TOMBSTONE INSCRIPTIONS FROM BLACK CEMETERIES IN MADISON COUNTY, TENNESSEE, compiled by Jonathan K. T. Smith

COPYRIGHT, Jonathan K. T. Smith, 1995

Special thanks go to Jonathan K. T. Smith for his work to preserve and share this information about black cemeteries in Madison County and for giving permission to convert this work to web pages.

BLAIRS CHAPEL C. M. E. CEMETERY

            Located about 9 miles southwest from present city limits of Jackson, Tennessee via Riverside Drive and Steam Mill Ferry Road. A turn is made to the east off the latter road on to Blairs Chapel Road and at .7 mile are the cemetery and old church sites on the north side of this road. Judging from grave mounds and sunken graves here there are likely several hundred unmarked graves; numerous funeral home markers no longer have information on their panels. Blairs Chapel C. M. E. was organized in 1881 but in 1971 it relocated 2 miles northwest on Steam Mill Ferry Road.

 

Page 79

West Section of Cemetery (older section)

ISAAC BLAIR, Born Mar. 15, 1822, Died May 18, 1888, The memory of the just is blessed.

MOSEZELL FULLER, May 22, 1927-June 8, 1937, Gone but not forgotten

RUSSELL ALSTON, Born Feb. 28, 1914, Died Sept. 24, 1945

JOHNNIE GOFF, 1925

IRENE BASS DAVIS, 1898-1948

ROBERT MANLEY, Tennessee PVT 804 Pioneer Inf., April 16, 1938

FANNIE MERRIWETHER, July 19, 1892-Nov. 21, 1979

Double tombstone: BELL NEAL, 1905-1929\ALICE BOND NEAL, 1883-1929, Gone but not forgotten

KIZZIE, wife of MILTON COMER, Born 1793, Died 1903

MARY, wife of Ned COMER, Born 1833, Died Sept. 1907

MARTHA, dau. of Bob & Lucy AUSTIN, Born Nov. 14, 1891, Died Aug. 21, 1907

ANNA, wife of Thomas NORTHERN, Born Feb. 13, 1879, Died Oct. 14, 1904, She died as she lived, trusting in God.

JOHN LEE CURTIS ‘SONNY BOY’ WILLIAMSON, Mar. 30, 1914-June 1, 1948, Blues Harmonica Legend

LEROY AULSTON, Nov. l, 1906-Apr. 7, 1937

ROBERT AUSTIN, Nov. 9, 1868-Mar. 3, 1945

LUCY REID ALSTON, Aug. 26, 1871-May 10, 1963 (a fallen stone)

LOUEASE REED, 1894-1915, At Rest

Double tombstone: GEORGE TYSON, Dec. 1939\MARGRET S. TYSON, Nov. 1930, In Loving Memory

OTHER, son of J. M. & S. J. MARSHALL, Born Apr. 29, 1904, Died May 6, 1907, Our Loved One

ROSSETTE, daughter of J. M. &S. J. MARSHALL, Born Jan. 27, 1906, Died Aug. 28, 1915

SAM, hus. of Bettie REID, Born 1852, Died 1922, Asleep in Jesus

TOM, son of Sam & Bettie REID, Born 1881, Died Mar. 11, 1909

MATER MURDOCK, June 27, 1906-May 11, 1919, Gone to Jesus

THOMAS TYSON, Dec. 4, 1916-June 10, 1942

 

Page 80

J. L., Dau. of Isaac & Cenda UTLEY, Born 1902, Died 1922, At Rest

JAS. TURNER, Co H 3 Us C. H. A.

JUDIE L. TYSON, Died Oct. 9, 1910, Age 36

LEEROY, son of J. M. &S. J. MARSHALL, Born Sept. 3, 1899, Died Aug. 14, 1900, Our Loved One Gone

MARTHA ANN TYSON, Died Nov. 8, 1919, Age 56, Rest in Peace

ELIJAH TYSON, Tennessee Cook 118 Res. Labor BN, August 1, 1941

NANCY NORTHERN, Died Feb. 1955, Age 33, Rawis Funeral Home Marker

MARY HELEN HARDEN, Nov. 3, 1950-Mar. 21 1989

MILLARD L. HARDIN, 8-24-925-7-22-1993

ELIJAH, son of Nep & Elisa REID, Born Jan. 15, 1884, Died Sept. 6, 1889, Though lost to sight, to memory dear

THEA, hus. of Mollie JOHNSON, Born 1852, Died Oct. 31, 1911, Gone but not forgotten

