BETHLEHEM UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CEMETERY, Pickens County, SC a.k.a. Bethel Community Church Version 2.3, 6-Nov-2006, P014.TXT, P14 ******************************************************************************** It's believed that the usage of any original work submittals contained within these webpages such as articles, compiling, photographs or graphics, conform to Fair Use Doctrine & Copyright Guidelines. COPYRIGHT NOTE: (1.) Works published before 1923, are considered to be public- domain. (2.) Works published 1923-1977 without a copyright notice, are considered to be public-domain. (3.) Unpublished non-copyrighted works will have Author permission for public-domain. Facts, names, dates, events, places & data can not be copyrighted. Narration, compilations and creative works can be copyrighted. Copyright law in the U.S. does not protect facts or data, just the presentation of this data. REPRODUCING NOTICE: These electronic pages may only be reproduced for personal or 501(c) Not-For-Profit Society use. Use the following names, if, you would like to give any author compiling credit. AUTHORS: Paul M. Kankula-NN8NN & Gary L. Flynn-KE8FD *********************************************************************** 05-01-15 CEMETERY LOCATION: ------------------ Locate intersection of Highways 178 & 183 in downtown Pickens. Drive 1.6 miles (S) on Highway 178 (Pendleton Rd). Turn left onto Bethlehem Church Rd. Drive 0.5 miles (E) to church Latitude N 34 51.600 x Longitude W 82 42.167 CHURCH/CEMETERY HISTORY: ------------------------ Church established in 1802. Started as a Union Church. P275 Bethel Community Church purchased the Bethlehem Methodist Church building in approx. 2000. o----------o Notes about Cemeteries from Dr. Jim Megginson, June 17, 1997 "I think we discussed Bethlehem (United) Methodist (Episcopal) Church just outside of Pickens, where there are several black burials with tombstones, roughly the last two pages of Cemetery Book I. Especially Arters, Ladds, Cannons, Dukes, etc. These are at the far extreme of the cemetery. Death certificates for 1915-1920 show quite a few black burials at Bethlehem. "Secona: I told you about black burials there, many with markers as late as 1940s, plus also an apparent slave grave nearer the street (Carrel Cowan - Rick concurs). I've just run across a deed by which the Secona deacons conveyed the black part of the cemetery to trustees (black) in 1908." o----------o BETHLEHEM METHODIST This church was founded following Bishop Francis Asburys and Bishop Whatcotes visit through the area November 1800 on their way to Pendleton. It was organized about 1802 by Miss Martha Tatum as union, or inter denomination, as a brush arbor and called Tatum Meeting House. John Tatum gave land for a Methodist Episcopal Church. A one room log cabin was erected. A deed dated 8-8-1807, recorded 4-1-1818 shows Jesse Tatum gave two acres for a cemetery. Per Mrs. Olin Nalley, a descendant of the first preacher, Charles Durham (he was blind), the present structure is the fourth one, it was built 1904, since then new windows and a pulpit wall mural and siding have been added. Among other early ministers were G. R. Shatter, EInathan Davis, Anderson, John O'Wilson, Rufus Childs. Some family connections were: Tatum, Mann, Gilstrap, Bates, Crane, Cochran, Adcox, Newton, Byars, Roper, McWhorter, Durham, Mullinax, Fergerson, McCollum, Lesley, Ellis, Major, Morgan, Haynes. The influence of