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Silent Stories
In their silent guardianship, cemeteries tell stories. Walk through any graveyard, read the inscriptions—if you can—on the ancient stones. Often, the words engraved in granite tell more than a birth or death date. They speak of beloved family members who died too young, who served their country, who lived a long life. According to a recent count, 71 cemeteries lie within Jackson County’s borders. The list includes church cemeteries, city cemeteries and small family plots, some with as few as three graves. “Many family cemeteries are likely not listed,” said Ralph Freeman, a Hoschton native who lives in the house he grew up in, and is not only familiar with cemeteries in his area, but knows some of the history. For example, he explained, the Hosch brothers owned most of the property in what is now Hoschton. When they knew the railroad was coming through, they divided the land around the railroad into parcels and held an auction sale. “But they set aside land for a town cemetery,” Freeman said. “In later years, the Hosch family was moved to the city cemetery from the homeplace.”
At New Hope Church on Hwy. 53, an all-black cemetery became integrated. And Maj. Gen. Ange Delaperriere, who arrived from France, is buried in a family cemetery off of Hwy. 124 near Traditions. “His wife was either Marie Antionette’s sister or friend,” Freeman said. Freeman also pointed out that the word “consort” on a woman’s gravestone simply means “wife.” In 1980, James and Betty Mathis published Jackson County, Georgia, Cemetery Records—a comprehensive list of every person buried in every cemetery in the county. It was a five-year labor of love the couple embarked on for the Jackson County Historical Society. It was also a time when genealogy, the search for family and family history, became popular. “When we started, our sons Greg and Rodney were 2 and 5,” Betty Mathis said recently. “We tramped with them through lots of woods to find graves.” Many family cemeteries were difficult for the couple to locate, as they had been untended for years; the stones obscured by weeds and brush. With rampant development occur-ing throughout the county, relatives may not even be aware that small family burial plots lie within property that builders plan to bulldoze. However, there is a state ordinance that protects graves from being disturbed. Official Code 36-72-4G states that “no known cemetery, burial ground, human remains or burial object shall be knowingly disturbed by the owner or occupier of the land for the purpose of developing or changing the use of any part of such land.” Anyone concerned that graves might be disturbed through development should contact the local sheriff or police department and zoning board. The Mathis book, divided into GMDs (Georgia Militia Districts), lists names, birth and death dates, but offers no additional information. Betty Mathis said that after calling a family cemetery by a family name, they were chastised. “I beg your pardon, but that is not the Wilbanks family cemetery,” a caller told James Mathis. “So, we didn’t use family names in the book,” he said.
More recently, Don Sailors completed the enormous task of creating a cemetery database through photographs, GPS number and directions. Published in 2003, both the CD and DVD versions are still available. In his search, Sailors uncovered family plots not listed in the earlier book. One family gravesite, easily reached, is believed to be the original Walnut Fork Church cemetery. The church was established in 1802 and at some point moved to its current location on Highway 60. Located on an easement in River Plantation subdivision, a few miles from the church, the smooth stones have become so worn, there is no way to determine who might be buried there. Two recently uncovered family cemeteries in the Pendergrass area are not far off the Hwy. 129 Bypass—the Hemphill and Sisson family plots.
“There’s been a lot of vandalism here over the years,” Sailors said. The flagstone-enclosed plot is surrounded by thick periwinkle, but reaching it requires a difficult uphill walk through brier patches and fallen trees. According to Sailors, Hemphill was a large plantation owner who also owned numerous slaves. Today Charles Titshaw owns the property. Except for family cemeteries, the oldest known burying ground in the county is at Oconee Baptist Church on Hwy. 82. The name on an early grave is unreadable. However, the deceased was born in 1802 and died in 1833. The oldest grave the Mathises came across is in a family plot on Woodbridge Road: Mark Thornton, born in 1800, died in 1819. For those who want to create a family record, gravestone rubbing has become popular. Sometimes it is the only record of family births and deaths. By using the correct materials, a relief impression of lettering and carving can be obtained as a permanent reproduction. Unfortunately, age and weather have eroded the verses engraved on many of the ancient gravestones. Happily, there are many carvings that can still be read—inscriptions that tell interesting stories about the loved one. William Smith, born in 1812, died in 1900. The lengthy verse on his tombstone in Pendergrass Cemetery reads: An amiable father here lies at rest, as ever God with this image blest. The friend of man, the friend of truth, the friend of age, the guide of youth.” In addition to carvings, the county’s cemeteries all have a variety of elaborate obelisks and statues marking gravesites of the more prominent, wealthy citizens. For example, at Zion Baptist Church in Braselton, Martha Anne Johnson is memorialized with the words: “She was a faithful mother and friend to all.” Mrs. Johnson, born May 14, 1829, died on May 6, 1908.
