Black Cemetery, Cleburne, Alabama http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/cleburne/cemeteries/black.txt ================================================================================ USGENWEB NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed and copyrighted by: Linda S. Ayres WwLSARANDOLPH@aol.com Surveyed by Linda Hutchins. July 2006 ================================================================================ July 2006 The Black Cemetery is located in Section 9, Range 10 E, Township 16 S on Bedwell Street in Heflin, Cleburne, AL. The cemetery is 1.6 acres in size. For a number of years this cemetery has been assumed to have belonged to the Calvary Baptist Church, adjacent to the cemetery. However the cemetery has always been privately owned. The Black Cemetery was originally established by the Black Family who were early pioneers in Cleburne County. However there is no documentation that any early members of the Black family are buried here. The cemetery has been in the Davero Phillips family for a number of years. Recorded in the Probate Office, Cleburne County, AL in October of 1993 (fische 290 B13) the name "Black Cemetery" was officially changed to "Forest Hills Cemetery" by the then members of the Board of Trustees. Research of the known burials in this cemetery shows that everyone buried in this cemetery is related in some way. I estimate there are 150 unmarked graves in this cemetery. Black Cemetery Row 1 3 unmarked Crawford, Mary Faye 1948-2002 (Dryden Funeral Home Marker) Sanders, Mom - Betty Jo Mar 20, 1942 Mar 2, 2002 Sanders, Dad - Amos Eugene May 18, 1935 OD Denham, Doris Jean 1952-1999 (Dryden Funeral Home Marker) Brimer, Sarah Frances Aug 2, 1925 Jan 25, 1987 Carr, Mother, Lois E Apr 2, 1916 Aug 5, 1962 3 Unmarked 1 Homemade Marker - no visible writing 18 Unmarked Row 2 Larry (no last name) Mar 15, 1951 Jul 4, 1969 1 White Wooden Cross - no name (Has had flowers) 1 piece of marble with flowers - no name Hanvey, Jeff D. Feb 8, 1932 May 28, 1973 PVT US ARMY 2 Marble Stones - no names 17 Unmarked Johnson, Jane Hanvey Sep 1, 1936 Apr 2, 1997 1 Marble Piece - no name Hughes, Katie Thompson 1936-2005 (Dryden Funeral Home Marker - Identical piece of Marble as above with no writing on it) Phillips, Nellie Kate Jan 14, 1912 Dec 25 1982 Phillips, Noah Oct 6, 1886 Apr 29, 1956 Phillips, Woodrow Jan 6, 1929 Sep 6, 1947 16 unmarked Jarrell, Daddy, Charlie B. Apr 25, 1927 Sep 14, 1983 Jarrell, Momma, Eva N. May 18, 1919 Mar 11, 2003 Stevenson, Ruby Jarrell Aug 10, 1949 Jun 1, 19986 Jarrell, Charlie B. Apr 25, 1927 Sep 15, 1983 4 unmarked Row 3 Owens, Kay 1959-1971 Owens, Chris 1963-1971 Owens, Lige Sep 16, 1901 Feb 2, 1977 Owens, Willie [Watkins] Jan 19, 1901 May 24, 1976 Elrod, Gracie O. Jul 2, 1924 Jun 18, 1975 Elrod, Jim Nov 15, 1894 May 23, 1955 Phillips, Lelia M. Taylor Jul 29, 1898 Mar 10, 1957 Phillips, James Arnold Sep 13, 1931 May 5, 1989 Phillips, Shirley Ivadean Nov 13, 1937 Nov 29, 1937 Phillips, Lige Oct 19, 1894 May 2, 1933 Phillips, Father, J. J. [Jackson] Dec 8, 1852 Feb 28, 1928 Phillips, Mother, Anney [Brimer] Jun 14, 1862 Jul 14, 1943 [Her birth date is about 9 years off] 21 Unmarked Morris, Louise O. Mar 27, 1928 OD Morris, Harold E. (Edward) Feb 25, 1926 Jul 9, 1993 PVT US ARMY Morris, Larry Mar 15, 