MADISON, TN - CEMETERIES - Berry Zion Cemetery
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David Donahue, the creator of this file, declares it to be in the public 
domain.
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BERRY ZION CEMETERY
Madison County, Tennessee

            Berry Zion Cemetery is located about 12« miles 
east of Jackson, Tennessee, off U.S. Highway 412-E, about 200 
yards west of Crawford Springs Road. There are several dozen 
graves which are either unmarked or marked by illegible 
funeral home markers.

            David Donahue recorded this cemetery on July 30, 
2003 based on earlier work by Jonathan K. T. Smith. Mr. 
Smith's 1995 record appears in his Tombstone Inscriptions from 
Black Cemeteries in Madison County, Tennessee and a 2000 
update appears in his Tombstone Inscriptions from Black 
Cemeteries in Madison County, Tennessee, Volume 2. These works 
are referred to collectively as Smith in the notes below.

 

Adams, Andrew, Rev., d. July 4, 1937, Aged 80 Yrs. 11 Mos., 
temporary marker [not found in 2003; reported by Smith in 
1995; was west of access drive]

Anderson, Ella Diggs, Aug. 17, 1857-Apr. 4, 1915, "Wife of C. 
M. Anderson" (fallen) [unable to turn large shaft marker to 
check for additional name of opposite side]

Anderson, Ester, Sept. 13, 1914-Aug. 14, 1939
Anderson, Mary D., Dec. 13, 1887-____

Anderson, Margaret Marie, d. April 17, 1969, Aged 33 Years, 
temporary marker, Stephenson-Shaw Funeral Home [not found in 
2003; reported by Smith in 1995; was in southern part of 
cemetery]

Andrews, Sam, Mar. 25, 1869-____, "Husband"
Andrew, Earmer, Feb. 6, 1899-Nov. 11, 1945, "Wife"

Barnett, Annie Mae, Mrs., d. May(?) 28, 1973, temporary marker 
[not found in 2003; reported by Smith in 1995, was east of 
cemetery access drive]

Barnett, Gennie W., Sept. 1, 1916-Dec. 7, 1965, "Husband" 
footstone [Masonic symbol]
Barnette, M. Louise, May 18, 1918-Nov. 30, 1986 [Eastern Star 
symbol]

Barnett, Hattie F., 1884-1970, "Mother" footstone
Barnett, James M., 1868-1939 [Masonic symbol]

Barnett, Lizzie Mae, Mrs., d. Dec. 1, 1975, temporary marker, 
Stephenson-Shaw Funeral Home [not found in 2003; reported by 
Smith in 1995; was in southern part of cemetery]

Beard, Aubrey, d. Feb. 7, 1996, temporary marker, Mercer 
Brothers, 3« yards west-southwest of marker for Blanche Brown

Beard, Joseph, Aug. 7, 1901-Aug. 30, 1977
Beard, Maple, Jan. 13, 1902-Nov. 13, 1998

Beard, Marie, d. June 2, 1998, temporary marker, 8 feet north 
of marker for J. D. Donnell

Black, Clara E., 1911-____
Black, R. D., 1906-1993 [in 1995 Smith reported temporary 
marker, Bledsoe Funeral Home, with dates Feb. 12, 1906-April 
9, 1993]

Black, Shelby, Feb. 13, 1937-Apr. 13, 1937 [not found in 2003; 
reported by Smith in 1995; was west of access drive]

Blair, Odie, d. Sept. 12, 1941, military marker "Illinois Pvt 
809 Pioneer Inf. World War I" (fallen)

Bray, Lottie Beatrice, Mrs., May 30, 1923-Oct. 5, 1996, 
temporary marker, Stephenshaw-Shaw Funeral Home, 4 feet north 
of marker for James Curtis Ward III

Britt, J. C., Dec. 29, 1916-Feb. 25, 1977, military marker "US 
Army World War II"

Brown, Blanche, Nov. 29, 1892-Aug. 21, 1961

Brown, Iva, Oct. 25, 1887-Apr. 5, 1964

Cathey, Ervin, d. Nov 9, 1964
Cathey, Katie, d. Jan 9, 1962

Clark, Graice M., Oct. 26, 1923-Sept. 11, 1968 [not found in 
2003; reported by Smith in 1995; was west of access drive]

Clifton, Grover C., July 21, 1886-Jan. 5, 1979, military 
marker "Pvt US army World War I

Clifton, L. V., 1901-1983 [shares double marker with Helen L. 
Desarzant]

Corbitt, Annie Pearl Williams, July 21, 1927-Aug. 25, 1981 
[adjacent to military marker for Robert L. Corbitt]

Corbitt, Robert L., August 12, 1917-February 19, 1971, 
military marker "Tennessee Sgt US Army, World War II"

Cox, Marshall P., Feb. 2, 1898-May 21, 1949, military marker 
"Tennessee Pvt, 802 Pioneer Inf. World War I"

Curtain, Leroy, Apr. 14, 1959-Mar. 6, 1975

Day, Arvie, Mar. 18, 1925-Mar. 10, 1974, military marker "S1 
US Navy World War II"

Day, Arvie, May 22, 1915-Oct. 18, 1946, "Son" footstone 
[probably son of Nathan and Jessie Day, whose double marker is 
adjacent]

Day, James I., Sr., Apr. 22, 1912-Sept. 5, 1983
Day, Sallie F., Oct. 31, 1915-____

Day, Jennie, Dec. 28, 1868-Apr. 8, 1918, "Wife of E. C."

