CEMETERY
The Church universal has always struggled for unity in the Body of Christ. We need look no further than Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth to see that.
Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. (1 Cor 1:10)
Here at Pleasant Grove, a stark reminder of our call to seek justice as we seek unity is the cemetery that stands behind the sanctuary and is segregated based on the color of one’s skin. This vestige of a divided body should serve to drive us forward as we seek Paul’s vision of oneness in Christ.
There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)
There are approximately 176 graves in our cemetery dating from the middle of the 19th century to the end of the 20th century. Unfortunately, most of the graves of our brothers and sisters of color remain unmarked or marked without names. The good news of the gospel is that despite our failings God knows their names.
By January 2000, plots to our cemetery were no longer available. You may notice entries on the following pages or our website that are not visible if you walk through the cemetery. They may be in the burial sites where the headstones are so weathered they are no longer readable.
We would also like to note that in previous writings of our history it was stated that two of the children of Wesley and Vastia Smith died as a result of being burned by fire, and their graves were among the first in this cemetery. While several of their children died at an early age, we could not find any headstones with the same date of death. There’s the possibility that the headstones are so weathered by age that they are no longer readable.
*Indicates names that were on either on cemetery census.com or findagrave.com, but we were not able to find a headstone for them when we physically checked the names in the cemetery. If you have questions or information to help us fill in the blanks, please contact the church office at 919-787-7763 or office@pgumc.org.
The following is a list of those we believe are buried in this holy ground:
*Ashworth, Baby Girl
Birth: 1952
Deceased: December 1952
*Berry, Martha Caroline ‘Mattie’ (Spouse of Karl Ferdinand Dickey)
Birth: July 17, 1879
Deceased: July 4, 1967
*Carlina, John Colin
Birth: 1901
Deceased: October 24, 1971
Cooper, Alice
Birth: April 12, 1861
Deceased: July 13, 1883
Cooper, Charles
Birth: January 1836
Deceased: 1914
Cooper, Cora E. (Spouse of Sihon H. Smith)
Birth: May 12, 1866
Deceased: March 2, 1904
Cooper, Isaac Moore
Birth: September 9, 1854
Deceased: October 6, 1924
*Cooper, James W. (Spouse of Martha H. Pulley)
Birth: May 1, 1814
Deceased: October 4, 1898
Cooper, Martha H. Pulley (Spouse of James W. Cooper)
Birth: August 24, 1836
Deceased: March 5, 1915
Cooper, Sallie (Daughter of John and Fannie Cooper)
Birth: November 16, 1832
Deceased: November 24, 1902
Cooper, William Henry
Birth: 1856
Deceased: 1894
Davis, James Wilbert (Son of T. H. and L. A. Davis)
Birth: November 26, 1921
Deceased: January 6, 1923
*Dickey, Karl Ferdinand (Spouse of Martha Caroline ‘Mattie’ Berry)
Birth: December 17, 1879
Deceased: September 10, 1956
Dickey, Martha “Mattie” Caroline Berry (Spouse of Karl Ferdinand Dickey)
Birth: July 17, 1879
Deceased: July 4, 1967
*Edwards, Aldridge Boaze (Spouse of Alma Ursilla Wolfe)
Birth: January 4, 1899
Deceased: March 11, 1968
Edwards, Alma Joyce
Birth: October 26, 1931
Deceased: March 25, 1981
Edwards, Alma Wolfe (Spouse of Boaze A. Edwards)
Birth: August 23, 1908
Deceased: August 25, 1959
Edwards, Boaze A. (Spouse of Alma Wolfe Edwards)
Birth: January 4, 1899
Deceased: March 11, 1968
Edwards, Charlie H. (Spouse of Iva King Edwards)
Birth: October 13, 1856
Deceased: January 27, 1920
Edwards, Charlie O., S/Sgt. U.S. Army (Spouse of Reba H. Edwards)
Birth: December 23, 1915
Deceased: Information not provided
Edwards, Claude W. (Spouse of Vivian E. Edwards)
Birth: November 27, 1902
Deceased: June 30, 1969
Edwards, Dorothy Dixon
Birth: September 21, 1929
Deceased: February 15, 2013
[Dorothy Dixon Edwards was the last person laid to rest in our cemetery.]
