PERRYVILLE CEMETERY

            Perrryville Cemetery is located in Perryville, Decatur County's oldest community. The cemetery is indicated on the U.S.G.S. Perryville quadrangle (1986) at the top of the map as the unnamed cemetery below the label "Perryville." David Donahue recorded this cemetery December 26, 1991; updated it November 1996; and checked and updated it December 22, 2002.

            Margarett Alexander recorded this cemetery on June 19, 1977. Her record appears in Decatur County, Tennessee Cemetery Records by the Captain Nathaniel A. Wesson Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Parsons, Tennessee, 1984, pp. 462-465. Reference is made to this earlier record where appropriate. She noted 25 unmarked graves. There probably are well over a hundred unmarked graves.

            The cemetery at present is separated into upper and lower sections. The upper section is recent and has only post-1980 burials. South of the upper section, east of the drive, in woods and briars, are three early 20th century markers and two marker bases. The lower east side is a post-1960 black section. The lower west side is the core of the cemetery, and the relatively level and open area contains white burials. The post-1950 Wallace, Young, Britt, Reddix, and Readey markers are at the center of this section represent a reuse of space; the oldest burials in the cemetery dating from the 1820s must have been in this area. Surrounding these post-1950 markers are dozens of faint grave shaft depressions, and surrounding both are the oldest readable markers in the cemetery, not at the center but on the outside. The oldest black burials took place on the steep slope west of the white burial area, and surviving markers are mostly downslope and in the woods northwest of the open area. Margarette Alexander noted the "Colored" burials.

 

Upper Cemetery

Cruse, L. Leon, May 15, 1939-Dec. 5, 1993, "Beloved husband father and devoted friend," military marker as footstone "Leonard Leon Cruse" "US Navy"

Cruse, Leonard, Oct. 30, 1915-Sept. 18, 1989, "Dad" footstone
Cruse, Jewell, Aug. 25, 1916-____, "Mom" footstone

Jeanes, Homer D., Nov. 16, 1921-Jan. 20, 1992

King, William A., Sept. 29, 1938-Oct. 8, 1985

McFall, Dan, Aug. 23, 1908-Sept. 11, 1921, "Father"
McFall, Mary C., May 10, 1913-Sept. 9, 1982, "Mother"

McFall, J. Lester, 1903-1986, "Father"
McFall, Mary E., 1915-2000, "Mother"

McIlrath, Russell S., July 21, 1955-Feb. 14, 1989, military marker "L Corp US Marine Corps Vietnam"

Wallace, Orbon E., Feb. 4, 1914-Sept. 7, 1998
Wallace, Hazel G., ____-July 30, 1999, "Married 60 Years" [accidentally did not record birth date]

Young, Stephen L., Sept. 27, 1943-____ [Masonic symbol]
Young, Reba D., Aug. 4, 1950-____, "Wed Nov. 14, 1978"

 

East of Road, In Briars

Blankenship, Mary, May 20, 1908-Dec. 23, 1909, "Dau. of Chas. and Lula B. Blankenship"

Cain, James, d. Feb. 27, 1902, "Age 62 Years" (fallen)

Wreck, Fannie, July 22, 1875-Feb. 21, 1908, "Wife of C. W. Wreck" (fallen)

 

Lower East Side (black)

Garrett, Lovie, Nov. 12, 1909-Apr. 23, 1980
Garrett, Hugh, Mar. 10, 1907-____

Garrett, William C., Mar. 27, 1937-____
Garrett, Linda K., Apr. 17, 1941-July 3, 1983

Johnson, Gaylon J., May 12, 1968-Apr. 1, 2001

Jones, T. P. (Carter), July 4, 1919-Feb. 8, 1988, "Father"

Taylor, Alvin, Dec. 8, 1928-July 9, 1977, military marker "PFC US Army World War II"

Taylor, Jessie Mae, 1929-1998, temporary marker, Parham Mortuary, 5 feet south of marker for Alvin Taylor

Taylor, Larry, 1952-2002, temporary marker, Decatur County Funeral Home, 12 feet east-southeast of double marker for William C. and Linda K. Garrett

 

Lower West Side (mixed race)

Arnold, E. E., July 7, 1851-June 27, 1927 (broken, fallen) [Masonic symbol]

Arnold, James E., July 18, 1879-Dec. 1, 1936 [replacement]

Arnold, Tobitha Kindle, 1869-1941 [replacement]

Baugus, Bobby Joe, Sept. 12, 1955-July 26, 1989, "Boog," "Son" footstone, "Beloved Son, Dad & Brother" [towboat carved on back]

