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.
SALEM C.M.E. CHURCH CEMETERY
(Morning Star Cemetery)Located in northeast Madison County, about 3 miles east of Oakfield, being situated on the south side of Ashport Road. It is quite evident that there are many unmarked graves here. Known as Morning Star Cemetery.
Page 100
In Memory of MARIE G. YARBROUGH, Jan. 3, 1912-Nov. 10, 1960
Mrs. ALDEE WOOLFORK WARLICK, 6-20-1907-3-22-1989, Bledsoe Funeral Home Marker
JOE HENRY DARNELL, Father, Oct. 1, 1908-Apr. 5, 1980, In Loving Memory
MELVINA, wife of MARIS WEDDLE 1863-Aug. 20th 1919, At Rest
HARRIETT, wife of Calvin DARNELL, Died Dec. 26, 1915, Aged 75 Years, Gone but not forgotten
HUTCHERSON, Beloved Parents: EDGAR, 1889-1962\LYDIE, 1896-1947
CORA SMITH KNOX, Sept. 11, 1911-July 15, 1975, In Loving Memory
LUE ANNSE, June 5, 1906-Nov. 6, 1920
E. M. , son of W. M. &E. N. DORNELL, May 7, 1912-Feb. 18, 1914
GUY TURLEY, Father, Sept. 26, 1903-Feb. 11, 1959
SIM HUTCHIN, 1888-Feb. 6, 1920, Gone but not forgotten
Double tombstone: CHARLIE ROYAL, Mar. 30, 1865-Feb. 20, 1958
ALMEDIA ROYAL, Mar. 11, 1887-June 3, 1955, In Loving Memory
ANDERSON-CHEARS: CHRIS, Father, Nov. 12, 1878-Aug. 23, 1942\ELIZA, Mother, May 11, 1880-June 13, 1955, In Loving Memory
EMMETT "Horse Collar" ROGERS, 7-16-1932-1-18-1994, Bledsoe Funeral Home Marker
CALEB RANDOLPH, 1860-1932
Double tombstone: ISAAC WOOLFORK, 1857-1912\SALLIE WOOLFORK, 1867-1949, At Rest
MATTIE R. BARHAM, Our Beloved Mother, Apr. 8, 1904-Oct. 6, 1994
JOHN NELSON, June 25, 1877-July 31, 1911
SEDIA ERMA DARNELL, Mother, Dec. 10, 1914-Jan. 25, 1990, In Loving Memory, Wife of J. H. Darnell
Rev. MARTIN HUTCHISON, 1861-1924, Gone but not forgotten
ELLA HUTCHERSON, 1864-Aug. 18, 1928, Pettigrew Rising Star Chamber 2680, Jackson, Tenn.
TEDDY KNOX, Mar. 14, 1907-Jan. 8, 1985, In Loving Memory
WILLIAM E. MAY, Feb. 13, 1904-Dec. 9, 1972
1 stone: WILLIAM DARNELL, 1860-1928 Age 68\ESTHER DARNELL, 1885-1927, Age 42
VIOLET DONALL, 1844-1917, At Rest
Double tombstone: ALTHA M. CATHEY, Dec. 12, 1903-Dec. 13, 1991\A. Z. CATHEY, Apr. 25, 1905-Feb. 14, 1983, Beloved Parents
CARNELL A. OWENS, Nov. 14, 1927-Feb. 24, 1958, In Loving Memory
CLYDE PHELPS, Tennessee PVT Co C 764 Tank BN World War II, September 15, 1917-July 4, 1970
LILY PEARL MAYS, Nov. 11, 1934-Apr. 24, 1952, Born in Memphis, Tennessee; Died in Rock Island, Illinois
RUSSELL LEE AUTRY, May 31, 1923-Mar. 29, 1973
EPSIE RAGLAND, Feb. 27, 1900-April 14, 1971, In Loving Memory
Page 101
Double tombstone: ESSIE MAE BOONE, Feb. 14, 1915-Mar. 4, 1989\WILLIE B. BOONE, Mar. 10, 1911-Feb. 15, 1992, married Sept. 2, 1933
Double tombstone: MINNIE A. CONLEY, 1898-____\JAMES R. CONLEY, 1894-1966, Memory Lane
Double tombstone: JULE HORTON, 1918-Dec. 21, 1969\MATTIE HORTON, 1894-Dec. 15, 1951
THOMAS O. W. FORBES, PFC US Army, World War II, Jan. 13, 1919-Jun. 1, 1981
RUFUS MAY, PVT US Army, Dec. 31, 1922-Nov. 11, 1974
Double tombstone, bearing only one name: JOHN H. MAY, Jan. 8, 1916-Apr. 14, 1982, married Nov. 12, 1937