1951 Aug 14, 1969 Echols, Elbert C. Jan 14, 1924 Feb 9, 1998 Echols, James Albert Aug 26, 1950 Jun 30, 1966 Morris, Michael Infant Son of Harold and Louise Morris Dec 31, 1959 Waters, Jackie Leon Mar 1947 OD Phillips, Rosie [Willingham] Mar 20, 1884 Aug 5, 1979 Phillips, Davero Oct 3, 1883 Jan 4, 1977 (This is man who bought land that the Black Cemetery is on from the Black Family) Phillips, Arthur Apr 10, 1918 Nov 26, 1944 PFC 9 ARMD INF 6 ARMD DIV WW11 Phillips, Lela 1928 1947 Phillips, Jack 1915 1975 PVT US ARMY WW11 6 unmarked Marble Stone - no name 23 unmarked possibly more Row 4 Payne, Jim Malloy Jan 13, 1917 Dec 22, 2000 Payne, Eunice A Jul 24, 1924 Feb 18, 1991 "The Dearest Mother God could give to six children - Ralph, Wayne, Danny, Geralyne, Betty, Janice "Sis" " Lambert, Terri Renee Jun 16, 1971 Jul 18, 1990 Lambert, Mother, Gearlyne Payne Apr 16, 1943 OD Lambert, Tony Nov 29, 1962 Apr 16, 1980 Payne, Arthur H. Dec 25, 1920 May 19, 1974 Moore, Willie Mae May 25, 1915 Nov 27, 1968 Payne, Dovie May 25, 1899 Oct 31, 1967 Brimer, Bill 1915-1975 Brimer, Joe 1878-OD [Died 1969] Brimer, Fannie 1880-1966 Campbell, Father, James 1877-19 - - (1964 not engraved) Campbell, Mother, L. A. 1884-1958 [Lea Anna Watkins] Watkins, Jim No Dates Watkins, LizzieBeth [Brimer] unreadable dates Campbell, Buck May 17, 1908 Nov 26, 1926 [Son of James & Lea Anna Campbell] Black Marble Marker No Dates Brimer, John Dec 14, 1910 Dec 6, 1925 Brimer, Monroe no dates (Had picture but has been removed, son of Davero and Rosie Willingham Phillips) Black Marble Marker no names or dates Brimer, John no names or dates (Not the same one as above) 1 unmarked Gray Marble Marker no names or dates Brimer, Syntha W. H. [Kelly] May 28, 1854 Jun 9, 1907 [The way this name is written on stone, Syntha W. H. Brimer, indicates to me that this would be the wife of W. H. Brimer, her birth date is 10 or more years off] Brimer, W. H. [William Henry Harrison] Apr 12, 1858 Jul 9, 1908 [His birth date is 10 or more years off] 1 Cement Marker not readable [Same design as W. H. and Syntha Brimer above] At least 24 unmarked Row 5 2 unmarked inside nice marble enclosure 6 unmarked Brimer, Charlie "Buddy", Jr. Sep 30, 1937 Feb 17, 1991 Brimer, Rufus "Frog" Oct 14, 1940 OD Brimer, Ruby Jun 23, 1916 May 27, 1996 Brimer, Charlie (Sr.) May 12, 1912 Nov 29, 1972 There is a drive through here with as many as 6 unmarked graves that are being driven across. Smith, Dovie Dec 28, 1921 Feb 6, 1987 Williams, Eugene L. Nov 11, 1925 Dec 27, 1988 Williams, Patsy R. [Campbell?] Jul 30, 1926-OD Yancy, J. D. Dec 18, 1921 Sep 11, 1961 PFC HQ 5 LABOR SUPV AREA WW11 Phillips, Miss Cora Aug 2, 1891 Nov 11, 1963 Yancy, Mother, Deffie [Phillips] Dec 26, 1898 Apr 14, 1985 Phillips, John H. Dec 26, 1865 Jan 13, 1958 Phillips, Margaret [Brimer] Jun 2, 1864 Apr 27, 1927 Handmade Cement Marker unreadable (Has flowers) 3 or 4 unmarked Brimer, Sherry Marie Sep 13, 1972 Apr 3, 1973 Daughter Brimer, John William Jun 10, 1907 Jul 24, 1951 Handmade Cement Marker unreadable [Brimer?] Brimer, Pete No Dates 17 Unmarked Rollins, Momma, Essie Carrie May 5, 1925 OD Rollins, Arlin Jeral Jul 12, 1946 Jul 20, 2003 Rollins, Daddy - Garlis Jun 1, 1921 Jun 15, 2005 PFC US ARMY WW11 "Wife-Essie, Son- Kenny, Daughter- Joyce, Son- Arlin 1946-2003" 16 unmarked 