ELLA LACY, 1876-1915

WM. LACY, 1869-1956

BETTIE LACY, 1874-1949

JIMMIE McBRIDE, Died Dec. 24, 196?, a funeral home marker

ANNER, wife of Tom NORTHERN, Born 1870, Died 1902, Died in Jesus

ANDREW NORTHERN, Apr. 28, 1903-July 11, 1925

J. C., son of Tom & Patsey NORTHERN, Born 1905, Died Dec. 25, 1918, There is resting for the weary

One tombstone: HERSHEL NUNLEY, Age 19\ROOSEVELT NUNLEY, Age 12\LOTTIE MAY NUNLEY, Age 11\SALLIE NUNLEY, Age 4\MINNIE NUNLEY, Age 1 Yr., At Rest

EMMERLINE, dau. of James & Mary TURNER, Born 1867, Died 1893, Earth has one mortal less, Heaven an angel more.

MOLLIE, wife of Alex LOVE, Born 1870, Died Feb. 1905, She died as she lived, trusting in God.

Miss JANE GOUGH, Born 1861, Died 1896, She died as she lived, trusting in God

JERRY ANTHONY, Died April 1961, Aged 36 Yrs. Part of name line eradicated so that Anthony may not be surname. Bledsoe Funeral Home Marker

R. A., wife of C. H. REID, Born Aug. 2, 1868, Died Feb. 14, 1889

IRENA M. REID, Born Jan. 29, 1893, Died 1896

A. L. SPENCER, faithful member of Bonner Circle 108, Died June 22, 1919 (a fallen stone)

WILLIAM FREEMAN McBRIDE, Died Jan. 22, 1961, Bledsoe Funeral Home Marker

LIVIE NORTHERN, Died Apr. 27, 1917, Age 35, At Rest

AUGUSTA HILL, 1914-1963

ANN McKNIGHT, Died Apr. 11, 1920, Age 70, Gone to Rest

PETER NORTHERN, Born 1826, Died Feb. 26, 1911, Died in Christ

JOSIE, wife of Mit COMER, Born 1873, Died 1923, Gone but not forgotten

 

Page 81

JONAS WOMACK, Mar. 10, 1841-Dec. 21, 1912, Loves Last Tribute

SALLIE STRAYHORN, wife of Jake HUNT, Born July 9, 1864, Died July 21, 1911, She believed and sleeps in Jesus

ELIJAH BROWN, Born July 15, 1836, Died Feb. 15, 1901, He died as he lived, trusting in God.

CLEORA REEVES, Born 1917, Died 1940, Age 22

ISSA TISON, Born 1826, Died 1901, Gone but not forgotten

LEVI GREER, Sept. 22, 1955-June 5, 1964, Little Bud of Love

JOHN T. REED, Feb. 1862-Aug. 20, 1926 (Masonic Emblem on stone)

J. A., son of Will & Ida LOVE, Born Jan. 7th 1910, Died Sept. 14, 1915, Loved One Gone

MARY JANE WINSTON, Died Dec. 4, 1919, Age 94

JOE ANNER, wife of Henry LOVE, Born 1872, Died 1922, Gone but not forgotten

LINZIE LEROY WOMACK, Tennessee TECS 1248 Engr. World War II, October 12, 1919-December 21, 1954

ORA BELL REEVES, Mother, Aug. 12, 1913-Sept. 6, 1952, In Loving Memory

ROBERT L. HENNING, Ohio PVT 158 Depot Brigade World War I, April 23, 1895-December 22, 1949

H. WADE HAMPTON, Died Apr. 4, 1929

LUSTER MOORE, Sept. 29, 1910-July 30, 1937

ALVIN LEE BROWN, Died Jan. ? 1958, funeral home marker

KATIE HOPGOOD, dau. of Jake & Sallie HUNT, Born Jan. 15, 1882, Died Mar. 27, 1908, Earth has one mortal less, Heaven an angel more.

