SOAPSTONE BAPTIST CHURCH CEMETERY (1899), Pickens County, SC A.K.A. Version: 3.0 Effective: 31-Aug-2006 Text File: P118.TXT Image Folder: P118 ******************************************************************************** REPRODUCING NOTICE: ------------------- These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the recording contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the following USGenWeb coordinator with proof of this consent. Paul M Kankula - nn8nn (visit above website) SCGenWeb "Golden Corner" Project Coordinator Anderson: http://www.rootsweb.com/~scandrsn/ Oconee: http://www.rootsweb.com/~scoconee/oconee.html Pickens: http://www.rootsweb.com/~scpicke2/ DATAFILE INPUT . : Paul M. Kankula at (visit above website) in Nov-2005 Debbie Kellogg in Jul-2006 GPS MAPPING .... : Gary Flynn at (visit above website) in Aug-2003 HISTORY ........ : G. Anne Sheriff at claytonroom@swu.edu in Jun-2005 IMAGES ......... : Paul M. Kankula at (visit above website) in Aug-2003 RECORDING ...... : Robert G. Dodson at robertgdodson@aol.com in May-2006 ******************************************************************************** CEMETERY LOCATION: ------------------ Locate intersection of Highways 8 & 288 in Pumkintown. Drive (E) on Highway SR 288. In 1.6 miles turn left (N) onto SR S-39-112 (Liberia Rd). Drive (N) 0.9 miles. GPS = Latitude N 35 00.854 x Longitude W 82 37.893 CHURCH/CEMETERY HISTORY: ------------------------ School established in 1871/7 according to date on step. Raymond Owen is church historian. Soapstone Church, Pickens Freed men who settled here after the Civil War built this church in the late 1860s. It is the oldest African-American Church in the Upstate. The church is still used on a regular basis for Sunday worship. To view the church from the outside only, take Hwy 8 North out of Pickens to Hwy 288 and turn right. Go to the first paved road on your left (Liberia Road), and turn left. The church is on the right about 1 mile. o----------o The original Soap Stone Baptist Church was constructed in 1899. History recalls that the late Reverend Henry Cureton was the first pastor. The late Deacon Tom McGowan, the late Deacon Dock M. Chasteen, the late Deaconess Rosalee McGowan, and the late Deaconess Louise Chasteen served under the leadership of the late Reverend Andrew Jenkins, the late Reverend James Todd, the late Reverend Paris, the late Reverend Bannister Hendricks, and the late Reverend A.B. Banks. The late Deacon Clarence Glenn, the late Deacon Chester Williams, and the late Deacon J. W. Chastain as well as Deaconess Bessie Williams and Deaconess Ardelphia Chastain assisted the late Reverend C. D. Walker. Deacon Raymond Owens and deaconess Bertha Owens served the church during Reverend J.E. Williams' term as pastor. The church is pastured presently by Reverend Robert Hamilton during which time Deacon Ebbie E. Whiteside and Deaconess Frances Whiteside were inducted. The original church, having been destroyed by fire in 1966, was rebuilt and the first service was held September 1967 through the efforts of the members and many friends of Soap Stone Baptist Church. Workshop services are held 1st and 3rd Sundays beginning at 12:00 noon. Booklet called History of the Oolenoy River Baptist Missionary and Educational Association, p. 19. Revised by Luther Johnson, Jr. on 19 Jul 1982. A copy is at the Faith Clayton Room, Southern Wesleyan University and another copy at Pendleton Historical Commission, Pendleton, SC. TOMBSTONE TRANSCRIPTION NOTES: ------------------------------ a. = age at death b. = date-of-birth d. = date-of-death h. = husband m. = married p. = parents w. = wife NOTE: The following tombstone inscriptions do not fully represent what has actually been recorded. A more detailed recording can be obtained by purchasing the Pickens County Black Cemetery Project publication from Anne Sheriff - Editor, 988 Old Shirley Road, Central, SC 29630-9337, sheriff@innova.net ANDREWS, Geneva W., b. c. 1919, d. 14-sep-1983, a. 64y BARTON, Danny L., b. 21-nov-1951, d. 14-dec-2000 BENNETT, George W., b. 13-apr-1915, d. 13-nov-1969 CHASTAIN, D. M., b. 4-jun-1886, d. 13-jun-1952 CHASTAIN, Louise McJunkin, b. 25-oct-1891, d. 1-oct-1929 COOPER, Eddie Arvel, b. 13-aug-1947, d. 17-feb-1995 EDENS, W. R., b. 1834, d. 27-aug-1903 FERGUSON, Columbus G., b. 25-jun-1886, d. 25-may-1960 FERGUSON, Queen Anthony, b. 12-sep-1886, d. GLENN, Clarence William, b. 15-oct-1888, d. 5-aug-1974 HAGOOD, Arthur C., b. 4-dec-1903, d. 13-apr-1965 HAGOOD, Willie Mae Owens, b. 12-sep-1886, d. HILL, Mary, b. 1877, d. 3-nov-1910 HILL, W. M., Sr., b. 15-jun-1871, d. 4-sep-1938 McGOWAN, Andrew, b. 18-aug-1912, d. 18-feb-1968 McGOWENS, O'Dell, b. c. 1919, d. 1-nov-1979, a.60y McJUNKIN, Absolam Benum, b. 6-mar-1896, d. 3-feb-1976 McJUNKIN, Odis W., b. 25-apr-1896, d. 19-aug-1968 McJUNKIN, Rev. Henry, b. 31-may-1904, d. 7-oct-1984 McJUNKIN, Vera Porter, b. 7-may-1910, d. 21-jul-1991 MILES, Sophia Ella Amanda Edens, w/o Henry Miles OWENS, Chris, b. 13-nov-1893, d. 21-feb-1991 OWENS, Elford, Sr., b. 4-sep-1935, d. 15-aug-1993 OWENS, Lula Mae, b. 22-apr-1896, d. 25-mar-1999 OWENS, Willie, b. 1854, d. 1879 WHITESIDE, Billy Joe, b. 17-jul-1935, d. 7-oct-2001 WHITESIDE, Ebbie Eugene, b. 29-nov-1929, d. 15-jul-2002 WHITESIDE, Roosevelt E., b. 18-sep-1933, d. 16-nov-1952 WHITESIDE, Roosevelt, b. 18-sep-1933, d. 16-nov-1952 WHITESIDE, Tinny Bell, b. 28-jan-1914, d. 8-oct-1943 WILLIAMS, Alexander E., d. 23-dec-1979 WILLIAMS, Bessie Lee, b. 4-oct-1916, d. 15-oct-1998 WILLIAMS, Chester, Jr., b. 21-mar-1948, d. 23-oct-2002 WILLIAMS, Chester, b. 23-may-1912, d. 1-aug-1936 WILLIAMS, Floyd, Sr., b. 24-feb-1938, d. 1-aug-1998