an invalid grandmother Crane, led B. B. Crane to bequeath a liberal support which greatly helped during the 1930's and possibly contributed to its continuing during many trying times. An educational building was completed in 1967, new pews installed in 1968 and a Storydark piano added 1969. In the 1970's some members became unhappy, pulled out and organized another church and called it Sunrise, after a few years it changed over to the Baptist and changed the name. Being organized so early, there are many unmarked graves in the cemetery. Submitted by: Era M. Davis, 714 Ireland Road, Pickens, SC Sources: Tatum Family Records, A Pickens Charge Directory, writers knowledge, deed. by: Pickens County SC Heritage Book 1995 o----------o Bethlehem Methodist Church was first organized in 1802. The Rev. Whatcote and Bishop Francis Ashbury were riding through this country from the foot hills of Table Rock to Pendleton, which was at one time Pendleton County. They were tired and hungry. They came to a place where many people and conveyances were, thinking this may be an eating place went in. On entering they found Polly James a corpse. The people were very glad to have preachers with them to preach her funeral. Some times a person was buried for several months before a preacher came along to preach the funeral. Very soon after the funeral the two preachers with Miss Patty Tatum and some other good Christian workers, Old Bethlehem Church was organized. Later the men cut logs and erected a one-room log cabin. Next a plank structure was built with two doors and no windows - about fifty-eight years ago the present building was erected. The Morgan boys who are now members of this Church helped to haul the lumber to build it. This Church now stands just off the Pickens-Liberty highway about one mile from Pickens, South Carolina. Rev. Durham, a blind man, was the first preacher. His wife read the Bible to him and he preached from her readings. Names of families who were members first through the present Church were Tatum, Durham, Gilstrap, Bates, Parrett, Crane, Cochran, Adcox, Newton, Byars, Roper, McWhorter, Mann, Mullinax, Furgerson, McCollum, Lessley, Murphy, Waters, McNeely, Roe, Major, Ellis, Hutchins, Hawthorn, Dorsey, Haynes, Morgan, Stephens, McElrath and Waldrop. Names of some of the early ministers were: G.R. Shaffer, Rev. Elwell, Rev. Davis and Rev. Anderson. Mr. Charles Durham deeded three acres of land for the church home. In our present building under the influence of one of Rev. John O'Wilson's forceful sermons and intoxicated lawyer, Mr. Rufus Childs, was converted, joined the church and began to preach at the Church. Afterward, he became one of our most powerful preachers. There were only four members present for this wonderful change and about-face. Little by little the Church has grown, too. Mrs. Ann Crane, though an invalid unable to take an active part in the service, so impressed her children that one daughter became a loyal supporter of her church. One of her sons reared a son who became a Methodist Minister. Another son never attached himself to any church, but always gave liberally to the support of our Church and when he made his will, left a generous donation to it that helped wonderfully in tiding us over the depression years. The children, grand and great-grandchildren of the old saints gone on to rest are still worshiping and carrying on the duties of our church with the help of many new members who have come to