O. B. BROWN, Mar. 12, 1909-June 14, 1977, In Loving Memory
WILCO MAY, US Army, World War II, 1920-1990
Double tombstone: GRACE W. GODWIN, Oct. 21, 1909-Ju1y 22, 1985\WILLIE C. GODWIN, Sept. 20, 1904-Mar. 6, 1980
ICEY W. WATSON, Aug. 8, 1911-Jan. 4, 1987
CHARLIE WATSON, 1-17-1911-7-2-1994, Bledsoe Funeral Home Marker
DENNIS ROYAL, August 2, 1988, Mercer Fun. Home Marker
EDGAR W. ROYAL, Aug. 17, 1919-Aug. 9, 1968
HENRY WOOLFORK, Sept. 14, 1880-Apr. 6, 1966 (Has a smaller marker at grave also with same information)
L. W. WOOLFORK, TEC3 1866 Engineer AVN BN World War II, April 4, 1919-Feh. 24, 1950
Double tombstone: LUDIE WOOLFORK, Dec. 25, 1887-Sept. 15, 1964\MARY E. WOOLFORK, May 27, 1910-Aug. 24, 1990
JAMES R. CONLEY, PFC Co L 802 pioneer Inf. W. W. I, July 4, 1893-Jan. 8, 1966
LIZZIE BROWN, Feb. 9, 1880-Oct. 22, 1974
ARLEAN COLLINS, Oct. 19, 1902-Sept. 27, 1984
WILL COLLINS, Mar. 7, 1884-Mar. 10, 1961
AMANDA HALL, Apr. 24, 1931-Dec. 11, 1988, She was the sunshine of our home
BROOKS EDWARD PYLES, SR. , Oct. 21, 1910-Aug. 11, 1982, In Loving Memory
ROSIE B. MAY, Apr. 4, 1924-Apr. 15, 1979, Backside:Mother of Raymond, James, Greg and John
PEGGY WILSON, 1899-1988
MATTIE LEE DANIELS, Jan. 13, 1921-Feb. 1, 1984, Precious Memories
LEROY "Dike" GODWIN, Our Loved One, Jan. 17, 1935-Apr. 1, 1986, The Lord is my Shepherd
Double tombstone: SUE WILLIS ASKEW, Mama, May 8, 1936-____\CHARLES W. ASKEW, Daddy, Aug. 11, 1935-May 5, 1984, Our Children Diane and Charlise
Mr. FLOYD PYLES, Apr. 12, 1886-Feb. 22, 1969
Double tombstone: GENEVA ROWSEY, July 12, 1916-____\DOSSIE ROWSEY, Mar. 10, 1900-Oct. 4, 1976
LELAR WOOLFORK RAGLAND, Mother, May 10, 1900-Oct. 14, 1994, "Big Mama"
Page 102
JAMES IVY BLAIR, June 29, 1914-Aug. 30, 1970
ROBERT S. JAMES, Jr. , Beloved Son, Oct. 27, 1949-Nov. 19, 1982
WILLIE H. NEAL, Nov. 11, 1926-Oct. 6, 1987, Father of Sandra & Larry
PAUL GODWIN, JR. , Mar. 25, 1958-June 14, 1983, In Loving Memory
Double tombstone: ARDELLA ROLLINS, Nov. 11, 1912-____\HARVEY T. ROLLINS, June 6, 1905-June 13, 1983
MURPHRY ASKEW, Oct. 14, 1878-Oct. 8, 1918, At Rest
CHEST DARNELL, May 11, 1909-Oct. 7, 1941
Double tombstone: ALEXANDER DARNELL, 1887-1932\DELLIA DARNELL, 1894-1980
Grave marked with a grave-length concrete slab, broken, name and date could not be read certainly
Mrs. OPHELIA A. CURRY, Died Oct. 19, 1994, Age 91, Stephenson-Shaw Fun. Home Marker
Double tombstone: MARY E. ASKEW, Mother, Feb. 16, 1886-June 10, 1940\HENRY ASKEW, Father, Sept. 10, 1887-Oct. 18, 1923, Given by Daughter Altha Cathey April 1977, In Loving Memory
CORA WOOLFORK, Mother, Mar. 22, 1889-May 28, 1968, In Loving Memory
WALKER, husband of Pearlie WOOLFORK, 1891-Oct. 15, 1917, Gone but not forgotten
1 stone: WOOLFORK: ED, 1842-1932\HESTER, 1850-1939\EDDIE, 1906-1964\LEE HENRY, 1911-1931
M. L. GODWIN, Born 1915; rest of dates in ground
ROBERT KLUMKIN, Nov. 27, 1903-Dec. 22, 1983, Age 80, Baskerville Fun. Home Marker
