DECATURVILLE CEMETERY
(Black)

            This cemetery is the unnamed cemetery indicated on the U.S.G.S. Scotts Hill quadrangle (1986) about ¾ inch below the town name "Decaturville." This cemetery serves Decaturville's black families. It is typical of black cemeteries, with many temporary markers never being replaced with permanent markers and many unmarked graves. Fewer than half of all burials here are identified. The age of the cemetery is unclear. Earliest death date on a carved marker is 1902. The cemetery might be as old as Decaturville itself but more likely dates to the early 1870s when segregation began to be imposed. David Donahue recorded the cemetery October 17, 1990; updated it November 16, 1996 and May 15, 1999; and checked and updated it October 24, 2003.

          The earlier record was made May 24, 1976, by Margarett Alexander. It appears in Decatur County, Tennessee Cemetery Records produced by the Nathaniel A. Wesson Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Parsons, Tennessee, 1984, pp. 199-203. This is referred to as "UDC transcription" in the notes below.

 

Allen, Beulah Mae, 1914-1990 [on temporary marker read in 1990: d. Jan. 1, 1990

Andres, Anna, Feb. 28, 1878-Dec. 11, 1957

Andres, Lula , July 3, 1912-Mar. 17, 1982

Arnold, Bobby Sue, Nov. 8, 1925-Mar. 7, 1995

Bailey, Mary Y., Oct. 13, 1914-Aug. 6, 1989, Mama" footstone; name on temporary marker in 1990: Mary Ella Baily
Bailey, James R., Mar. 19, 1904-Dec. 15, 1978

Boggs, Mary, d. Jan. 19, 1977, "Aged 90 Years" "Mrs.," temporary marker, Parham Mortuary, 7 yards east-southeast of double marker for Kathryn R. and Mitchell S. Hardin

Booty, Billy, Jan. 29, 1927-June 28, 1945 (a large homemade concrete marker near southeast corner) [almost unreadable in 2003]

Biity, Swanson E., Nov. 10, 1928-2003, temporary marker, Hardeman County Funeral Services, 4 feet north of marker for Bobbie Sue Arnold

Branch, Mary, d. Jan. 6, 1976, "Aged 93 Yrs.," temporary marker, 7 feet north of marker for A. J. Brown, "Mommy" footstone

Brewer, Josie, no dates [not found in 1990; from UDC transcription]

Brewer, Mack, no dates [not found in 1990; from UDC transcription]

Brown, A. J., Dec. 10, 1914-Feb. 12, 1968

Brown, Lucy, 1869-1947
Brown, Mae Bell, 1928-1960
Brown, Arbia, 1901-1965
Jim, 1884-1960 [death date on temporary marker read in 1976: Aug. 1, 1960]

Brown, Margaret P. July 11, 1919-Apr. 26, 1999, Mrs., temporary marker, Bledsoe Funeral Home, Jackson, Tennessee, 2 feet north of marker for A. J. Brown

Burton, Eliza, d. 1940
Emanuel, d. 1945 (homemade, 2 yards north of marker for Henrietta Laster) [unreadable in 2003]

Burton, Louise, d. 1958, (homemade; difficult to read; 1 yard north of marker for Henrietta Laster

Cleary, Eula Mae, 1899-1975 [the UDC transcription, probably reporting from a temporary marker, gives death date as Aug. 29, 1975 and "Age 75 Yrs 0 Mos 7 Days"]

Craig, Alma [see McElrath, Alma Craig]

Craig, Edna G., Dec. 5, 1889-Jan. 2, 1969

Craig, Mary Irene, Mar. 5, 1924-Apr. 17, 1966, "Our beloved mother"

Crowder, Anna B., 1889-1972, "Mother" footstone [adjacent to marker for D. C. Crowder]

Crowder, D. C., 1875-1944, "Father" footstone

Dabbs, Bessie Mae, Feb. 12, 1922-Sept. 6, 1997, "Big Mama"

Dixon, Cass Anne, Mar. 4, 1855-Aug. 8, 1928, "Wife of Rev. J. B. Dixon" "Mother" (fallen)