Baugus, Scott Anthony, Jan. 3, 1980-Jan. 14, 2000

Baugus, Sue S., Apr. 4, 1930-____
Baugus, Wallace R., Apr. 24, 1925-Sept. 8, 1983, military marker as footstone "SF3 US Navy World War II"

Bibbs, Bettye J., Aug. 4, 1941-Dec. 28, 2001

Bibbs, Velma, 1906-1981

Bivens, Georgia Ann, May 18, 1874-Feb. 24, 1950, "Ma"

Brasher, Herschel A., 1922-1995 [Masonic symbol]
Brasher, Dorothy C., 1920-1971 [Eastern Star symbol]

Brasher, Nancy Sue, Jan. 26, 1944-Jan. 27, 1944
Brasher, Betty Lou, Jan. 26, 1944-Jan. 27, 1944

Brasher, Walter Carl, Oct. 25, 1951-Feb. 5, 1962

Britt, Damon Lee, Feb. 2, 1973-July 27, 1991, "Son" footstone

Britt, Franklin Don, Aug. 31, 1935-____, unplaced "Father" footstone
Britt, Gailya Faye, May 23, 1940-May 20, 1989, "Mother" footstone

Brown, Vernell, Apr. 18, 1923-Jan. 23, 2001, "Mother"
Brown, Amzie Y., Oct. 28, 1917-July 14, 1984, "Father"

Burton, A. A., Jr., 1926-1928 [replacement]

Burton, Aulbra A. (Doc), July 3, 1903-Apr. 24, 1967, "Father" footstone

Bussell, Laura E., 1860-1925
Bussell, J. J., 1857-1933

Campbell, Keith Albert, June 29, 1967-Nov. 15, 1996, military marker as footstone "MM3 US Navy"; dates on military marker June 29, 1967-Nov. 14, 1996

Carrington, Jerry, Aug. 22, 1938-____, "Father"
Carrington, Betty W., June 19, 1943-Feb. 19, 1993, "Mother," also temporary marker, Boyd Funeral Home, "Betty Jean Carrington"; "Our children Wade Allison Amber"

Chandler, Wanda Kay, 1946-____, unplaced "Mom" footstone
Chandler, Wm. David, Jr., 1947-1980, "Dad" footstone, also military marker as footstone "SP5 US Army Vietnam"; dates on military marker Dec. 27, 1947-Sept. 26, 1980; "Married Feb. 5, 1971"

Cole, C. E., Apr. 7, 1836-June 11, 1874, "Wife of Calvin Cole" [replacement]

Cole, Calvin, Nov. 15, 1833-Apr. 21, 1900, military marker as footstone "Pvt 48 Regt Tenn Inf Confederate States Army"

Cole, Joseph Newton, born & died May 3, 1874, "Son of C. and C. E. Cole"

Cole, Mary, Apr. 7, 1797-Apr. 5, 1870 [replacement]

Cole, Michael, Apr. 21, 1796-Oct. 3, 1869 [replacement]

Collins, Jane, d. Jan. 22, 1897, "Age about 72 years" "Mother of E. Collins"

Cruse, Bobby T., 1939-1998, "Father"
Cruse, Betty J., 1940-1999, "Father" "Married Feb. 21, 1957"

Dodd, James Otis, Apr. 14, 1910-Jan. 27, 1988
Dodd, Opal May, July 9, 1919-June 27, 2000, "Wed June 5, 1939" "Our children Terry Kay Steve"

Douglas, Thomas A., Nov. 7, 1824-Oct. 18, 1847

Doyle, Aleta, July 23, 1891-Feb. 21, 1957

Doyle, Wanda, 1914-1979

Doyle, Charles, 1911-1967

Gant, Bobby Wayne, Jan. 23, 1944-Dec. 12, 1944, "Son"

Gant, Infant, Apr. 11, 1945, "Infant son of Robert & Lorene Gant"

Gant, Ted, July 18, 1949-Oct. 13, 1968, "Son"

Gross, Pauline T., 1921-____ [Eastern Star symbol]
Gross, William A., 1916-1972 [Masonic symbol]

Hicks, Roberta, no dates

Horner, James Hurschell, Oct. 15, 1906-May 4, 1967, "Uncle Hert"

Horner, Stella, 1881-1946

Hunt, Nellie, June 24, 1927-____
Hunt, Durwood, Oct. 10, 1932-Sept. 5, 1995

Johnson, Emma L., Oct. 28, 1930-Feb. 20, 1970 [included by Margarett Alexander in "Colored" section]

Kindle, Tobitha [see Arnold, Tobitha Kindle]

Kommer, Delbert W., Oct. 18, 1925-Feb. 15, 1982, military marker "Pvt US Army Korea"

Kommer, L. Wayne, d. Apr. 20, 1953 (homemade)

