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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