Dixon, J. B., Nov. 10, 1854-Jan. 30, 1928, "Rev." "Husband" "Father" [Masonic symbol]

Dixon, John Thomas, June 22, 1887-Mar. 17, 1957

Doyal, James R., Aug. 14, 1949-Aug. 19, 1979, military marker as footstone "James Ronald Doyal" "SA US Navy"

Elick, Carrie, 1888-1973

Ford, Martha, no dates, "Wife of Randel Ford"
Ford, Randel, d. June 15, 1897, "Aged 26 Years" "Husband of Martha Ford" (broken, fallen)

Fredericks, Eddie, Sept. 22, 1925-Nov. 8, 1973, military marker "Illinois AB US Air Force"

Fuller, Annie, Mar. 2, 1868-Apr. 13, 1905, "Wife of W. A. Fuller" (broken, fallen)

Funderburk, Cola B., Feb. 3, 1912-Jan. 6, 1996

Funderburk, Della, 1889-1975
Funderburk, Charlie, 1890-1965

Funderburk, Robert, Dec. 25, 1914-Dec. 9, 1963

Hardin, Kathryn R., 1932-____, "Mother" footstone
Hardin, Mitchell S., 1931-1996, "Father" footstone, also temporary marker, Boyd Funeral Home, Mitchell Swain Hardin

Hamilton, Irene, d. June 26, 1982, "Aged 55 Years 0 Months 6 Days," temporary marker, Parham Mortuary, 1 yard south of marker for Ernest Ray Pettigrew [read in 1990; not readable in 2003]

Haymon, Marie, d. 1938, homemade marker, 3 yards north of marker for Henrietta Laster [not readable in 2003]

Holt, Bettie L., 1918-1998 [on temporary marker, Parham Mortuary, read in 1999: Betty Lee Holt]
Holt, Hardy G., 1917-2000

Holt, Infant, d. June 26, 1974, "Infant Boy" [not found in 1990; from UDC transcription, probably read from a temporary marker]

Jennings, Ernest A., Dec. 18, 1901-July 22, 1902

Jennings, Roy, d. July 6, 1930, military marker "Tennessee Pvt 312 Labor Bn"

Johnson, Vera, 1908-1936, "Our Mother" [replacement]

Jones, Lois Cicero Dec. 30, 1913-Dec. 23, 1992

Jordon, Sally M. Tole, June 8, 1925-Nov. 22, 1995

Kindle, Homer, July 28, 1897-Jan. 1, 1957, military marker "Tennessee Pvt 6 Co Recruit Camp 5 World War I"

Kindle, Mildred S., Dec. 12, 1905-Apr. 18, 1984

Laster, Henrietta, Apr. 4, 1875-Sept. 14, 1967

Laster, William L., 1907-1969; also temporary marker as footstone, Parham Mortuary, d. Aug. 11, 1969, "Aged 62 Years 4 Months 13 Days"

Longstreet, Ida Ray, 1917-1989 [from temporary marker read in 1990: Nov. 17, 1917-May 23, 1989]

McClain, Jerry M., 1945-1968

McClain, Ernest J., Mar. 5, 1952-June 10, 1973

McElrath, Alma Craig, May 3, 1902-May 27, 1927 [replacement]

McElrath, Delores Ann, Feb. 28, 1957-June 3, 1977

McElrath, Faustina Y., Jan. 9, 1890-May 26, 1991

McElrath, Jeff A., Mar. 26, 1925-May 26, 2002

McElrath, Madge, 1892-1956
McElrath, Jess, 1892-1961

McElrath, Thomas Earl, Sept. 11, 1931-Mar. 31, 2003, temporary marker, 4 yards west-southwest of marker for Delores Ann McElrath

McHaney, Eula M. Welch, 1900-1990
McHaney, Ozie Mae, 1906-1965, "Married Mar. 28, 1935"

Menzies, Geneva, Sept. 28, 1918-Oct. 8, 2002
Menzies, Herbert B., 1891-1963 on temporary marker read in 1990: H. B. Menzies]

Montgomery, Alonzo, May 16, 1940-Feb. 25, 1995, temporary marker, 4 yards west of marker for R. T. Montgomery

Montgomery, Annie, Oct. 22, 1902-May 7, 1970

Montgomery, Carolyn, Mar. 22, 1952-June 17, 1955 (homemade?)