join us. OFFICERS: President - Miss Myrtie Gilstrap Vice President - Mrs. Oscar Mann Treasurer - Mrs. Stanley Morgan Corresponding Secretary - Mrs. Gearldine Gilstrap Recording Secretary - Mrs. Ary Morgan Student Work - Mrs. Lyston Morgan Secretarial Promotion - Mrs. Adgie Jones Spiritual Life - Mrs. Jessie Morgan Missionary of Education - Mrs. J.R. Edens Literature and Publications - Miss Addie Gilstrap TOMBSTONE TRANSCRIPTION NOTES: ------------------------------ a. = age at death b. = date-of-birth d. = date-of-death h. = husband m. = married p. = parents w. = wife (43) Unreadable Tombstones Arther, Jessee, b. 6-sep-1835, d. 9-sep-1918 Arther, Julia, b. 18-mar-1942, d. 5-aug-1918 Arthur, Baylus, b. 6-jun-1845, d. 16-sept-1915, unreadable inscription beatrice harper, bessie shelton ross Blackwell, Annie, b. 23-jul-1878, d. 8-jul-1914, w/o j.h. blackwell Blackwell, John ?, b. 29-sept-1942, d. 27-mar-1945, s/o j.e. & ?? blackwell Blackwell, John, unreadable Brown Brown, Evelyn Joann, b. & d. 8-jun-1932, d/o e.e. & essie g. Brown, Joe Earle, s/o e.e. & essie gilstrap brown Cannon, Angie Crew, b. apr-1877?, d. 6-aug-1852? Cannon, b. 23-jun-1838, d. 14-jul-1911 Cannon, Fannie, b. 1868, d. 1940 Cannon, Jackson, b. 1847, d. 17-aug-1914, age 65 years Cannon, Jones, b. 13-apr-1886, d. 1913 Cannon, Myra, b. 30-aug-1890, d. 21-apr-1963 Cannon, Pearl, b. 1893, d. 1930 Cannon, Walter, b. 1-dec-1898, d. 23-jun-1926, unreadable inscription Cannon, Will, b. 16-may-1869, d. 10-mar-1953 Cannon, Will, d. 10-mar-1953, age 84 Cannon, William Jr., b. 23-jul-1874?, 30-jan-1824? Cantrell, J.B. (Jr.), b. & d. 9-feb-1947 Cauley, Charles, b. 27-sept-1907, d. 25-oct-1908, s/o j.w. & ola cauley, unreadable inscription Chappell, David H., b. 2-jun-1938, d. 15-nov-1996 Clayton, Alvin H., b. 23-mar-1918, d. 20-feb-1933, s/o o.l & m.a. clayton Clayton, Charlotte Jane, b. 1854, d. 1942, "we shall meet again" Clayton, James Henry, b. 1851, d. 1922, "we shall meet again" Clayton, Leon Olin, b. 24-nov-1908, d. 14-apr-1974 Clayton, Olin L., b. 7-apr-1883, d. 1-nov-1956, h/o margaret welborn Clayton, Virginia, b. 3-jan-1911, d. 17-jun-1911, d/o o.l. & m.a. clayton Cochran, Lula McWhorter, b. 11-may-1842, d. 22-jun-1909, w/o t.w. cochran Crane, Annie, b. 22-jul-1830, d. 9-may-1916, w/o b.b. crane Crane, B.B., b. 24-apr-1826, d. 12-jan-1885, unreadable inscription Crane, Berry B., b. 29-oct-1862, d. 22-nov-1956 Crane, Walter H., b. 14-sept-1858, d. 13-mar-1924, s/o b.b. & annie crane Cunningham, Reeman Minnie, b. 19-feb-1919, d. 14-aug-1989, "gone but not forgotten Duke, Annie, b. 1812, d. 3-apr-1901, unreadable inscription Duke, Thomas, b. 9-aug-1861, d. 23-jun-1916, unreadable inscription Durham, C.N. (Newton), b. 21-jan-1875, d. 5-jan-1966 Durham, Charles, b. 11-may-1810, d. 19-nov-1884 Durham, Lorenzo Y., b. 25-aug-1847, d. 11-feb-1920 Durham, Willis, b. 7-dec-1914, d. 30-jul-1920, d/o c.m. durham, "gone but not forgotten" Ellis, Adline McWhorter, b. 16-jan-1827, d. 22-feb-1905 Ellis, Corrie M., b. 24-nov-1868, d. 13-jun-1890 Ellis, George A., b. 6-apr-1866, d. 17-apr-1950 Ellis, Gideon, b. 27-feb-1786, d. 30-nov-1859, minister bethlehem church Ellis, Gideon, b. 27-jan-1824, d. 28-oct-1905 Ellis, Jesse H., unreadable Ellis, Laura A., b. 7-feb-1861, d. 23-oct-1896 Ellis, Lucy Easley, b. 22-sept-1786, d. 24-jun-1855 Ellis, Sarah E. Mears, b. 7-jan-1849, d. 26-jul-1882 Ellis, W.A. Virgil, b. 25-sept-1854, d. 30-nov-1880 Ferguson, Maria L., b. 11-mar-1843, d. 