Category Archives: Vernacular Headstones

Black History, Cemeteries, Florida, Symbolism, Uncategorized, Vernacular Headstones

Pinehurst and San Sebastian Cemeteries-Saint Augustine, Florida

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San Sebastian and Pinehurst Cemeteries are located in West St. Augustine on Pearl Street. The two cemeteries are next to each other and are stated to be among the oldest Black cemeteries in the state of Florida. There is conflicting information on whether the cemeteries began before or after the Civil War.

The cemeteries contain a mixture of commercial and vernacular headstones, along with military ones. Additionally, there are mementos left on many graves. Everything from conch shells to dolls is scattered throughout.

Mr. James Jones Remembrance of his daughter Elizabith. Aslapp.
Edwin Mansell (1947-1999). This is one of the newer vernacular headstones I’ve seen. It uses tile which is a common material in handmade markers.
I do not know what this stands for.
Bessie R. James, 1883-1913
Lewis Mickell, 1872-1915
Elisah Felds, 1887-1905
The name is hard to read, but the Masonic symbol is still visible.
Ellen Simmons, d. 1910. This marker resembles an Angel.
One of the many concrete crosses in the cemetery.
Victorian grave markers heavily influence this marker.

There is no truth that carved chains on a headstone mean someone is born into slavery. Most chains represent the fraternal organization Fraternal Order of the Independent Order of the Odd Fellows. They are frequently joined with the letters “ F L T,” which stands for “Friendship, Love, Truth.”

I read several journal articles about the documentation of slave and Black cemeteries, and there was no mention that markers with chains meant someone was born into slavery. What is consistently mentioned are broken dish ware, clocks, shells, and different plants.

A circle of chains, broken or unbroken, can represent death or hope respectively.

Willie Whitted, 1879-1917. This is one of several Odd Fellows markers in the cemeteries. This person was born after the end of slavery.

This cemetery shared two borders with the all-white cemetery, Evergreen Cemetery.

Black History, Cemeteries, Florida, Vernacular Headstones

Memorial Cemetery-Jacksonville, Florida

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Established by a Leo Benedict, a local businessman, in 1909, Memorial Cemetery is one of several Black cemeteries on Moncrief Road in Jacksonville, Florida. By 1911, the cemetery was run by the Memorial Cemetery Association.

Vernacular marker

The association utilized the Afro-American Life Insurance Company to manage the day to day operations of the cemetery. Abraham Lincoln Lewis served as the president of the company. When it disbanded, the Lewis family continued to manage the cemetery. They managed it until the 1980s when the family turned to a non-profit to run the cemetery. It disbanded and now the city of Jacksonville runs it.

Alice Anderson, 1876-1930, G. U. O. Of O. F. is the abbreviation for Grand United Order of Odd Fellows. Alice was a Most Worthy Grand Superior for the Household of Ruth.
Back of Alice Anderson’s marker
Black History, Cemeteries, Churches, Demolished, Georgia, Schools, Vernacular Headstones

Mt. Zion Baptist Church-LaGrange, Georgia

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The congregation was founded in 1868 by freedmen and women of Troup County, Georgia. Initially, they met under a bush arbor. The church was built in 1906. An active church, baptisms were held in the nearby creek until recently, according to this article in the LaGrange Daily News.

I believe the wooden structure is a school since the history of the church states their first church building was built at the turn of the century. It also resembles the many one room schoolhouses that dot Georgia’s landscape.

The cemetery contains a mixture of prefabricated and handmade markers. It also includes at least two Eldren Bailey markers.

Mother Mary Clay (1859-1941)

I believe this marker was made in the likeness of the church.

Chollie Cameron, d. 1942

There were several markers in the cemetery that a similar angel and crown motif.

Bob Florence (1869-1946)

This marker contains the addition of P, 8, and S to the crown and wings. I am uncertain what means.

This marker did not have a name, but I was intrigued that the star was on the front and back side of the marker.

Katie Ruth Crowder, d. 1963

This is one of the Eldren Bailey markers in the cemetery.

Alabama, Black History, Cemeteries, Vernacular Headstones

Cobb Cemetery-Macon County, Alabama

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I am unable to locate any information beyond what is shared on Findagrave. This cemetery once served the Shiloh AME Church in Macon County.

I love this vernacular marker. The use of concrete and stones with the hand stamping of the angel and the star. This is the marker for George Baker who passed in 1935.

This is the marker for Julia Woodall, 1858-1933. The handwriting and the star are very similar to George Baker’s, so my assumption is that this was done by the same person.

The name had fallen off the silver nameplate that you can see at the top of the photo. I am assuming this was a flower pot used to mark a grave.

There was no visible name, but the length of the spot made me think it might be the grave of a child.

This is an Eldren Bailey marker for Clemmie Felton. The family used the services of Haugabrooks Funeral Home, which was based in Atlanta.

I am only sharing this because when I drove up the dirt road to this cemetery, I thought it was a person leaning against a tree, which scared me.