Edwards, Frank S. (Son of J. T. and Mary E. Edwards)
Birth: October 23, 1881
Deceased: January 3, 1883
Edwards, Grover (Son of J. T. and Mary E. Edwards)
Birth: November 25, 1891
Deceased: August 24, 1893
Edwards, Halcy (Daughter of J. T. and Mary E. Edwards)
Birth: January 19,1880
Deceased: September 23, 1897
Edwards, Hamilton A., US Navy, WWII
Birth: October 12, 1924
Deceased: January 22, 1993
Edwards, Harvey L.
Birth: May 14, 1927
Deceased: May 24, 1972
Edwards, Infant (Son of Reginald L. and Margaret G. Edwards)
Birth: Information not provided
Deceased: August 4, 1934
Edwards, Irene
Birth: July 8, 1917
Deceased: August 16, 1995
Edwards, Iva King (Spouse of Charlie H. Edwards)
Birth: July 22, 1874
Deceased: May 2, 1961
Edwards, J. T. (Spouse of Mary E. Edwards)
Birth: February 15, 1844
Deceased: August 8, 1918
Edwards, Lela K.
Birth: November 12, 1884
Deceased: December 20, 1974
Edwards, Lydia A.
Birth: September 17, 1897
Deceased: December 18, 1990
Edwards, Mary E. (Spouse of J. T. Edwards)
Birth: May 1851
Deceased: May 1915
Edwards, Reba H. (Spouse of Charlie O. Edwards, S/Sgt U.S. Army)
Birth: May 14, 1917
Deceased: September 14, 1979
Edwards, Sylvester L.
Birth: August 15, 1906
Deceased: January 25, 1965
Edwards, Vivian E. (Spouse of Claude W. Edwards)
Birth: September 11, 1903
Deceased: March 18, 2003
Ellen, Charlie E. (Spouse of O. G. Ellen)
Birth: September 24, 1863
Deceased: March 30, 1927
Emory Headstone
There is a large headstone with only the Emory name on it and no names or dates.
Emory, Anna
Birth: August 2, 1889
Deceased: June 22, 1949
Emory, Arbelle O. (Spouse of Frank E. Emory)
Birth: September 1, 1897
Deceased: March 17, 1960
Emory, B. E. (Spouse of Salenah Hobgood Emory)
Birth: August 6, 1854
Deceased: March 2, 1930
Emory, Frank E. (Spouse of Arbelle O. Emory)
Birth: October 13, 1892
Deceased: April 15, 1952
Emory, Marguerite Lucille (Daughter of Frank E. and Arbelle O. Emory)
Birth: May 16, 1921
Deceased: February 18, 1923
Emory, Salenah Hobgood (Spouse of B. E. Emory)
Birth: December 6, 1850
Deceased: May 30, 1909
Hailey, James S.
Birth: February 18, 1848
Deceased: April 17, 1915
Hailey, James Theodore (Son of J. R. and M. E. Hailey)
Birth: September 21, 1906
Deceased: August 31, 1907
Hailey, Johnnie P.
Birth: March 5, 1883
Deceased: October 12, 1931
Hailey, Sallie W.
Birth: September 26, 1847
Deceased: February 22, 1923
Hobgood, Emma Judson
Birth: May 5, 1860
Deceased: May 24, 1930
House, Annie Patrick (Daughter of H. W. and Nancy E. House)
Birth: September 17, 1868
Deceased: December 21, 1873
House, Claudie Comton (Son of H. W. and Nancy E. House)
Birth: July 28, 1877
Deceased: January 6, 1886
House, Edward P., Sr. (Spouse of Sue Honeycutt House)
Birth: May 20, 1879
Deceased: March 15, 1954
House, H. W. (Spouse of Nancy E. House)
Birth: July 16, 1834
Deceased: February 20, 1909
House, Lena Jackson
Birth: September 9, 1893
Deceased: May 21, 1973
House, Nancy E. (Spouse of H. W. House)
Birth: October 26, 1846
Deceased: October 22, 1927
House, Sue Honeycutt (Spouse of Edward P. House, Sr.)
