Category Archives: Vernacular Headstones

-Georgia, Black History, Cemeteries, National Register of Historic Places, Vernacular Headstones

Porterdale Cemetery-Columbus, Georgia

Leave a comment

Porterdale Cemetery was the first cemetery for African Americans in Columbus, Georgia. The oldest known burial occurred in 1836. Town plans from 1826 show the cemetery on a map. Initially, it was known simply as the “Colored Cemetery.” It was then named Porterdale after a long serving sexton, Richard Porter.

Professor William Spencer (1858-1925)

Many people important to the history of Columbus are buried here. The most famous burial would be Gertrude “Ma” Rainey (1886-1939). She is buried there with several of her family members.

Professor William Spencer was an educator who served as the Superintendent of Colored Schools. He worked to get an accredited Black high school. His dream was realized after his death when Spencer High School was opened and named in his honor.

This was the oldest marker I photographed. It says, “Little Jenny, Kizzie’s Baby. May 30-Sept. 19, 1858.” In 1860, there were only 141 free Black people listed in the census. There were 3,547 enslaved people listed. The fact that there is a marker could mean “Little Jenny” was born free. However, it seems more likely that since a last name was not included, Kizzie was likely enslaved.

CME preacher Reverend Washington “Old Wash” Allen was born in South Carolina. In 1936, he was interviewed as part of the Slave Narratives Project. His interview can be read on the Library of Congress’s website.

Robert Booth (1867-1931) was the Past Master of the Lewis Hayden Lodge No. 6, Prince Hall Affiliated.

This bench honors the Charleston family. Samuel Charleston was an educator and activist.

Julius Wise served in the 24th Infantry. For more history on the 24th Infantry and Black soldiers, this website provides an excellent introduction.

George Hill
Dr. Charles Swann, 1962-1910
Dora O’Neal, 1896-April 25, 1918

Additional land was added to the cemetery. A grove of trees separates it. This section includes a “Babyland” section, where many infants and young children are buried. There are also several vernacular markers. On my last visit to the cemetery in 2021, there were many newly buried graves. I assume that they were for people who died of COVID.

This is only a handful of the new graves.
Babyland
Steven Pate
James Henry Marks
There was no name on this grave.
This is a close-up of the vignette.
-Georgia, Black History, Cemeteries, Churches and Temples, Vernacular Headstones

Zion Hill Baptist Church-Haralson County, Georgia

Leave a comment

I was unable to find any history on the church. Based on FindAGrave, the oldest recorded burial is 1900. The church has burials in three distinct locations. The older sections were further from the church.

This marker for Grace Holcomb, 1909-1962, was my favorite find of the day. The top detail reminds me of a crown. The careful lettering and leaf etching illustrate how careful the artist was in making this. According to findagrave, there is another marker like this, but I was not successful in finding it.

On occasion, I will find Eldren Bailey markers where his markers are incorporated into other materials. Rufus and Cassie Rowe lived outside of Bremen. Rufus worked for the railroad. According to Ancestry, they had at least ten children.

Their Eldren Baikey markers were encased in concrete decorated in shells. Seashells are a common Christian symbol used in cemeteries, especially in the South, to represent a crossing over or spiritual journey. It also is believed that enslaved people utilized shells to represent that the sea brought them to this land, but the sea would also take them back to Africa.

There were also other Eldren Bailey markers in the cemetery.

Lawrence Holcomb, d. 1970
Mrs. Claudie Spear, 1909-1973

Below are a few different views of the cemetery.

-Georgia, Cemeteries, Vernacular Headstones

Stephens Grave Covers-Buchanan, Georgia

1 Comment

The Buchanan City Cemetery is a small town cemetery located in Haralson County, Georgia. In this cemetery, there are six grave covers made of Georgia red clay, utilizing a uniform design.