One tombstone: ELICE BROWN, Age 18\ERVIN BROWN, Age 18\ARENA BROWN, Age 4, At Rest

ANNIE B. MERRIWEATHER, 1887-Jul. 17, 1917, At Rest

TOM TYSON, Age 62

CLARY TYSON, Age 60

JAMES LEE PERRY, 1917-1949, In Loving Memory

ROBERT L. JOHNSON, 1882-1944, At Rest

SALLIE BINGHAM, Died June 2, 1914, Age 76, At Rest

WISE WINSTON, 1867-1930, Age 68, At Rest

IVY JANE WINSTON, Died June 1, 1917, Age 18

GLIDE WINSTON, Died Oct. 7, 1918, Age 15, Gone but not forgotten

EMER, wife of Mac REID, Born 1883, Died 1923, Gone but not forgotten

OSCAR WAMACK, Tennessee PVT 802 Pioneer Inf. World War I, June 15, 1895-January 8, 1947

EZELL TYSON, March 29, 1924-Mar. 5, 1927

CONNIE, wife of Robert MURDOCK, 1886-1924, At Rest

MAGGIE HAMPTON, Mar. 2, 1894-Apr. 6, 1955 (a fallen stone)

 

Page 82

Stone, top with name missing. Person born 1834; died 1904. Next to Peter Northern’s tombstone.

NAPOLEON, husband of Eliza REID, Born 1838, Died June 5, 1888, He died as he lived, trusting in God.

PINK TYSON, June 2, 1860-Jan. 12, 1952

THOMAS NORTHERN, Born Jan. 13, 1861, Died May 11, 1934, Age 73 Yrs.

JOE PATRICK, 18 46-1911, Gone but not forgotten (a fallen stone)

Wm. COMER, Born July 15, 1867, Died June 12, 1904, Gone but not forgotten (a fallen stone)

MATTIE, dau. of Sam & Bettie REID, Born Mar. 13, 1874, Died Feb. 24, 1896, It was an angel that visited earth and took the flower away.

 

East Section of Cemetery (newer section)

CORA LEE REEVES, Jan. 27, 1893-Oct. 4, 1980

CHARLIE L. REID, PVT US Army, April 8, 1908-May 29, 1974

ELAINE GIVENS, Oct. 8, 1964-Sept. 11, 1965

GERTRUDE TYSON, Born Jan. 17, 1908, Died Nov. l, 1974

NANCY ELLER TYSON, Born Sept. 3, 1889, Died Dec. 16, 1964 (a fallen stone)

RUTHIE BROWN REEVES, Feb. 23, 1889-July 14, 1965, At Rest

Double tombstone: THOMAS HARPER, Aug. 5, 1900-Dec. 3, 1970\LOUISA HARPER, Oct. 5, 1905-Nov. 23, 1959, Together Forever

WILL TYSON, PVT US Army, World War II, Jun. 4, 1894-Aug. 29, 1978

JAMES A. McGEE, Born Sept. 8, 1906, Died Jan. 31, 1977

WILLIE EARL, SR., Died July 26, 1966, Stephenson-Shaw Funeral Home Marker

Double tombstone: THOMAS TYSON, Jan. 15, 1883-Feb. 7, 1965\MARIAH TYSON, June 14, 1877-May 18, 1966

R. B. MERCER, FC US Army, World War II, Jan. 15, 1908-December 14, 1965

JAMES (Creamy Joe) L. GIVENS 3-11-1958-10-9-1993

Double tombstone: GREEN NORTHERN, Feb. 25, 1893-June 21, 1985

JAUNITA (Babe) NORTHERN, Mar. 19, 1894-May 28, 1969

WAYNE E. LYLES, Apr. 13, 1953-May 13, 1968

 

Page 83

NANCY JANE UTLEY TAYLOR, July 12, 1890-Sept. 17, 1985

VERDEAN (Dean) BOND, Oct. 16, 1928-Nov. 3, 1984, In Loving Memory of Mother

Mrs. LAREE REID, Born 8-12-1914, Died 8-14-1988, Aged 74, Bledsoe Funeral Home Marker

DENISE D. ELLISON GREEN, Jan. 6, 1961-May 21, 1989, Rest in Peace

MARY OLIVIA TIPLER, Mother, June 6, 1930-July 12, 1988, Asleep in Christ

ROBERT "Luke" LACY, Nov. 26, 1939-May 24, 1983

JANE SCOTT, no dates

EDWARD "ED" SAVAGE, May 29, 1917-Oct. 14, 1988

WESTLEY HUNT, SGT US Army, World War II, Jun. 8, 1916-Jul. 28, 1991

JERRY BERNARD FULLER, Son, Feb. 5, 1961-July 27, 1994

DARNELL LOVE, 3-17-1994, Mercer Funeral Home Marker

WILLIE MASON, Dec. 19, 1985, Mercer Funeral Home Marker

Double tombstone: CLARENCE WILLIAMSON, Sept. 19, 1892-Oct. 14, 1991\LUSINDA WILLIAMSON, Dec. 8, 1901-Aug. 4, 1987, wed Dec. 29, 1919