20-oct-1908, w/o v.a. ferguson Gilstrap Gilstrap Gilstrap Gilstrap Gilstrap Gilstrap Gilstrap, Agnes, b. 28-mar-1907, d. 16-jul-1911, d/o w.g. & l.e. Gilstrap, b. & d. 2-aug-1908, unreadable inscription Gilstrap, Benson, b. 15-may-1890, d. 15-aug-1917, unreadable inscription Gilstrap, Bobbie Ruth, b. & d. 1928, infant d/o mr. & mrs. j.a. Gilstrap, Bunk, 1910 Gilstrap, Caroline S., b. 22-jun-1823, d. 25-jun-1861, w/o h. Gilstrap, Carrie, b. 22-feb-1891, d. 20-jul-1906, d/o w.g. & l.e. gilstrap, unreadable Gilstrap, Elisha, b. 6-jul-1858, d. 10-oct-1926 Gilstrap, Essie L., b. 21-dec-1893, d. 12-oct-1954, w/o e.e. brown Gilstrap, Esther R., b. 1-aug-1838, d. 6-mar-1884, w/o b.b. gilstrap Gilstrap, Gladys E., b. 5-feb-1918, d. 16-aug-1919 Gilstrap, Hardy, unreadable Gilstrap, Ida, 1912 Gilstrap, J.A., b. 16-nov-1883, d. 31-jul-1961 Gilstrap, John W., b. 1892, d. 1975 Gilstrap, John, b. 16-sept-1792, d. 26-feb-1876, f/o hardy gilstrap Gilstrap, Josie P., b. 16-oct-1855, d. 16-sept-1941 Gilstrap, L.D., b. 15-mar-1857, d. 22-may-1930, h/o bidia hughes Gilstrap, Leila Ross "Chubb", b. 18-nov-1924, d. 9-may-1996, d/o andy Gilstrap, Lester, b. 15-may-1890, d. 5-mar-1919 Gilstrap, Lewis B., b. 30-nov-1878, d. 13-jan-1879, s/o w.g. and l.e. Gilstrap, Louise, b. 29-may-1868, d. 17-apr-1924 Gilstrap, Lucius Wyatt "Bud", b. 13-apr-1920, d. 30-jul-1999, s/o j. edd Gilstrap, Martha S., b. 28-nov-1869, d. 11-feb-1901, w/o w.h. Gilstrap, Mary Ann, b. 22-feb-1819, d. 28-feb-1906 Gilstrap, Minnie H., b. 29-aug-1861, d. 22-may-1945 Gilstrap, Murtie A., b. 7-nov-1893, d. 8-feb-1985 Gilstrap, O.M., b. 26-mar-1918, d. 15-nov-1921, d/o mr. & mrs. w.b. gilstrap Gilstrap, Rilla Ann, b. 5-feb-1882, d. 20-jan-1959 Gilstrap, S.C., unreadable Gilstrap, unreadable Gilstrap, unreadable Gilstrap, unreadable Gilstrap, unreadable Gilstrap, unreadable Gilstrap, unreadable Gilstrap, Venna, b. 28-jul-1890, d. 9-jun-1938 Gilstrap, W.G., b. 14-feb-1858, d. 9-sept-1925 Gilstrap, William Morris, b. & d. 1931, s/o mr. & mrs. j.a. gilstrap Gosnell, Douglas E., b. 7-dec-1827, d. 8-may-1906, inscription unreadable Gowns, Anna, b. 1903, d. 1967 Griffin, Edward, b. 29-aug-1910, d. 7-may-1955, SC Pvt. Co. A 7 Engr. Griffin, George Washington, b. 14-feb-1871, d. 13-mar-1946 Griffin, John M., b. 13-jun-1913, d. 13-jun-1915, s/o r.t. & mary griffin Griffin, Zorah Annis, b. 10-may-1888, d. 18-apr-1947 Guerin, Abigail H., b. 1797, d. 1855, d/o major thomas henderson, American rev. Harper, Elizabeth E., b. 30-sept-1940, d. 11-may-1941, d/o james o. Harper, unreadable Hawthorn, Constantia, b. 17-nov-1836, d. 5-feb-18?? Hayes, Annie M., b. 5-nov-1850, d. 17-apr-1917, w/o harper haynes Haynes, George Harper, b. 12-sept-1879, d. 12-aug-1923 Haynes, Harper, b. 11-dec-1833, d. 20-jun-1918, "asleep with Jesus" Haynes, J. Gordon, b. 8-mar-1806, d. 7-jan-1927, unreadable inscription Hoyt, Allene Clayton, b. 11-nov-1912, d. 23-jul-1984 Hughes, Bidia, b. 30-sept-1859, "loved ones gone but not forgotten Hughes, Jane Smith, b. 16-jun-1802, d. feb-1873, w/o j.w. hughes Hughes, Larkin, b. 26-sept-1824, d. 23-jun-1914, father Hughes, Susan Burdine, b. 17-jan-1830, d. 29-dec-1879, mother, w/o larkin hughes Hutchins, C.T., b. 5-jan-1859, d. 24-sept-1923 Hutchins, infant, b. 16-may-1868, d. 18-may-1868, child of w.b. & c.c. Hutchins Hutchins, T. Jane, b. 28-mar-1858, d. 3-jun-1910, w/o c.t. hutchins Hutchins, Walter, b. 22-feb & d. 10-jul-1881?, s/o c.t. & t.j. Kimp, Mahaley C., b. 1-mar-1830, d. 