Double tombstone: GEORGE NEAL, 1883-1952\LOTTIE NEAL, 1885-1972, Memory Lane
Double tombstone: NATHANIEL CLANTON, May 10, 1898-Nov. 5, 1968\RADER CLANTON, Feb. 9, 1901-____, In Loving Memory
JULE DAY, 1889-1970
GEORGIA DAY, 1890-1969
EDD JONES, PFC US Army, Jul. 6, 1919-Oct. 16, 1978
BROOKS DARNELL, PFC US Army, World War II, Feb. 26, 1917-Oct. 24, 1987
GILBERT ANDERSON, Brother, 1900-1947, In Loving Memory
Double tombstone: MARY ASKEW, no dates\JOE H. ASKEW, Aug. 14, 1898-Oct. 9, 1970Beyond the Sunset
Grave marked only with "Askew"
ENDIA SANDELIN BUTLER Dec. 1888-May 6, 1942
Double tombstone: OCIE BELL BROWN, July 16, 1912-____\WILLIE T. "Pete" BROWN, Mar. 8, 1905-Feb. 22, 1980, married Aug. 1, 1928, In Loving Memory
K. OF P. LANG (name chipped out), 1881-Mar. 18, 1918, At Rest
ARTHUR WEBBER TURLEY, PFC US Army, Korea, Jul. 22, 1929-Sep. 1, 1981
Double tombstone: ARTHUR B. BROWN, Nov. 10, 1913-____\AMANDA G. BROWN, Oct. 15, 1918-Feb. 14, 1970, Bledsoe Fun. Home Marker has his death: 11-8-1993
Page 103
Double tombstone: SERONIE DARNELL, Jan. 1, 1890-July 31, 1966\ELI R. DARNELL, July 10, 1880-Mar. 9, 1957
CARALINE, wife of Willis WATFORD, 1882-1912, Gone but not forgotten
JAMES H. GOODWIN, Feb. 20, 1905-Dec. 22, 1969, At Rest
Double tombstone: VEOLA C. JONES, Oct. 22, 1914-____\HUNTER JONES, July 17, 1894-Feb. 27, 1983
Double tombstone: MAMIE S. GODWIN, July l, 1882-Aug. 26, 1978\P. H. GODWIN, Aug. 31, 1883-Mar. 2, 1974, Beyond the Sunset
JOHN HENRY DARNELL, Sept. 7, 1896-June, 24, 1986
Double tombstone: FANNIE LUE PERKINS, 1910-1971\JAMES PERKINS, 1910-____
JOE W. HILLARD, July 31, 1913-Mar. 3, 1990
Double tombstone: ANNA MAYS, Nov. 30, 1883-Feb. l, 1953\HENRY MAYS, Dec. 1, 1877-May 18, 1950
MARY L. , Dau. of Silas & Sarah CLARK, 1898-1913, She died as she lived, trusting in God
DAVID S. CONLEY, Tennessee PFC 368 Infantry, W. W. I, Feb. 12, 1896-Dec. 29, 1968
ELIJAH JONES, Sep. 12, 1890-Nov. 6, 1915, At Rest
MARY ASKEW, Dec. 25, 1873-Sept. 29, 1942
WILLIE BOYD, no dates
LIZZIE DEBERRY, no dates
LEORA WILLIAMS, no dates
ELIZABETH W. CARPENTER, 1896-1979
R. L. GODWIN, 1889-1913 At Rest
MAGGIE GODWIN, 1899-1917 At Rest
EMERSON GODWIN, Father, 1874-1912
MATILDA GODWIN, Wife, Oct. 10, 1876-Jan. 26, 1953
Double tombstone: VIRGINIA GOODWIN, Wife, 1911-Oct. 24, 1949\DORSEY GOODWIN, Husband, 1900-Apr . 16, 1967
EUGENE H. GODWIN, Aug. 25, 1919-Dec. 14, 1990, In Loving Memory
Double tombstone: BIRDIE GODWIN, Dec. 31, 1894-July 25, 1977\WONNER GODWIN, July 22, 1889-June 3, 1971
MAMIE LEE DARNELL, July 3, 1897-Dec. 30, 1964, At Rest
Double tombstone: ELIZABETH GODWIN, 1875-1952\DORSEY GODWIN, 1879-no death date, In after-time we’ll meet her
GEORGE AMOS HILLARD, 9-19-1950-10-6-1993, Bledsoe Funeral Home Marker
CALLIE, Dau. of Henry & Anner MAY, May 1, 1911-Sept. (no day) 1911
OLLIE D. , Son of Henry & Anner MAY, Aug. 1, 1912-Jan. (no day) 1913
EMMA LEE ASKEWN, 1901-1928, Age 27, Gone but not forgotten
Double tombstone: DAVID SYLVESTER CONLEY, 1896-1968\HENRIETTA GODWIN CONLEY, 1908-1982
