Tag Archives: vernacular headstones

Joiner Cemetery-Dooly County, Georgia

When I first fell in love with cemeteries, I was always looking for impressive Victorian influenced markers. While I still love them, my interest has expanded to document vernacular markers. Folk art in headstones always interests me. I always wonder about the person being memorialized and the person who made the marker. The makers are often lost to history.

Close up of the marks on the Eliza Joiner Bullington. The marker’s inscription says, “MRS ELIZA WIFE
OF REV R BULLIN
GTON BORN AUG
THE EIGHTH 1839 &
DIED JULY THE 4
1884 THY HAND
GOD DOTH SAVE 🌟
ME AND THE STAR
OF THY HEAVENS
DOTH GIVE LIGHT”
Carear Bell Bullington (1886-1887)

The Joiner Cemetery sits on the edge of farmland. Outside of traditional markers that can be seen in any cemetery, there are several folk art headstones where a sawtooth pattern can be seen. The letter stamping is all very similar.

The sawtooth and diamond pattern was an interesting addition to the crypt.

As many of the markers are in poor condition, it’s important that these headstones are documented before they are lost forever.

Bessie Joiner marker which has been stabilized.
Susan Carr, (1861-1881)
Sabra Mims, (1846-1896)
A collection of markers with no names or initials likely indicating children who have passed away.

Lowery Cemetery-Laurens County, Georgia

This cemetery was at the end of a very long dirt road. I had put it on my list to visit after seeing an image of Matthew Cadwell’s marker. His epitaph reads, “Killed by lightning upon his horse.” I do not see it often, but I like documenting markers whenI do find ones that share how a person. It made be seen as macabre, but it has a bluntness that I appreciate.

Additionally, the cemetery had several folk headstones that seemed to be made of sandstone. Time is making them fade quicker than most markers.

Mathew Cadwell, 1858-1888
Silas Browning, 1819-188?
Teresa A. J?, 1878-1885

Martha Griffin Marker at Brownoh AME Church-Calhoun Falls, South Carolina

The marker of Martha Griffin (1874-1933) utilizes marbles set in concrete for a handmade headstone. Folk art headstones using marbles can frequently be found in rural church cemeteries.

Folk Art Headstone-Roswell, Georgia

Fulton County

This headstone is in the Historic Roswell Cemetery. There is no name to be located. I suspect it was on the part that is now missing at top. Below is the backside that looks like six panels are missing. It’s in a section where the markers are from 1900 to 1930.

Walker Grove Baptist Church-Keysville, Georgia

Burke County
Louise Randell (1872-1930) This was likely made by the same marker company who made the Alex Steadman marker at Smith Grove Missionary Baptist Church.
I believe the same person who made the Annie McCloud ledger in Smith Grove Missionary Baptist Church also made this one.

Pleasant Hill AME Church-Cowee, North Carolina

Macon County

Located in Cowee, or Too Cowee, North Carolina, Pleasant Hill AME Church was started in 1874. Prior to the Civil War, Cowee was home to a significant population of freedmen and women and enslaved people. After the Civil War, Cowee had the most significant population of Black families in this part of Western North Carolina. This church building was built in 1929 and restored in 2009. While the church is no longer active, the cemetery is still used. This church is part of the Cowee Historic District for Macon County, North Carolina.