Birth: September 10, 1887
Deceased: March 13, 1914
[Next to the grave of Mrs. House are two markers
simply stating ‘Infant of S.H.H.’ No dates were provided.]
Jackson, Cornelia A. Smith (Spouse of G. M. Jackson)
Birth: June 5, 1859
Deceased: February 20, 1926
[Cornelia, Eldora, and G.M. Jackson all died on the same day under unusual circumstances. See also Smith, Mary A. Poole (July 16, 1839 – November 18, 1903). She was the mother of Nancy A. Cornelia Smith, and the spouse of G.M. Jackson. Articles in The News and Observer newspaper, February 24, 1926 and the February 26, 1926 editions, provide more details. If you wish to have a copy of the article please send request to: lindamccabe6431@gmail.com. The electronic copy has exceedingly small print and is difficult to read.]
Jackson, Eldora L.
Birth: October 2, 1889
Deceased: February 20, 1926
Jackson, G. M. (Spouse of Cornelia A. Smith)
Birth: July 27, 1853
Deceased: February 20, 1926
Kelly, Cecil
Birth: 1897
Deceased: 1956
Kelly, D. Viola
Birth: December 12, 1884
Deceased: July 4, 1979
Kelly, Effie S.
Birth: August 31, 1886
Deceased: April 16, 1983
Kelly, Joseph S. (Spouse of Nancy F. Goodwin Kelly)
Birth: February 22, 1857
Deceased: January 4, 1948
Kelly, Mamie Lee
Birth: June 13, 1900
Deceased: April 15, 1903
Kelly, Nancy F. Goodwin (Spouse of Joseph S. Kelly)
Birth: January 19, 1857
Deceased: December 17, 1926
Kelly, Ryllis S.
Birth: 1905
Deceased: 1996
Kelly, Walter Fletcher, US Navy, WWII
Birth: June 3, 1925
Deceased: October 28, 1983
Kelly, William Carr
Birth: October 24, 1889
Deceased: April 2, 1971
King, Cornelious
Birth: August 30, 1887
Deceased: June 19, 1914
King, Elma
Birth: June 7, 1876
Deceased: December 2, 1909
King, Joe
Birth: May 19, 1878
Deceased: December 5, 1909
King, Josephine (Spouse of Leonidas King)
Birth: October 24, 1853
Deceased: April 18, 1921
King, Leonidas (Spouse of Josephine King)
Birth: August 2, 1851
Deceased: May 26, 1918
King, Myrtle R.
Birth: May 22, 1897
Deceased: December 23, 1978
King, Ola E.
Birth: January 23, 1882
Deceased: April 25, 1974
Layton, John S.
Birth: July 16, 1867
Deceased: May 15, 1924
Layton, Lee Otis (Son of John S. and Ella Layton)
Birth: July 31, 1897
Deceased: October 23, 1901
Layton, Mary E.