Kommer, Polly W., Dec. 3, 1933-Apr. 9, 2000, older homemade space holder now used as footstone "V. Polly Wynn Kommer" "Mom"

Ledbetter, Mack E., 3? 12, 1908-Jan. 5, 1912, "Son of J. T. & L. A. Ledbetter" (eroded)

Marr, Ellis, Aug. 13, 1900-Jan. 1, 1901 [not found in 1991 or 2002; from UDC transcription]

McFall, Lou, 1867-1950

McMillan, Beulah, July 6, 1915-____ [adjacent to marker for Willie R. McMillan; ground disturbance suggested that she was buried here before 1991]

McMillan, Willie R., Jan. 12, 1911-Apr. 6, 1978, "Dear Husband"

McMillian, Gracie Ruby, Feb. 27, 1905-Nov. 6, 1962 [handpainted "Wife"]

McMurry, Carmon E., Jan. 22, 1902-Oct. 31, 1996, "Mama" footstone
McMurry, William F. (Bill), Jan. 2, 1903-Jan. 23, 1953, "Daddy" footstone, "Married May 24, 1933" "Children Billie Edward" "Grandchildren Sarah James F. Olivia" "Great grandchildren Jonathan Bryan Justin Corey" [replaced previous single marker for Wm. Floyd McMurry reported in UDC transcription]

McMurry, (Jabo) Edward Smith, Aug. 14, 1927-Nov. 2, 1994, "Dad" footstone, "Our children James E. Olivie" "Grandchildren Jonathan McMurry Brian Winfree Justin Winfree Corey Winfree" [only name on double marker]

McMurry, Jarusha Ann, Feb. 14, 1876-Mar. 21, 1933 [replacement]

McMurry, Johnie Lee, born & died May 30, 1909, "Son of M. J. and Rusha McMurry"

McMurry, Martin Jasper, Dec. 25, 1864-Aug. 20, 1921 [replacement]

Nixon, Martha Cordelia, June 27, 1850-Nov. 20, 1851 (broken, fallen, out of place) [in 2002 this marker was sitting atop the James M. Pettigrew vault]

Owensby, N. P., d. Mar. 28, 1919, "Age 65 Yrs."

Pettigrew, James M., 1798-1857, "Born in County Armach Ireland . . . Departed this life at Oak Grove, Decatur County, Tennessee" [this vault had been vandalized in 1991 but had been repaired by 2002]

Pettigrew, Melphard Leon, 1929-1980, military marker "Sgt US Army Korea" [in far southeastern corner of cemetery, beyond the maintained area; probably a black burial]

Readey, Jimmy Joe, May 21, 1938-Apr. 17, 1987, "Son" footstone, "B.S. degree in music education from Bethel College, band director, teacher, dance teacher, art show director"

Readey, O. H. Pete, Feb. 21, 1910-Sept. 3, 1984, "Dad" footstone
Readey, Vernon Y., Feb. 1, 1915-May 29, 1989 [ in 1991 there was an unplaced "Mom" footstone], "Parents of Jimmy Janie" [Eastern Star symbol; probably daughter of Thomas A. and Frances P. Young, whose double marker is adjacent]

Reddix, E. G. (Red), Sept. 17, 1921-July 25, 1994, military marker as footstone "English G. Reddix" "Tec 5 US Army World war II"
Reddix, Imogene Y., Aug. 7, 1928-____

Reddix, Lynda, Nov. 9, 1950-____
Reddix, Gary, Dec. 5, 1949-Mar. 2, 1998, "Married June 15, 1968" "Our children Shannon Ryan Holly"

Sharpless, Nellie, Mar. 12, 1857-Jan. 12, 1915, "Wife of H. C. Sharpless"

Spiller, J. W., May 23, 1863-Oct. 21, 1888

Stafford, Dave, Apr. 14, 1911-Aug. 17, 1977
Stafford, Dovie M., Oct. 21, 1910-June 10, 2000

Steward, Odie C., Feb. 2, 1917-Apr. 22, 1999
Steward, Rubye L., Mar. 7, 1930-____

Steward, R. C., Oct. 24, 1942-July 29, 1950

Steward, Robert C., 1910-1996, "Daddy" footstone
Steward, Sadie Lee, 1912-1992, "Mama" footstone

Stewart, Carlette, June 28, 1946, "Infant dau. of Walter and Clemmie Stewart" [replacement]

Stobaugh, Elizabeth, no dates, "Consort of Andrew Stobaugh"

Stout, David Kim, Aug. 6, 1965-Sept. 8, 1965

Stout, Ellen, May 13, 1851-Nov. 21, 1855, "Dau. of Wm. and Jane Stout"

Stout, Infant, born & died Jan. 1, 1910, "Infant son of T. D. and Sallie Stout"