Under the word PAPA is the verse “His words were kindness, his deeds were love. His spirit humble, he rests above.” Born in 1847, Mr. Randolph died in 1919. Mrs. Randolph, who was born in 1852 and died in 1916, is remembered with the statue of an angel holding flowers in one hand while dropping flowers in the other. Apparently, this is a common cemetery symbol—lilies symbolize innocence and purity while roses speak of romance, passion and beauty. “Kind angels which lay sleeping dust, till Jesus comes to raise the just,” her inscription reads. An unusual, and most likely one-of-a-kind tombstone marks Early Cooper’s grave in Zion. The son of H.M. and Martha Cooper, Mr. Cooper died in 1910 at age 18. Under the inscription “gone but not forgotten,” a train, on a railroad track, with steam coming from the engine, is etched into the stone. The engine bears the words Southern 1288. A large cross tops the tall monument. His parents are buried with small headstones in the same plot. Hillyer Cooper died in 1928 at age 62; Martha Cooper lived until 1958. She was 95. Another common statue, one found at Harmony Christian Church in Commerce, is a Woodmen of the World memorial. Until the 1920s, the large fraternal organization offered members a distinctive tombstone in the shape of a tree stump. Hiram David Catlett, who was born in 1886 and died in 1913, was a member. A few years after his death, the tombstone benefit was dropped, as it became too expensive. Father and son J.S. Lenderman Sr. and J.S. Lenderman Jr. have large stones in their memory at Harmony Christian. However, neither is buried in Georgia. The senior Lenderman, born in 1835, died October 1862 and is buried in Petersburg, Va.—possibly a Civil War casualty. His son, born in April 1863, died and was buried in Albany, N.Y., in 1885. William Lunton (1868-1911), buried at Harmony Christian, has the following engraved on his large headstone: “A precious one from us has gone, a voice we loved has stilled. A place is vacant in our home that never can be filled.”
At Pendergrass Cemetery behind the Baptist Church, Hugh Brown is buried beneath a tall obelisk with an imposing figure on top carrying a large sword. Brown was born in 1848—there is an unreadable death date. What sets his grave apart is an exact replica of the statue atop Margery Niblack’s (1844-1905) final resting place. The two statues face each other across a narrow grass aisle. A baby lamb often tops the grave of a young child. Little Ralph Trammell died in 1906 at age 4. On the stone marking his grave at Thyatira Cemetery on the Jefferson-Commerce Road (Hwy. 15), a verse reads: “Our darling one hath gone before, to greet us on the blissful shore.” Civil War veterans are often memorialized with their unit and company. At Oconee Cemetery, John Wesley Merk’s headstone has Pvt. Co G 16 Regt, GA Vol Inf, C.S.A. Merk, born in 1843, lived until 1920. However, John Mitchell’s stone simply says: 5 GA Militia, C.S.A, Co. E., with no birth or death date visible. Gray Hill, the Commerce City cemetery, covers several blocks just off the city’s business district. In addition to headstones for the Pittman, Sanders and Wilbanks families, the tallest obelisk by far is reserved for C. W. Hood, a wealthy landowner who owned cotton farms and cotton mills outside the city, as well as property in town. Hood was born in 1827 and died in 1910. At Gray Hill, as well as at others, wrought iron fences surround some family plots. Other family plots are contained in raised gravel; the gravel surrounded by either concrete or wood curbs. “The gravel has no real significance,” Freeman said. “It’s just a matter of choice.” Curbing also surrounds grassy family areas with stones placed inside the enclosure. Despite “perpetual care,” every cemetery has untended graves, with weeds and shrubs growing through the gravel and tall weeds in the grass. Pieces of broken headstones that did not survive the centuries have been carefully placed atop gravesites. In some instances, old stones have been replaced. In Pendergrass, the McDonald plot is well tended with a fence and flowers. Nancy J. McDonald (1860-1935) and Joseph S. McDonald (1861-1926) have brand new, easily read stones.
Cpl. Lemaster Yearwood (1914-1950) is buried beneath a large monument engraved with part of a colorful red, white and blue American flag. The inscription reads: joined Marines 1939, served in World War II, killed in action in Korean War on patrol duty. Lawrence Herndon Hill, born in 1891, “died while attempting to save the life of Samuel Corbett at the Brunswick Shipyard.” The date was June 14, 1945. William Thomas Hill, possibly a relative, was born Nov. 16, 1903, and died April 3, 1933. He was “killed in the crash of the USS Akron Airship.” Cemeteries are not only fascinating to visit, but far from being the dominions of ghosts and ghouls depicted during the Halloween season—they are peaceful, welcoming, and filled with history. Gail Ellen Daly, a long-time reporter for the Chronicle, a daily newspaper serving northeast Connecticut, recently moved to Jackson County with her husband. They live in Apple Valley with their horses.
design:digitaltom - ©Copyright 2006-2008 Living Jackson Magazine
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Historic Cemeteries
At one time, residents could bury a loved one at no charge, but now one must buy plots.
Nevertheless, by locating ancestors through the listings and maps, descendants can visit family graves.
Although the Hemphill Cemetery has been partially cleaned up, most of the headstones are lying sideways. Only a sad one is readable: Hemphill, Cynthia, died 1809 age 1 month. A large broken stone reads: died July 13, 1824, age 51 years. 
JHD Randolph, also buried at Zion Church, must have been greatly loved, as the statue over his grave is a life-sized man, fully dressed complete with hat and shoes, holding an open book and carrying flowers.
Some cemetery statues have no ready explanation.
Perhaps the most interesting gravestones are in Thyatira. Since the cemetery sits on a slight hill next to the Thyatira Presbyterian Church, only glimpses can be seen from the road.