Marion-Stewart-Webster County GaArchives News.....Church Hill New and Views March 30, 2005
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ANGELA COVINGTON AANGEL4KEN@ALLTEL.NET April 7, 2005, 1:20 pm

Tri County Journal & Chattahoochee Chronicle Buena Vista, Ga March 30, 2005
Church Hill News & Views

The Cemetery, a sleeping chamber, a place set aside for the burial of the 
dead, is quiet, with only the cold north wind hallowing through the treese, on 
this February evening as I walk among the graves- I had come here to 
reminisce, to think of our loved ones who rest in this place. Especially 
remembering our family who have passed on - the wonderful times we shared 
together. These memories will be locked within our heart, as long as we live.

Church Hill has two cemeteries, The "Smyrna Presby", at the corner of the 
cutoff road from Hwy 41 S to 280 on the east side of Richland. The Presby 
Church which was located at this site, was torn down and relocated. Date of 
existence 1838-1925.

The Shiloh-Marion Cemetery is located in front of the church by Hwy 41 S from 
Buena Vista, to Preston, left of the Hwy. (Existence in 1830's until the 
present).

At the Smyrna Presby, my relatives, father and mother, maternal grandparents, 
uncles, aunts, and cousins are buried. Some family members listed are : 
Brodnaz, Worley, Horne, Davis, Drew, Bearden, Brooks, Brown, Christian, 
Deavouis, Elliott, Gill, Gordon, Gunnels, Harris, Hogg, Holloman, Johnson, 
Jones, Lanier, Lawhorn, Little, Lowery, Majors, Marshall, Martin, Monfort, 
Norman, Reeves, Savile, Sears, Sherman, Smith, Tullis, Upton, Wilson, Carnes, 
Patten, and several unmarked graves. Upton, Harris, Jane Blair 1805 from S 
Cotland, the (aunt Jane Wilson Harris and Ruth Wilson Harris) early pioneers.

At Shiloh-Marion Cemetery graves include Bell's (relatives of Attorney General 
Griffin Bell), Bowden, Bussey, Bruce, Cooper, Cosby, Dalton, Davis, Dean, 
Drew, Gunnels, Harry, Highnote, Horne, Hurst, Heral, Johnson, Jordan, Josey, 
Majors, Marshall, McDaniel, Ruse (relatives of the late Judge Cleveland Reese 
of Preston), Sander, Sears, Shierling, Tullis, Warren, Watson, Patten, Jones, 
Smith, Stephens, Herrington, Simmons, and many unmarked graves. Some graves 
are marked with rocks piled up, some with a wall of rocks around them, also 
wooden crosses which have been destroyed with time, Mr and Mrs Cranford (early 
pioneers) are buried in tombs built like tables. Robert Jones, said to be the 
oldest grave is covered with large rocks, Fussells, Morris, Harvey- early 
pioneers in the community.

The northeast section of the cemetery, was set aside as a burial plot for 
early slave members of the church. The archives at Mercer University 
documented the number of slaves who attended church at Shiloh from 1860-1870, 
maybe even as early as the 1830's. These grave sites are unmarked and over the 
years the pottery which marked graves has been destroyed.

These graves need to be preserved for future generations. It has been said 
that when visitors come to a community, they can tell what kind of people live 
there because of the way the cemeteries are kept.

A few years back, one halloween night, some unknown individuals beat and broke 
down a beautiful headstone, cracking some with aparently a heavy instrument 
leaving destruction all around, in both of our historical cemeteries. No one 
was ever caught and convicted, although law enforcement checked on this 
horrible crime of the night of "tricks and treats. Also rocks have been stolen 
from the cemeteries in the past few years. How sad that someone would venture 
in a grave yard to take from the dead.

Members of Shiloh Marion Church have plans to repair the markers, get both 
cemeteries in a top notch condition and continue to keep uo the cemeteries in 
this community.

these cemeteries hold many memories for me as a teen growing up in Chirch 
Hill. I've witnessed many funerals-one man, a member in the church shot his 
son then turned the gun and killed hissilf, another young man was murdered and 
the one committing the crime has never been caught. A deacon in the church and 
his small daughter, both killed in an automobile wreck, they lay at rest here. 
These things happened to our family, our friends and neighbors.

There is a cross erected in each cemetery made by Tobert Worley (Bob) of 
Richland, who grew up in Church Hill and is my beloved brother, who cared 
enough to make the crosses as a memorial to all of these loved ones resting 
here. Bob passes on to reward in September of 2004, but in his heart he wanted 
to recognize those who have departed this life.

I stood beside the cross, and noted its shadow falling across the graves of 
our parents beyond. I said a silent prayer of thanks for good people like Bob 
Worley, and other families in our communities, especially the "Davis family", 
who care ehough about this sacred place to make memories still come alive with 
their time, talents and financial support.

We must remember without the past there is no future, may we who live now 
continue to keep up these special places in honor of our loved ones, "Gone but 
not forgotten".

Any financial assistance would be appreciated on the upkeep of these 
cemeteries. Send to Margaret Welch (cemetery chairperson) 536 Ga Hwy 30, Buena 
Vista, Ga 31803, 229-649-6545.

Additional Comments:
Posted with the permission of the athur, Margaret B Welch


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