6-feb-1908 Langston, Isaac, b. 20-jun-1820, d. 6-sept-1903 Langston, unreadable Lawson, Sarah A., b. 250jan-1816, d. 13-sept-1861, sister of hardy Leah, b. 4-mar-1850, d. 18-sept-1895, w/o cannon Leila Gentry, lies one who in this life was a kind mother and a true wife Looper, William, unreadable Major, Elizabeth, b. 1-feb-1804, d. 12-feb-1892, "died trusting in Jesus" Major, James, b. 4-may-1790, d. 16-mar-1864, "died trusting in Jesus" Mann, Nancy A., b. 23-dec-1843, d. 10-oct-1918, "to love them" Mann, unreadable Masters, Devrow, b. 31-may-1886, d. 21-mar-1960 Masters, Earnest Rector, b. 25-aug-1922, d. 5-may-1938 Masters, Essie Hughes, b. 8-nov-1900, d. 23-jan-1939, w/o d.r. masters Masters, Tommy Joe, b. 30-aug-1914, d. 9-aug-1927 Mauldin, Helen, b. 20-may-1914, d. 24-jul-1938, "a sunbeam from the world has... Morgan, Susan Barker, b. 1847, d. 1911, "her life was a labor of love" Nix, Betty Banksl, b. 20apr-1852, d. 25-oct-1944, "gone to be with Jesus" Nix, J. Lenard, b. 8-oct-1856, d. 24-aug-1917, unreadable inscription Nix, James Huston, b. 2-jun-1922, d. 16-jul-1922, unreadable inscription Nix, Raymon L., unreadable Petit, Elizabeth, child of arthur j. petit and ira elizabeth petit Petit, Jimmy, child of arthur j. petit & ira elizabeth petit Petit, Trammell, child of arthur j. petit and elizabeth petit Price, Renee Jane, b. 19-jul-1964, d. 31-aug-1964, d/o mr. & mrs. paul price Prince, Mary Crice, b. 22-aug-1791, d. 6-sept-1878 Prince, William, b. 22-nov-1788, d. 20-apr-1869 Rackley, Harriett, d. 11-jan-1929, age 93 years, w/o robert t. Rice, Addie Galloway, b. 13-feb-1870, d. 17-apr-1956, "at rest" Robinson, Charles R., b. 14-mar-1882, d. 8-jun-1960, father Robinson, Maude G., b. 2-oct-1888, d. 27-mar-1954, mother Roper, Belle C., b. 13-nov-1878, d. 19-aug-1939 Roper, Elbert V., b. 23-sept-1905, d. 19-nov-1981 Roper, Francis Lavonia, b. 1930, d. 1931, d/o dewey & laura Roper, G.W., b. 30-may-1919, d. 30-jun-1919 Roper, Hamp W., b. 13-may-1877, d. 28-oct-1954 Roper, Hardy C., b. 3-sept-1879, d. 5-may-1944, "gone home" Roper, Henry Dewey, b. 9-may-1899, d. 7-jan-1942 Roper, Homer N., b. 2-feb-1898, d. 10-jul-1949 Roper, J.D. Franklin "Calhoun", b. 8-dec-1930, d. 11-jul-1988 Roper, Laura Crawford, b. 4-jun-1900, d. 4-apr-1930 Roper, Lola R., b. 7-may-1914, d. 29-jan-1985, married feb. 1939 Roper, Mary Haynes, b. 28-jul-1886, d. 16-oct-1964, "gone home" Roper, Norma Pearl, b. 15-feb-1945, d. 30-oct-1949, d/o e.v. & v.c. roper Roper, Parry M., b. 6-feb-1894, d. 28-nov-1910, s/o s.a. & j.p. Roper, Paul Hampton, b. 21-feb-1936, d. 10-oct-1937 Roper, Spencer A., b. 11-jul-1850, d. 19-mar-1930, h/o josie p. gilstrap Roper, unreadable Roper, unreadable Roper, unreadable inscription Roper, Viola C., b. 9-feb-1910, d. 10-mar-1979 Roper, W. Harison, b. 21-apr-1907, d. 21-oct-1947, married feb. 1939 Roper, William F., b. 5-aug-1931, d. 12-apr-1994, Sgt. US Army Korea Roper, William O., b. 6-feb-1874, d. 25-feb-1957 Sarah, w/o ? duke, b. 1850, d. 19-jun-1894 Skelton, Gladys R., b. 26-nov-1920, d. 18-mar-1950 Skelton, Milton C., b. 11-apr-1911, d. 7-nov-1967 Smith, Harnett, b. 26-aug-1848, d. 22-apr-1906, unreadable inscription Spirit, father Stockton, Irene Roper, b. 1912, d. 1951 Thacker, Grecia C., b. 6-may-1897, d. 10-nov-1901, d/o w.m. & s.j. thacker Thacker, unreadable Training BN WWII Waldrop, Joe, b. 15-feb-1927, d. 20-apr-1931, s/o mr. & mrs. j.c. waldrop Waldrop, unreadable Welborn, Margaret, b. 23-nov-1877, d. 28-mar-1953