CHARLIE MURRAY LOVE, Feb. 4, 1935-Nov. 27, 1982, In Loving Memory

Double tombstone: MILDRED RUFUS LOVE, July 8, 1928-Dec. 2, 1983\DONNELL LOVE, May 25, 1928-Aug. 31, 1986

WILLIAM MERRIWEATHER, US Army, World War II, 1910-1985

Double tombstone: ROBERT WOMACK, Mar. 15, 1903-Nov. 20, 1985\MARY WOMACK, Aug. 12, 1901-Aug. 21, 1981

WILLIE ELMO McINTEE, JR., US Air Force, 1961-1988

GUSTAVA BRICE, Born 7-13-1897, Died 7-15-1988, Aged 91, Bledsoe Funeral Home Marker

JAMES H. LACY, May 15, 1934-Jan. 6, 1987, In Loving Memory

VINA B. HUNT, Apr. 3, 1903-Oct. 22, 1988, Beloved Mother & Grandmother

Double tombstone: MARY M. UTLEY, Apr. 8, 1908-Feb. 22, 198_\FRED D. UTLEY, Oct. 5, 1900-____ no death date but this grave recently filled, wed Sept. 25, 1926

LARDELL WILLIAMSON, Aug 29, 1989, Mercer Funeral Home Marker

EVA BELL SAIN, Mar. 23, 1914-June 13, 1986

EMMA GREER, Mother, July 19, 1911-June 8, 1981

CLARENCE WILLIAMSON, SR., US Army, World War I, Sep. 19, 1893-Oct. 14, 1991

WALTER EDWARD WILLIAMSON, Dec. 19, 1937-Nov. 23, 1967, Three Brothers

CAMERON LAMAR LOVE, June 10, 1977, Our Beloved Son

WORRIE LOVE, 1895-1965, At Rest

LEONARD LOVE, Dec. 16, 1912-Jan. 1, 1969

 

Page 84

Double tombstone: ADELIA DODD, 1918-1957\JOHN DODD, 1915-1969

LONNIE LOVE, SR., Aug. 9, 1923-Apr. 8, 1984

VIOLA LOVE, Sunrise Mar. 3, 1912, Sunset Jan. 31, 1992, Walking with the Father

BETTY MAE WILLIS, 8-15-1908-8-22-1992

ERNEST COY WILLIS, Sept. 30, 1920-May 13, 1987

Double tombstone: WILL LOVE, JR., Father, Jan. 15, 1902-____\ANNIE MAE LOVE, Mother, Mar. 6, 1903-Nov. 22, 1981

JAMES WILLIS, Born 10-15-1922, Died 4-24-1978

JIMMY ROY LOVE, Tennessee AMM2 US Navy, World War II, January 27, 1914-July 24, 1970

NATHANIEL FULLER, Nov. 25, 1896-Nov. 28, 1966

JEFF MADISON MABLE, S2 US NR, World War II, April 3, 1926-December 12, 1965

CANARY KIZER, Sept. 1, 1981, Mercer Funeral Home Marker

SMITH MABORN, JR., Died March 3, 1994, Aged 62 Yrs., Ford Funeral Home Marker

MARY J. CLARK, Died Jan. 7, 1960

ROOSEVELT NELSON, 1927-1988, Beloved Father, Son and Brother

TOMMY LYLES, Sept. 2, 1986, Mercer Funeral Home Marker

SHURMAN B. STOKES, Tennessee TEC5 Co C 868 Engr AVN BN World War II, June 6, 1914-Nov. 25, 1965

Double tombstone: IDA LOVE, 1874-1957\WILL LOVE, 1872-1959, Loves Last Tribute

JIM WILLIS, Born 12-28-1889, Died 4-16-1978

VIRDELL WILLIS, 12-8-1992, Mercer Funeral Home Marker

Double tombstone: HUBERT LOVE, Dec. 15, 1914-Mar. 22, 1976\POLLY LOVE, Mar. 15, 1918-Feb. 28, 1985, In Loving Memory

LEONARD THOMAS STATEN, 11-28-1949-6-1-1990

LENON STATEN, PVT US Army, World War II, 1919-1986

Double tombstone: MATTIE L. FULLER, Jan. 12, 1908-____\ELMER FULLER, Jan. 30, 1901-Apr. 13, 1981