Montgomery, Charlie W., Sr., May 26, 1871-Feb. 17, 1971, "Father" footstone

Montgomery, Herbert J., Jan. 5, 1895-Sept. 23, 1970, military marker "Tennessee Pvt Co E 368 Inf. Regt. World War I"

Montgomery, Miggie, 1874-1934, "Mother" footstone [replacement]

Montgomery, R. T., Sept. 16, 1919-Nov. 10, 1978, military marker "S2 US Navy World War II"

Motonsley, Mollie, d. Sept. 8, 19??, "Aged 81 Years 6 Months 4 Days," temporary marker, 2 yards east of marker for Mollie Tinsley [no longer readable in 2003]

Parsons, Aimmie, no dates, "Mrs.," temporary marker, Parsons Mortuary, 1 yard south of marker for Junanita Pettigrew [no longer readable in 2003]

Parsons, Chess, 1894-1934 (homemade, difficult to read) [lichen covered marker, dates unreadable, 5 feet north of homemade marker for Junanita Pettigrew and 3 yards southwest of military marker for J. W. Scott]

Parsons, Ruby K., 1895-1985, temporary marker, Parham Mortuary, 4 feet south of marker for Ruby F. Pettigrew]

Petttigrew, Brandon E., July 3, 1989-Apr. 18, 1992

Pettigrew, Clara T., Feb. 11, 1929-____
Pettigrew, Burnett "Toby," Sept. 20, 1929-Aug. 8, 1995, military marker as footstone "Burnett Andrew Pettigrew" "Pvt US Army Korea"; death date on military marker Aug. 7, 1995

Pettigrew, Ella, 1874-1947
Pettigrew, William A., 1874-1948 (disintegrating concrete marker) [dates almost unreadable in 2003]

Pettigrew, Ernest R., 1930-1971 [from the UDC transcription probably read from a temporary marker: d. Dec. 31, 1971, "Age 41 Yrs 9 Mos 9 Days"]

Pettigrew, Eulie, d. Nov. 4, 1970, "Age 75 Yrs 5 Mos 19 Days," temporary marker, barely readable in 1990, 3 yards northeast of marker for Vera Johnson [not found in 2003]

Pettigrew, George William, July 4, 1917-Jan. 24, 1995, military marker "Tec5 US Army World War II"

Pettigrew, Gover, Sept. 27, 1897-Sept. 26, 1982

Pettigrew, Grady R., 1898-1980, temporary marker, Parham Mortuary, 2 yards west of marker for William L. Laster [read in 10991; not found in 2003]

Pettigrew, Junanita, 1914-1938 (homemade)

Pettigrew, Odessia P., 1900-1999, temporary marker, Brewer Funeral home, 5 yards east of mmarker for Pearlean Taylor

Pettigrew, Ouscar, d. Oct. 31, 1942, "Aged 59 Years," temporary marker 4 yards north of marker for Mollie Tinsley [read in 1990, a replacement temporary marker, written on a funeral home card from the 1970s; not found in 2003]

Pettigrew, R. L., "Mr.," 1925-1980, temporary marker read in 1990, Parham Mortuary, 2 yards south of marker for Ernest Ray Pettigrew [not found in 2003]

Pettigrew, Ruby F. 1914-1990 [death date on temporary marker in 1990: Aug. 6, 1990; adjacent to military marker for George William Pettigrew]

Pettigrew, Sam, no dates, "Age 75 Years," temporary marker, Parham Mortuary, 4 feet north of marker for Ernest Ray Pettigrew [reported in UDC transcription]

Pettigrew, T. S., Mr., Mar. 27, 1930-June 2, 1991, loose temporary marker, Peoples Funeral Home, in 2003 found 4 feet south of marker for Pearlean Taylor

Pettigrew, Wilmer T., 1924-1995, temporary marker, Boyd Funeral Home, 4 yards east-southeast of marker for Pearlean Taylor