Stout, Infant, born & died May 29, 1904, "Infant dau. of T. D. & Sallie Stout"

Stout, James, June 3, 1853-Mar. 15, 1857, "Son of Wm. & Jane Stout"

Stout, Jane, May 26, 1827-Jan. 14, 1876, "Wife of Wm. Stout"

Stout, Mollie E., Sept. 18, 1864-Nov. 20, 1900, "Wife of T. D. Stout"

Striegel, Belva Jean, Mar. 2, 1945-July 12, 1969, "Daughter of Paul and Beryl Striegel"

Striegel, Beryl T., July 14, 1924-____
Striegel, H. Paul, Aug. 20, 1919-____, "Cremated" [Masonic symbol]

Tillman, J. L. (Tilly), Aug. 22, 1923-Jan. 7, 1995, military marker as footstone "Tilly Tillman" "Tec 5 US Army World War II"

Tillman, Sallie J., 1897-1973, "Mother" [Eastern Star symbol]
Tillman, Jessie L., 1885-1984, "Father" [Masonic symbol]

Tinker, Jewel Mary, Mar. 9, 1935-Apr. 26, 1939, "Infant daughter of Jewell and Arnold R. Tinker" [replacement]

Tomlin, James Logan, 1932-1995, military marker as footstone "MM2 US Navy Korea"; dates on military marker Sept. 12, 1932-Feb. 24, 1995
Tillman, Barbara Ann, 1938-____

Wall, Harritt N., ______ (broken) [marker has a death date buried below ground]

Wallace, Zeke, Dec. 18, 1987-Apr. 14, 2002

Wynn, Carrie I., Feb. 11, 1902-Mar. 16, 1976

Wynn, V. Polly [see Kommer, Polly W.]

Young, Amy Marie, 1965

Young, Arrie A., 1861-____ [she is buried here as shown by flowers on grave]
Young, Will H., 1868-1951

Young, C. Earl, 1931-____, unplaced "Father" footstone
Young, Jemima A., Aug. 19, 1935-Aug. 16, 1998, "Mother" footstone, "Wed Mar. 31, 1951" [carved towboat]

Young, Danny Lee, Dec. 9, 1955-Feb. 13, 2002

Young, Clyde E., July 23, 1892-Dec. 21, 1975
Young, Sallie Lee, July 31, 1895-Mar. 10, 1979

Young, Ericca M., July 17, 1920-Dec. 19, 1977, "Mother" footstone [Eastern Star symbol]
Young, W. L. (Bush), Nov. 2, 1916-Aug. 17, 1960, "Father" foostone [Masonic symbol]

Young, Ernest L. "Chick," Aug. 18, 1914-Feb. 12, 1996
Young, Mary Louise, Mar. 30, 1916-Nov. 29, 1986

Young, Infant, July 1927, "Infant dau. of Ben & Thelma Young" [replacement]

Young, Larry Gene, Aug. 17, 1940-Dec. 4, 1963

Young, Michael Edward, 1962 [not found in 1991; from UDC transcription]

Young, Rodney Lynn, May 18, 1953-July 12, 1964 [not found in 1991; from UDC transcription]

Young, Thelma G., 1907-1979
Young, Ben F., 1900-1979, "Married May 24, 1925"

Young, Thomas A., 1890-1982
Young, Frances P., 1899-1974

 

Unidentified

F. C. [footstone]

 

Old Colored Section

Allen, Adaline, Sept. 13, 1869-Apr. 4, 1897, "Wife of Henry Allen" (fallen)

Browder, Viola B., "Mrs.," d. Feb. 6, 1977, "Age 53 Yrs. 1 Mos. 22 Days" [temporary marker, Parham Mortuary, 1 yard south of marker for James F. Pettigrew]

Fisher, Isabell, Jan. 4, 1838-July 18, 1918, "Mother"

Garrett, Pearl, Feb. 14, 1885-July 11, 1914, "Wife of J. W. Garrett"

McDonald, Glover, Apr. 24, 1896-Feb. 16, 1897 [not found in 1991 or 2002; reported by Alexander]

Pettigrew, Eller, Aug. 25, 1878-Mar. 14, 1899

Pettigrew, James F., d. Jan. 8, 1917, "Age 16 ys, 6 ms, 13 ds" "Son of Lun and Mary Pettigrew"

Pettigrew, John H. "Pistol," __ 29, 1912-Oct. 6, 1988, temporary marker, Peoples Funeral Home, no good reference point, approx. 10 yards southeast of marker for James F. Pettigrew

White, J. W., d. Aug. 6, 1901, "Age 2 Ys & 21 Days" "Son of W. A. and Martha White"

 

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