CHARLIE CONLEY, March 28, 1903-Jan. 26, 1984
MARIAN FLY ASKEW, 1872-1917
MAN ASKEW, Dec. 12, 1861-Apr. 3, 1955
ERWIN WILLIAMS, April 1, 1909-May 15, 1974, In memory of our dear father
SYLVESTER MAYS, Died January 4, 1995, Age 70, Stephenson-Shaw Fun. Home Marker
Supplement, Page 9
A SALEM (MORNING STAR) CEMETERY NOTE
On page 102 of TOMBSTONE INSCRIPTIONS FROM BLACK CEMETERIES IN MADISON COUNTY, TENNESSEE is noted "Grave marked with grave-length concrete slab, broken, name and date could not be read certainly. " A closer examination shows that it reads: MRS. GEORGIA ANDERSON, Died July 21, 1943.
Supplement, Page 22
SALEM C. M. E. CHURCH/MORNTNG STAR CEMETERY
Located in northeast Madison County, about 3 miles east of Oakfield, being situated on the south side of Ashport Road. The tombstone inscriptions from this cemetery are listed in the initial volume of this book on pages 100-103. On page 102, column one is listed M. L. Godwin, whose tombstone has fallen, the date 1915 was discernible. A closer look shows that this male child was born 1907 and died 1915, according to the tombstone. His death certificate states that he was born in 1908 and died Feb. 26, 1916. The tombstone was placed, perhaps somewhat later and the actual dates forgotten. Mrs. Veola (Godwin) Jones (b. 1914) states that she was told by her mother that the oldest burials at Salem were made beyond the present cemetery, just to the southwest, in a location now considered "lost." No markers there.
Other persons buried in this cemetery according to their death certificates; those who died in Madison County, Tennessee:
NONNA WATSON, Jan. 1901-July 7, 1916
JAMES EDWIN ROYAL, Aug. 2, 1916-Jan. 16, 1923. Parents: C. W. Royal-Almeda Hudson
SALLIE ASKEW, 1852-July 17, 1923. Mother: Martha Greer
HENRY ASKEW, 1869-Oct. 19, 1923. Parents: Solomon and Sallie Askew
MARTIN HUTCHERSON, June 30, 1864-Jan. 25, 1924. Parents: Wash and Malissa Hutcherson. His tombstone bears dates 1861-1924. 1861 is correct altho’ from first appearance the "6" in 1861 almost appears to be an "8."
KELLY CLANTON, male, died April 29, 1914, aged about 80 years
EMMA WOOLFOLK, June 6, 1889-July 4, 1914
WALKER WOOLFOLK, 1888-October 16, 1917. Parents: Ed Woolfolk-Hester Donnell
MAGALINE GODWIN, Sept. 8, 1899-Dec. 29, 1917. Parents: Emerson Godwin-Matilda Anderson
NANCY CLANTON, 1848-August 2, 1918;widow
Mrs. MATTIE NELSON, Sept. 23, 1865-Oct. 14, 1921. Parents: Richard and Amanda Mays
CLAUDIA HERVEY, Nov. 15, 1903-May 18, 1922:Parents: James Hervey-Callie Brown
ISAAC WOOLFOLK, Nov. 15, 1900-May 3, 1922. Parents: Ed Woolfolk-Hester Donnell
VIOLET DONNELL, died Feb. 12, 1916, aged about 85 years; born North Carolina Her tombstone gives dates: 1844-1917
LUCILE ASKEW, died April 11, 1924, aged 12 years. Parents: Henry Askew-Mary Watford
NANCY ETTA ANDERSON, July 1878-Oct. 9, 1924. Parents: Alfred Williams-Millie Watford
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