Phelps, Olivia E., Apr. 17, 1959

Phelps, Pauline, Mar. 28, 1922-____ [Eastern Star symbol]
Phelps, Cecil, Sept. 19, 1917-Mar. 19, 1994 [Masonic symbol], military marker as footstone "PFC US Army World War II"; "Wed Dec. 23, 1946"

Rogers, Mary T., June 29, 1906-Jan. 7, 1986, "Wife" footstone

Rutherford, Louise V., 1916-1964; death date on earlier temporary marker d. Feb. 11, 1964

Sanders, Ernestine, d. Nov. 26, 1960

Scott, Argruda, Jan. 4, 1920-July 14, 1981

Scott, Auline S., 1907-1992
Scott, Taylor, 1910-1993

Scott, Charles Obie, Dec. 24, 1944-Apr. 7, 1966

Scott, Doris E., 1927-1946

Scott, Dover T., Oct. 31, 1910-May 26, 1999
Scott, Roxie C., May 13, 1925-May 4, 1995

Scott, Dwyane, Sept. 19, 1959-Mar. 29, 1975

Scott, Elbert, d. Aug. 5, 1990, "Aged 75 Years," temporary marker, Parham Mortuary, 6 yards west of double marker for Fannie L. and George L. Welch [read in 1990; not found in 2003]

Scott, Ella, d. Aug. 3, 1983, "Aged 101 Years," temporary marker, Parham Mortuary, 2 yards north of marker for Mack Scott

Scott, Felix, d. Mar. 17, 1955, "Age 71 Years 3 Months," temporary marker, Parham Funeral Home [no good reference point; fifth grave south of marker for Ernest T. Vaughn; death year and age were unreadable in 1990 and are from the UDC transcription; last name unreadable in 1996; marker not found or not readable in 2003]

Scott, George, Aug. 9, 1853-Feb. 6, 1952

Scott, Grover, 1913-1984, temporary marker, Parham Mortuary, 5 feet north of military marker for Leland Scott

Scott, J. W., May 24, 1926-Dec. 15, 2002, military marker "US Navy"

Scott, Jewel, 1922-1991, "Mrs.", temporary marker, Boyd Funeral Home, 2 feet north of marker for Edna G. Craig"

Scott, Jim Henry, 1905-1979, temporary marker, 3 yards east of marker for Junanita Pettigrew

Scott, John, Apr. 12, 1880-May 6, 1944 (homemade)

Scott, John L., 1924-1985, temporary marker, Parham Mortuary, no good reference point, about 9 yards west of marker for Iris Mae Tole

Scott, Kenton, Mr., d. Dec. 9, 1974, "Age 62 Yrs. 10 Mos. 15 Days," temporary marker, Parham Mortuary, 5 feet north of double marker for Benjamin F. and Gertie S. Vaughn

Scott, Leland, Apr. 25, 1908-Jan. 2, 1987, military marker "Pvt US Army World War II"

Scott, Mildred [see Kindle, Mildred Scott]

Scott, Mack, May 17, 1910-Oct. 31, 1950, military marker "Tennessee PFC 3183 QM Service Co. World War II" [improperly mounted; dates buried in 2003]

Scott, R. B., 1909-1989, "Dad"

Scott, Thomas W., Apr. 18, 1933-Jan. 18, 1969, loose military marker "Tennessee Pvt US Army Korea"

Scott, Will L., Sept. 9, 1864-Mar. 6, 1961
Scott, Mary Ann, Jan. 3, 1868-Dec. 4, 1937

Scott, William H., Jr., Jan. 23, 1970-Oct. 21, 1999

Shelton, Allie Jane, 1884-1977

Shelton, Henry, 1910-1979, temporary marker, Parham Mortuary, 4 yards south of double marker for Will L. and Mary Ann Scott

Shelton, Sidney W., Nov. 22, 1898-Nov. 21, 1977, "Dad" footstone

Smith, Walter Russell, Apr. 4, 1943-Sept. 3, 1991, military marker "PFC US Army Vietnam"