Birth: February 20, 1867
Deceased: October 23, 1935
Matthews, N. G. Smith (Daughter of W. F. and R. Matthews)
Birth: May 13, 1829
Deceased: Information is not readable
Matthews, S. E. (Daughter of W. and N. G. Matthew)
Birth: October 21, 1860
Deceased: May 30, 1861
McGhee, Charlie Elbert (Spouse of Nora McGhee and Son of Charles M. and Cornelia Frances King McGhee)
Birth: May 22, 1885
Deceased: May 21,1961
McGhee, Nora Jackson (Spouse of Charlie McGhee)
Birth: October 2, 1889
Deceased: August 9, 1972
*Riddle, Alice Cooper (Daughter of Charles and Sarah Cooper)
Birth: April 12, 1861
Deceased: July 13, 1883
*Sawyer, Infant (Child of J. E. and I. A. Sawyer)
Birth: no date provided
Deceased: no date provided
Singer, Beulah King (née Finch)
Birth: March 21, 1886
Deceased: November 26, 1961
Smith, 1st name not legible
Birth: 1800
Deceased: 1802
Smith, Carrie Hailey
Birth: October 6, 1872
Deceased: May 31, 1952
Smith, Charlie A. (Son of W. T. and M. W. Smith)
Birth: January 2, 1881
Deceased: August 28, 1910
Smith, Cora E. Cooper (Spouse of Sihon H. Smith)
Birth: May 12, 1866
Deceased: March 2, 1904
Smith, David Ollie
Birth: May 26, 1895
Deceased: September 14, 1947
Smith, Delany Ann (Daughter of Wesley O. and Vasti Smith)
Birth: April 15, 1855
Deceased: February 22, 1859
Smith, Deliny V. (Daughter of Wesley O. and Vasti Smith)
Birth: February 9, 1860
Deceased: June 20, 1866
Smith, E. F. (Son of Wesley O. and Vasti Smith)
Birth: February 27, 1849
Deceased: September 21, 1855
Smith, Leo (Son of C. A. and M. Smith)
Birth: August 11, 1908
Deceased: July 39, 1910
Smith, Malissa Thompson (Spouse of William Thomas Smith)
Birth: August 30, 1853
Deceased: March 8, 1954
Smith, Marvin Edward (Son of Sihon H. and Cora E. Cooper Smith)
Birth: September 17, 1899
Deceased: April 17, 1921
Smith, Mary A. Poole (Spouse of William Asbury Smith, then Hilliard J. Smith (brothers))
Birth: July 16, 1830
Deceased: November 18, 1903
(Mary was the daughter of William J. and Bashiba Jones Poole. She was also the mother of Hilliard T. Smith and Nancy A. Cornelia Smith who married G.M. Jackson.)
Smith, Norman Lee
Birth: December 30, 1886
Deceased: September 19, 1970
Smith, Rachael Bashiba
Birth: April 22, 1863
Deceased: August 17, 1872
Smith, Rachael Olive (Daughter of Jesse and M. Olive; Spouse of William F. Smith)
Birth: July 10, 1796
Deceased: June 1, 1826
Smith, Sihon H. (Spouse of Cora E. Cooper)
Birth: 1855
Deceased: 1928
*Smith, Thomas Lee
Birth: April 17, 1868
Deceased: August 1, 1872
Smith, Vasti (Spouse of Wesley O. Smith)
Birth: January 14, 1827
Deceased: December 5, 1889
Smith, W. O. (Son of William F. and Rachael Smith)
Birth: June 11, 1824
Deceased: March 4, 1863
Smith, Wesley O., Jr. (Son of Wesley O. and Vasti Smith)
Birth: May 4, 1863
Deceased: June 1867
Smith, William A. (Son of William F. and Rachael Smith)
Birth: April 30, 1822
Deceased: November 12, 1860
Smith, William F. (Spouse of Rachael O. Smith, (Son of Rev. Sihon and Elizabeth Smith)
Birth: October 15, 1791
Deceased: May 25, 1856
Smith, William Henry
Birth: November 30, 1874
Deceased: September 13, 1967
Smith, William Henry (Son of H. J. Smith)
Birth: July 20, 1866
Deceased: January 29, 1867
Smith, William Thomas (Spouse of Malissa Thompson Smith)
Birth: January 21, 1851
Deceased: July 27, 1921
*Thompson, Addison M. (Spouse of Frances S. Thompson)
Birth: 1855
Deceased: 1923
Thompson, Ethel King (Spouse of L. C. Thompson)
Birth: September 22, 1896
Deceased: September 19, 1929
Thompson, Frances S. (Spouse of Addison M. Thompson)
Birth: 1857
Deceased: 1941
Thompson, George Walton
Birth: 1884
Deceased: 1936
Thompson, Gladys E.
Birth: June 9, 1898
Deceased: December 12, 1917
Thompson, N. T. (Son of Michael and Mary Thompson)
Birth: October 18, 1820
Deceased: June 2, 1892
The following markers are in our cemetery with no information regarding the full name, date of birth or date deceased:
A. C. R. A. W. E.
B. A. E. C. E B.
C. W. E. E. J. H.
E. L. J. F. H.
I. K. E. M. C. D.
N. L. S.
And last, there are 16 blank markers, perhaps weathered over the years, erasing the information they originally contained.