HATTIE BIVENS, Apr. 6, 1905-Dec. 6, 1973

TOM BROWN, Died Nov. 16, 1993, Aged 93, Ford Funeral Home Marker

JOHNNIE J. WILLIAMSON, PFC US Marine Corps Korea, Feb. 7, 1931-May 11, 1976 (a fallen stone)

Double tombstone: CLARENCE WARE, SR., Feb. 3, 1902-May 16, 1966\LILLIE J. WARE, Oct. 15, 1904-Mar. 1, 1980

ROBERT LYLES, Sept. 25, 1989, Mercer Funeral Home Marker

 

Page 85

Mr. NAMON REID, Born 11-7-1912, Died 1-17-1994, Bledsoe Funeral Home Marker

ROBERT J. WOMACK, Died Sept. 18, 1994, Aged 59 Yrs., Stephenson-Shaw Fun. Home Marker

RADIE M. McGEE, 8-19-1914-4-18-1992, Children

Double tombstone: CORNELIUS GIVENS, Oct. 20, 1901-Sept. 9, 1983\JESSIE GIVENS, Sept. 15, 1896-Feb. 22, 1976

LONNIE HUNT, May 27, 1910-July 25, 1991

VANDORA MERRIWETHER, 8-6-1918-10-5-1985, In Loving Memory

ELIZABETH BROWN, May 10, 1991, Mercer Funeral Home Marker

McDUFFIE HOWARD, PVT US Army, World War II, Feb. 10, 1915-Apr. 29, 1978

Mrs. JEANETTE C. WINNINGHAM, Died Mar. 3, 1974, Aged 26 Yrs., Stephenson-Shaw Funeral Home Marker

JAMES L. GIVENS, Died Oct. 9, 1993, Age 45 Yrs., Stephenson-Shaw Funeral Home Marker

ISIAH WILLIAMSON, Died Aug. 19, 1992, Aged 91 Yrs., Stephenson-Shaw Funeral Home Marker

VORA MAE FULLER, Died May 11, 1992, Aged 79 Yrs.

ROSETTA LOVE BELL, Died June 10, 1994, Aged 88 Yrs., Ford Funeral Home Marker

GERTRUDE WILLIAMSON, 4-19-1992, Mercer Funeral Home Marker

Rev. WILLIE MERRIWETHER, Jan. 27, 1950-Nov. 3, 1985, In Loving Memory

LYDIA BELL FULLER, Mar. 10, 1906-Dec. 14, 1990

CAROLYN L. JONES, June 2, 1947-Oct. 5, 1975

WINNIE REID GADDIS, Nov. 27, 1887-Ju1y 15, 1974

WILLIE T. WOMACK, Tennessee PFC US Army, World War II, August 1, 1924-April 30, 1977

 

            Buried just east of this section of the cemetery are black burials, close to the very old white portion of this burial ground. These are mostly unmarked graves, with these exceptions:

MATTIE SUE WILLIAMSON, Mar. 18, 1888-Nov. 16, 1966, At Rest

LEE SHARP, Died ____ 17, 1964, Funeral home marker

ANDY WILLIAMSON, Oct. 3, 1880-Aug. 7, 1960, At Rest

 

Page 85A

Western Section of Cemetery

            Additional tombstones/funeral home markers read in the older, western portion of Blair Chapel Cemetery when vegetation died down and/or probed with metal prober.

NANNIE P. THEUS, Feb. 18, 1888-June 6, 1902 (a fallen tombstone)

LETTIS, wife of Peter NORTHERN, 1834-1904 (top portion of tombstone located after the first reading)

PRISSER REAVES, Died April 22, 1959 (funeral home marker)

Double tombstone: TURNER REID, 1824-1897, Father\ANNIE REID, 1827-1907, Mother (a fallen tombstone)

EMMA COMER, July 15, 1867-June 12, 1904 (a fallen tombstone; reads Emma, not William as on page 82)

HENRY WILLIAMSON, August 18, 1868-Jan. 15, 1889 (a fallen tombstone)

SARAH VINCENT, 1858-1924 (next to her grave, to the north, are two graves marked with nameless, dateless markers, all enclosed within a concrete border)

TOM NORTHERN, Died 19_7 (funeral home marker)

JERRY (last name watersoaked), Died 1961, funeral home marker

JAMES BROWN, Died Feb. 3, 1938, aged 49 years, 7 months, 28 days (funeral home marker)

ALVIN LEE BROWN, Died January 26, 1958 (funeral home maker)

NANCY NORTHERN, Died February 6, 1955, aged 33 years (funeral home marker)

 

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