Spain, Makhala D., Nov. 23, 1995-Dec. 11, 1995

Stanton, Margaret L., Sept. 8, 1914-Mar. 12, 1992
Stanton, Robert L., May 13, 1912-Oct. 9, 1988 [from temporary marker, Parham Mortuary, read in 1990: Robert Lee Stanton]

Stegall, Edgar S., Nov. 29, 1888-Jan. 8, 1973

Stegall, Zula, d. July 20, 1957, "Age 47 Years" [not found in 1990; from UDC transcription]

Stigall, Flem, Mar. 10, 1869-July 26, 1940 (homemade) [only name on double marker]

Taylor, Allie J., Feb. 4, 1897-Dec. 24, 1980
Taylor, Jessie J., Dec. 25, 1888-Apr. 21, 1973

Taylor, Brenda J., July 2, 1952-Jan. 20, 1963 [reported as Brenda Joyce Taylor in the UDC transcription]

Taylor, Pearlean, Oct. 22, 1918-Aug. 24, 1999

Tinsley, Jeffrey Jerome, 1962-1991, temporary marker, parham Mortuary, 1 yard south of marker for Mollie Tinsley

Tinsley, John E., Feb. 26, 1951-Feb. 19, 2003, temporary marker, Hardeman County Funeral Services, 2 yards northwest of military marker for William S. Hensley

Tinsley, Johnnie D., 1919-1982, military marker "Cox US Navy World War II"

Tinsley, Mollie, Mar. 14, 1888-Sept. 8, 1969, temporary marker as footstone, Parham Mortuary, Mrs. Mollie M. Tinsley

Tinsley, William F., 1924-1995, military marker, "Pvt US Army World War II"

Tole, Earnest H., Sept. 9, 1921-Jan. 15, 2001, military marker "PFC US Army World War II" (partially buried) [found 4 yards west-southwest of marker for Nora J. Weatherspoon]

Tole, Ernest, 1890-1978, "Father" footstone
Tole, Burmah J., 1890-1970, "Mother" footstone

Tole, Grady E., 1919-1932 [replacement]

 

Tole, Iris Mae, 1963, "Infant"

Tole, Lex, Oct. 6, 1920-June 20, 1970, military marker "Tennessee Pvt Co F 1317 Engr GS Regt World War II"

Tole, Lula M., Mar. 24, 1916-Dec. 4, 1999, temporary marker, Hardeman County Funeral Services

Tole, Novella Y., 1915-2000, "Teacher"; "Mother" footstone; also temporary marker, Hardeman County Funeral Services, Dec. 20, 1915-July 15, 2000
Tole, James L., 1913-1976, "Steward"

Tole, Sally M. [see Jordon, Sally M. Tole]

Trippett, Roxie, Apr. 3, 1931-Jan. 21, 1995, also temporary marker, Boyd Funeral Home, "Roxie Lorene Tippett"
Trippett, Arthur, July 5, 1923-Dec. 17, 1993, military marker as footstone "US Army"

Vaughn, Benjamin F., 1879-1960
Vaughn, Gertie S., 1884-1973 [on temporary marker, Parham Mortuary, read in 1990: d. June 14, 1973, "Aged 89 Yrs. 8 Mos 2 Days"]

Vaughn, Bessie Mae, 1915-1939 replacement]

Vaughn, Birdie L., 1921-1981; also temporary marker as footstone, d. Apr. 11, 1981, "Age 59 Years 3 Months 19 Days" "Mrs." [adjacent to marker for Forest T. Vaughn]

Vaughn, Earl, 1922-1963

Vaughn, Forest T., 1921-1980, military marker "Pvt US Army World War II"; also temporary marker as footstone, d. Nov. 15, 1980, "Age 59 Years 3 Months 3 Days"

Vaughn, Kenneth, 1959-2000, temporary marker, Brewer Funeral Service, 4 feet north of marker for Birdie L. Vaughn

Vaughn, Misty Dawn, Nov. 10, 1976-Nov. 13, 1976

Vaughn, Roy Lee, 1914-1931 [replacement]

Walker, Sam, 1914-1989, temporary marker, Boyd Funeral Home, 3 yards north of marker for A. J. Brown