1 unmarked (relatively new) Sanford, William 1916 2006 (New - Dryden Funeral Home Marker) Phillips, Cecil Jun 10, 1929 Feb 16, 1985 2 unmarked Phillips, Aunt, Josie McDaniel May 22, 1898 Jul 18, 1983 Phillips, Nephew, Thomas Jr. Mar 27, 1928 Jul 20, 1976 Drive through here, possibly 8 unmarked graves being driven across Payne, Nellie P. Mar 4, 1892 Dec 24, 1977 Payne, Robert Lee Aug 8, 1887 Sep 26, 1957 [Husband of Sarah Ellen Phillips] Payne, Hubert Earl Feb 20, 1933 May 16, 1974 Payne, Robert Lee 1928 1994 Payne, Davero Dec 24, 1924 Dec 11, 1979 SFC US ARMY WW11 Payne, Lige Pat Nov 15, 1930 Jul 15, 1954 Payne, Emma Lee Jul 7, 1919 Sep 10, 1938 4 unmarked Rairden, Robert A. Feb. 4, 1904 Aug 3, 1976 Rairden, Mamie H. [Brimer] Oct 9, 1927 May 17, 1993 2 unmarked Brimer-Taylor, Julia Ann Sep 28, 1914 Feb 21, 2004 Taylor, Katherine B. 1946 1984 19 /20 unmarked Row 6 Numerous unmarked - this is one of the areas where there are just grave after grave of unmarked. Allen, Charles B. Mar 12, 1980 Aug 5, 1993 Allen, L. V. May 31, 1951 Jan 5, 1989 1 unmarked (flower pot between it and L. V. Allen) Row 7 Numerous unmarked - this is same area as above Campbell, Mary H. Mar 30, 1933 OD Campbell, John Jan 1, 1929 Oct 6, 1987 SFC US ARM KOREA Williams, Hugh 1921-2005 (New? Being prepared for enclosure) Dodson, Minnie Bell 1908 1974 Dodson, Ernest 1901 1976 4 unmarked McDaniel, Jimmy 1945-1968 2 unmarked Hudgins, Debra Ann Nov 20, 1956 Oct 25, 1957 2 unmarked Gray Marble - no name 1 unmarked Greenwood, Sara Nell Dec 26, 1951 Jan 18, 1991 (Double Marker only one side engraved) Jordan, James W. Jan 14, 1910-OD [Died Apr-1994] Jordan, Annie Mae Nov 21, 1915 Nov 1, 1980 (Pictures) Jordan, Our Daughter Billie Ann 1938-1945 Boswell, Augustus D. 1898-1985 Boswell, Mattie Trantham 1905-1990 25 unmarked (my observation) Row 8 At same end of cemetery as beginning of previous two rows, numerous unmarked graves Manis, William No Dates 1 unmarked with Yellow Rose Moyer, Lucille D. Aug 12, 1934 OD Moyer, E. J. Mar 27, 1932 Jul 30, 1982 SSG US ARMY KOREA 9 unmarked Williamson, Austin Scott Oct 14, 1996 Oct 14, 1996 (Martin & Hightower Funeral Home Marker) 3 unmarked Payne, James Earl Mar 17, 1945 Apr 24, 1996 Payne, Ada Sep 18, 1905 May 25, 1998 Payne, J.B Jan 18, 1915 Jan 1, 1986 8 Unmarked Dodson, Gordon E. Mar 16, 1894 Dec 27, 1959 Dodson, Mary Lee P. Jul 15, 1899 Dec 11, 1988 Ward, Mozell Dodson Jul 25, 1924 Aug 14, 2000 2 unmarked Swafford, Cyanthia Mar 16, 1908 Feb 23, 1956 (Spelling is same as it is on stone) 19 unmarked Unmarked graves: Brimer, William Morgan 1802-187- [Tuggle' Company of Lindsey's Militia Indian Wars] Brimer, Jane McWright 1805-before 1900 From Birth & Death Registry at Probate Office burials in the Black Cemetery: Shealie F. Phillips born DeArmanville, Calhoun, AL Infant 6 days old DOD: 29 Nov 1938 Father: Jim Phillips AL Mother: Lela Taylor AL DC #1167 Emily Payne Howell born in Texas 19 years 2 mos 9 days old DOD: 16 Sep 1938 Father: Lee Payne AL Mother: Ellen Phillips AL Cecil Martin Taylor born AL Infant 9 mos old DOD: 13 Sep 1932 Father W. A. Taylor AL Mother: Annie J. Spurlin AL page torn off where DC # should be Thomas Staten born AL Infant 7 days old DOD: 12 May 1935 Father: George Staten Mississippi Mother: Jessie Henry AL DC #812 J. B. Watts born