Of Rev R [Rubin] Bullington Born Aug The 18th 1839 & Died July The 4 1884 Thy Hand O God Doth Save Me And The Star Of Thy Heavens Doth Give Me Light
Mary L. Bullington (16 November 1880-24 August 1881)
The tomb of Rubin and Eliza Joiner Bullington’s daughter, Mary, is perhaps the nicest of the vernacular memorials, though it has been badly damaged over the years.
Infant of William L. & Betty Joiner (12 October 1878-12 October 1878)
The gravesite of the unnamed infant of William and Betty Joiner is similar to the previous memorial for Mary Joiner, though not as elaborate in design. The inscription reads: Its Spirit Returns to God Who Gave It
Susan Carr (4 September 1861-21 September 1880*)
The fading inscription on this memorial reads: Susan Carr Wife of Alaxander [sic] S. Carr Born Sept. the 4th 1861 & Died Sept. the 21th [sic] 1881.Blessed Is The Pure In Heart For They Shall See God. She Shoutingly Exclaimed That She Could See Her Loved Ones Who Had Gone Before. Susan We Know How Precious You Were On This Green Earth But How Can We Envy Heaven Of So Bright a Juel [sic].
*- The transcribed date of death on Findagrave is 1881, but viewing it through an infrared filter, I believe it to be 1881.
Carear Bell Bullington (8 or 9 October 1886-5 May 1887)
This is a representative example of the saw-tooth frame found on headstones throughout Joiner Cemetery. The decedent was the infant daughter of Reverend Rubin and Seebelle Bullington. I presume this is the same Reverend R. Bullington who was married to Eliza Joiner until her death.
Lewellen Mashburn (30 March 1819-3 January 1872)
The marker reads: In Remembrance of Luallen* [sic] Mashburn…Blessed Are The Dead That Die In The Lord. They Rest From Their Labor And Their Works Do Follow Them.
*-Misspellings are quite common on vernacular headstones, as is the case here. With names, it can sometimes be a guessing game, but there’s a more formal stone associated with this burial, so I know that Lewellen is the correct spelling.
Mary Amanda Mashburn (17 February 1853-19 December 1855)
This tomb is of the same style as Mary Bullington’s and the Joiner infant’s. I believe it was a later marking of an earlier burial, likely done around the same time as the aforementioned, in the 1870s-1880s.
James Daniel Mashburn (10 October 1854-27 January 1860)
James Daniel Mashburn’s memorial is also likely a later replacement of an earlier version. It’s decorated with a lamb, commonly associated with children. He and sister Mary Amanda were the children of Lewellen and Elizabeth F. Lock(e)* Mashburn.
Elizabeth F. Lock(e) was the daughter of James Lock and Athali E. Adams Lock. The spelling error is likely accidental.
James Lock (9 May 1808-18 April 1858)
The inscription reads: For I Know That My Redeemer Liveth And That He Shall Steady At The Latter Day If On The Earth: And Though After [remainder illegible]
Athalia Adams Locke (17 March 1813-11 December 1890)
The stone on this memorial reads: How Bright Is The Day When The Christian Receives The Sweet Message To Come To Rise To The Mansions Of Glory And Be There Forever At Home
Martha Delia Scarborough (1 October 1875-30 September 1896)
This is one of the last of the vernacular memorials, chronologically. Martha Delia was the daughter of John F. and Susan Singletary Scarborough.
Dessie Joiner (23 September 1888-30 April 1889)
This tapered obelisk is unique among the vernacular memorials at Joiner Cemetery. The iron frame was added to preserve it after a break. Dessie was the infant daughter of W. G. and Mary E. Joiner.
I believe this congregation dates to the early 20th century. They discontinued services in 2015.
Ebenezer Cemetery
The historic cemetery at Ebenezer is typical of small rural congregations. A mix of vernacular and commercial stones are present. The disproportionate number of veterans buried here is notable, proof that this isolated community believed in service, even in an era when its members did not have equal rights. I think it speaks volumes to their character.
I’m sharing a few random examples in no particular order.
Wise Liberty (birth and death dates unknown)Maurene “Honey” Still (30 September 1917-9 September 2021)
Aunt Honey & Jesus Had a Good Thing Going- According to her obituary, Aunt Honey was a beloved member of Ebenezer from her youth until the church disbanded.
Joseph Williams, Private, US Army, World War II (30 August 1909-24 March 1967)Eddy Byrd Stringer, US Navy, (19 May 1922-31 May 2005)Reginald Grant, PFC, US Army (1951-3 August 2014)