Wallace, Easter, Apr. 15, 1857-July 19, 1922, "Wife of W. B. Wallace" (broken, repaired)

Wallace, Mary A. [see White, Mary A. Wallace White]

Wallace, Thomas, 1889-1965

Weatherspoon, Nora J., 1923-1990 from temporary marker, S. B. Moore Funeral Home, read in 1990: d. Mar. 2, 1990]

Welch, Elmer Lewis, 1910-1935, "Son of Mr. & Mrs. George Welch" [replacement]

Welch, Eugene, d. Mar. 7, 1932 [replacement]

Welch, Eula [see McHaney, Eula M. Welch]

Welch, Fannie L., 1876-1956
Welch, George L., 1874-1962

Welch, J. M., Dec. 12, 1867-July 13, 1944

Welch, Lee, Mar. 17, 1865-Apr. 19, 1945 (eroding homemade concrete marker)

Welch, Wilma Yarbro, June 18, 1908-Sept. 21, 1957

White, Alvin T., 1938-2001, temporary marker, Hardeman County Funeral Services, 5 yards north of marker for Annie Montgomery

White, Clara M., Feb. 2, 1909-Apr. 20, 2002
White, Oscar W., Mar. 4, 1913-Nov. 24, 1980, military marker as footstone "Oscar William White" "Cox US Navy World War II"

White, Claude, 1901-2002

White, Daisy, d. Dec. 17, 1986, "Aged 81 Years," temporary marker, Parham Mortuary, 3 yards north-northwest of military marker for George William Pettigrew

White, Ida, 1882-1970
White, Oliver, 1878-1958

White, John E., d. Apr. 4, 1972, "Aged 76 Yrs. 4 Mos. 27 Days," temporary marker, 4 yards west of double marker for Clara M. and Oscar W. White

White, Mary A. Wallace, Jan. 11, 1866-Sept. 8, 1910

White, Vannie, d. Dec. 25, 1986, "Aged 81 Yrs.," temporary marker, Parham Mortuary, 1 yard north of marker for James R. Doyal

Yarbro, Cora, Feb. 8, 1862-Dec. 24, 1944 [replacement]

Yarbro, Edith Ann, 1942-1949

Yarbro, Ernest R., Feb. 27, 1877-Apr. 18, 1922 [Masonic symbol]

Yarbro, Eula Mae, 1918-1999

Yarbro, Gary Smith, 1931-1987, military marker "MSgt US Air Force Korea Vietnam" [from temporary marker, Parham Funeral Home, read in 1990: d. Oct. 14, 1987]

Yarbro, Henrietta C., Feb. 2, 1856-Mar. 23, 1932, "Mother" footstone
Yarbro, Henry Carr, May 1, 1853-Oct. 2, 1926, "Father" footstone [replacement]

Yarbro, J. M., Dec. 12, 1867-July 13, 1944 [replacement]

Yarbro, James Curry, Nov. 8, 1887-May 23, 1921

Yarbro, Lessie, 1892-1985

Yarbro, Mamie L., Sept. 8, 1921-July 26, 1999
Yarbro, H. C., Mar. 6, 1920-____, "Married Aug. 10, 1941"

Yarbro, Nancy, d, 196_, "Age 85 Years" [not found in 1990; from UDC transcription]

Yarbro, Rupert, 1892-1962; also temporary marker, Parham Mortuary, d. Nov. 14, 1962

Yarbro, Willie B., 1917-1922 [Masonic symbol]

Yarbro, Wilma [see Welch, Wilma Yarbro]

 

Unidentifiable

Miss _____all, d. June 29, 1957, temporary marker, Parham Funeral Home, about half way between the marker for Edgar S. Stegall and the marker for Flem Stigall [this may be Zula Stegall — see above]

 

Other People Known to be Buried Here

Booty, Samuel, 1883-1973
Funderburk, A. L.
Hardin, Clara Montgomery, 1904-1994
Ivory, Michael, 1960-1979
Jennings, Chester H., 1884-1958
McElrath, Jeff, 1894-1961
Robinson, Lucy Arnada Laster, 1902-1976
Scott, Matt

 

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