Jessie Parks Stephens, 1880-1880

Several generations of family members rest in these plots. Isabella Hill is the grandmother to John Henry Stephens and Exah Cowart. Jessie Parks Stephens is the son of John Henry Stephens and great-grandson of Isabella Hill. Johnnie Cowart is the son of Exah Cowart and grandson of Isabella Hill. I did utilize Wikipedia and Ancestry to see if there was additional info.

Exah Matilda Stephens (Cowart), 1855-1882

While the deaths spanned from 1880 to 1898, I believe the markers were made simultaneously. The covers show uniformity in size and design. I appreciate the handiwork that went into play to create the

Johnnie Cowart, 1882-1883

I know very little about pottery. If you know more, please provide any additional information that would be helpful in describing then or sharing techniques.

Isabella Hill, 1801-1883
John Henry Stephens, 1853-1887
Walter Jenter Stephens, 1877-1898
A close up of one of the vases
-Georgia, Black History, Cemeteries, Churches and Temples, National Register of Historic Places, Vernacular Headstones

Springfield Baptist Church and Cemeteries-Log Cabin Community, Georgia

Leave a comment

Zach and Camilla Hubert were one of the earliest Black landowners in middle Georgia after the conclusion of the Civil War. Hubert, along with his brothers Floyd and David, combined efforts to purchase land in Hancock County, Georgia, from a white landowner who was willing to sell his land to the Huberts.

The gravesite of Zach and Camilla Hubert is located in the Hubert Family Cemetery, which is next to the church.

The Huberts, along with several other Black landowning families, created the community of Springfield, also known as the Log Cabin community. Zach and Camilla donated land for the Springfield Baptist Church., which had been holding services in a brush arbor since 1865. The church was built in 1879 by the Hubert brothers.

A historical marker was placed at the home site of the Hubert’s home called Springfield to commemorate the success and dedication of the Hubert family. It says, “Zack Hubert, a former Warren County slave, moved here with his family in 1871. The Huberts were among the first African-American landowners in central Georgia and played influential roles in the area’s African-American community. They named their homesite Springfield. Zack Hubert married Camilla Hillman in 1873. Hubert donated land and helped with construction for Springfield Church and its school, an early provider of technical education to African Americans in Georgia… Camilla and Zack Hubert are buried beside Springfield Church.”

The newer marker for Dr. Hubert

The church is a contributing property to the Camilla-Zach Community Center District.

The original Eldren Bailey marker for Dr. Benjamin Hubert
Jency Hubert Reeves was one of the daughters of the Huberts
Mrs. Jency Reeves’s original marker made by Eldren Bailey
The small cemetery across the road from the Springfield Baptist Church

-Georgia, Cemeteries, Symbolism, Vernacular Headstones

Mt. Sumach Baptist Church Cemetery-Cisco, Georgia

Leave a comment

Mt. Sumach Baptist Church is located in the hills of the Georgia Mountains near the Tennessee State line. The church’s graveyard is typical of many rural church cemeteries. There are a mixture of modest headstones. Additionally, there are a handful of vernacular markers. Two of these markers are the “head and shoulder” markers, which I usually see made out of wood. The pink marble marker is likely made from Tate, Georgia pink marble.

The grey granite marker says “MRA.” I am not sure what these two markers together mean.
This is a typical Victorian marker which symbolizes the curtains are closing.
The head and shoulders marker of Jackson Columbus Hooker, who only lived for one day.
There was no visible name on this marker.
While I suspect this marker was a commercially made marker, I liked that it had a myriad of colors.
-Georgia, Cemeteries, Vernacular Headstones

The Dollhouse Grave of Korry Gail Blackburn-Sautee Nacoochee, Georgia

1 Comment

Korry Gail Blackburn was born on February 17, 1976. Unfortunately, she passed away on July 13, 1976. Her dollhouse grave sits almost at the top of the Nacoochee United Methodist Church cemetery.

While not as famous as Little Nadine’s Playhouse, the grave is well-known in the area. Based on the few photos I’ve seen, the gravesite appears to be regularly decorated. Little trinkets are also left behind.