AL 17 yrs old DOD: 14 Apr 1931 Father: C. P. Watts Mother: Orrie Headrick DC # 390 William Brimer born AL 82 yrs 7 mos old DOD: 24 Jan 1938 Father: Duke Brimer AL Mother: Syntha Kelly AL James Earl Morgan March 12 1950 - June 26- 1978 born AL Residence: Oxford Father: Frank Morgan Mother: Lucille Potts Davero Phillips Oct 3 1883 - Jan 4 1977 born AL Father: Jack Phillips Mother: Lumby Annie Brimer Ernest Dodson Apri 18 1901 - May 24, 1976 born AL Father: Alvin Dodson Mother: Amanda Gables Willie Ann Owens Jan 19, 1901- Aug 3, 1976 born AL Father: Jim Watkins Mother: Elizabeth Brimer Robert A. Rairden Feb 1902 - Aug 3, 1976 Born: Indianapolis, IN Died: Houston, TX (This man was married to a Tiny Brimer and is the father of Samuel Rairden who is buried at New Harmony) Elige Robert Owen Sep 16, 1901 - Feb 2, 1977 Father: Neal Solomon Owens Mother Elizabeth Clementine Hurst Sarah Francis Morgan (says charge to Earl Brimer) Aug 2, 1925 - Jan 25, 1982 Father: Will Hudson Mother: Georgia Smith Ruby Lee McCormick Aug 10, 1915 - Apr 11, 1982 Father: William (Will David) Jacks (Buried at New Harmony) Mother: Amy Mitchell (Buried at Harmony in DeArmanville/Choccolocco) Black Cemetery Dryden Funeral Home records: James Albert Echols DOD: 30 Jun 1966 DOB: 26 Aug 1950 Father: Elbert Echols Mother: Lillie Mae Owens Fannie Brimer DOD: 18 Jul 1966 DOB: 9 Mar 1880 8 years old Father: James Watkins Mother: Lizzie Brimer Jimmy McDaniel age 23 DOD: 19 Apr 1968 DOB: 19 Apr 1945 Willie Mae Moore DOD: 27 Nov 1968 DOB: ? Father: Marcellus Payne (William) Mother: Dovie Watts Husband D. F. Moore 2 brothrs: Jim Payne, Arthur Payne 1 sister: Essie (Payne) Rollins Joe Brimer age 91 DOD: 21 Mar 1969 DOB: 24 May 1877 Father: Bill Brimer Mother: Unk Christopher Anthony Owens age 8 DOD: 21 Oct 1971 DOB: 21 Jul 1963 Father: James Owens Mother: Myrtis Norris Died in New Orleans, LA Lavonia Kay Owens age 12 DOD: 7 Nov 1971 DOB: 9 Sep 1959 Father: James Owens Mother: Myrtis Norris Died New Orleans, LA the two children above died from severe burns. Jeff Duke Hanvey DOD: 28 May 1973 DOB: 8 Feb 1936 Father: John Dudley Hanvey Mother: Lilly Mae Haynes Arthur Harper Payne age 53 DOD: 19 May 1974 DOB: 25 Dec 1920 Father: William M. (Marcellus) Payne Mother: Dovie Brimer Minnie Bell Dodson age 66 DOD: 27 May 1974 DOB: 11 May 1906 Father: Jack Phillips Mother: Annie Brimer Jack "Pete" Phillips age 59 DOD: 2 Feb 1975 DOB: 1 Mar 1915 Father: Davero Phillips Mother: Rosie Watkins Vet: WW 11 Bill Brimer age 59 DOD: 2 Apr 1975 DOB: 10 Aug 1915 Father: Joe Brimer Mother: Fannie Watkins Gracie Mae Elrod age 50 DOD: 18 Jun 1975 DOB: 2 Jul 1924 Father: Elige Robert Owens Mother: Willie Mae Watkins Ernest Dodson age 74 DOB: 18 Apr 1901 in AL DOD: 22 Feb 1976 in Bowdon, GA Father: Alvin Dodson Mother: Amanda Gable Willie Ann Owens age 75 (nee: Watkins) DOB: 19 Jan 1901 in AL DOD: 24 May 1976 in Cleburne Co. AL Father: Jim Watkins Mother: Elizabeth Brimer Robert A. Rairden DOB: Feb 1904 in Indianapolis, Indiana DOD: 3 Aug 1976 in Houston, Texas Parents not listed Davero Phillips age 93 DOB: 3 Oct 1883 in AL DOD: 4 Jan 1977 Father: Jack Phillips Mother: Lumby Ann Brimer Elige Robert Owens age 75 DOB: 16 Sep 1901 in AL DOD: 2 Feb 1977 in Cleburne Co. AL Father: Neal Solomon Owens Mother: Elizabeth Clementine Hurst