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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