Day, Luther, Mar. 5, 1897-June 9, 1989, military marker 
"Tennessee Pvt US Army, World War I"

Day, Maggie Hutcherson, July 28, 1898-June 5, 1959

Day, Nathan, July 14, 1871-____, "Father" footstone
Day, Jessie, Mar. 7, 1880-June 28, 1935, "Mother" footstone

Desarzants, Helen L., 1921-____ [shares double marker with L. 
V. Clifton]

Diggs, Ella [see Anderson, Ella Diggs]

Donnell, Guy Willie, Sr., Apr. 25, 1896-Mar. 19, 1957

Donnell, J. D., Mar. 21, 1900-Jan. 19, 1971

Donnell, Velma May, Apr. 8, 1895-Feb. 2, 1948 [adjacent to 
marker for Guy Willie Donnell, Sr.]

Ester, Sammie C., 1883-1939 [replacement]

Esters, Tillia Husley, 1908-1987 (homemade) [reported by Smith 
in 1995; identifiable but information mostly unreadable in 
2003, 3 yards west of marker for Iva Brown]

Estes, Annie, Mrs., Sept. ?, ?-Feb. 2, 1964, temporary marker, 
Bledsoe Funeral Home [not found in 2003; reported by Smith in 
1995; was in southern part of cemetery; probably where the 
remnants of a metal temporary plate were found 4 feet south of 
marker for Iva Brown]

Estes, Arline, d. Mar. 3, 19?, 37 Years, temporary marker, 
Ford Funeral Home [not found in 2003; reported by Smith in 
1995; was in southern part of cemetery]

Estes, Edd, 1883-1964 [Masonic symbol]

Estes, Edward, July 8, 1911-Sept. 1, 1987, temporary marker, 
Bledsoe Funeral Home, 4 feet south of marker for Mrs. Dora L. 
Tomlinson

Estes, Lizzie, June 9, 1872-Aug. 27, 1969

Estes, Luther, d. Sept. 1, 1955, temporary marker; 4 feed 
south of marker for Ida Godwin [this name and date are 
scratched on a Stephenson-Shaw temporary marker which 
originally served William Tomlinson, Jan.? 10, 1925-Apr. 13, 
1981]

Estes, Robert F., Apr. 7, 1873-Mar. 7, 1959, "Father" 
footstone
Estes, Ada C., Oct. 19, 1883-____, "Mother" footstone [flowers 
and remnants of temporary marker show she is buried here

Estes, Ruby, June 19, 1894-____ [Eastern Star symbol]
Estes, Young, Sept. 7, 1883-Aug. 13, 1958

Featherston, Norma D., Mrs., Oct. 10, 1907-Mar. 18, 1994 
[shares double marker with Willie Mae D. Mason]

Fenner, S., d. July 12, 1976, Aged 50, temporary marker, 
Stephenson-Shaw Funeral Home [not found in 2003; reported by 
Smith in 1995; was in southern part of cemetery]

Franklin, Rufus Wade, Aug. 9, 1925-Oct. 3, 1950, military 
marker "Tennessee PFC 308 AAF Base Unit World War II" [not 
found in 2003; reported by Smith in 1995; was in southern part 
of cemetery]

Godwin, Ida, 1885-1970

Graham, Mae Bell Hayes, Nov. 6, 1927-Feb. 23, 1944, "Loving 
mother"

Hayes, Alberta, Feb. 2, 1903-Jan. 5, 1955

Hayes, Elijah, July 27, 1886-December 19, 1973, military 
marker, Tennessee Pvt US Army, World War II"

Hayes, Emmett, Oct. 27, 1926-Jan. 27, 1978, military marker 
Pvt US Army, World War II"

Hayes, Mae Bell [see Graham, Mae Bell Hayes]

Herron, Roberta, Oct. 10, 1914-Dec. 16, 1961, "Mother"; "Your 
Loving Daughter Cora C. Gillard & Family" [only name on double 
marker; flowers indicate burial has taken place in blank 
position]

Holiday, Katherine, Sept. 7, 1931-Mar. 14, 1996

Horton, Alice Jean, d. Oct. 13, 1991, Age 46 Years, temporary 
marker, Stephenson-Shaw Funeral Home [not found in 2003; 
reported by Smith in 1995; was in southern part of cemetery]

Horton, James Isaac, d. Aug. 26, 1989, Age 42 Years, temporary 
marker, Stephenson-Shaw Funeral Home [not found in 2003; 
reported by Smith in 1995; was in southern part of cemetery]

Horton, Roy, no dates, temporary marker [not found in 2003; 
reported by Smith in 1995; was in southern part of cemetery]

Hutcherson, Maggie [see Day, Maggie Hutcherson]

Jenkins, Mable Janice, Apr. 29, 1925-Oct. 20, 1956

Jordan, Charles Edward, Dec. 8, 1932-Feb. 5, 1939 
[replacement]

Jordan, Harford, 1911-1998 [dates Nov. 14, 1910-May 3, 1998 
noted by Smith in 2000]
Jordan, Eunice, 1914-1990 [in 2000 Smith noted temporary 
marker, Stephenson-Shaw Funeral Home, d. Mar. 13, 1990]

Key, H. J., Jan. 8, 1913-Jan. 1, 1954, military marker 
"Tennessee PFC 4341 QM Svc Co. World War II"

Mason, Willie Mae D., May 22, 1909-Dec. 22, 1989 [shares 
double marker with Norma D. Featherstone]

May, C. W., d. ___ 28, 1973(?), Aged 85 [not found in 2003; 
reported by Smith in 1995, possibly read from a temporary 
marker; was east of cemetery access drive]

May, H. B., 1843-1915 [marker reads "Dec 1915" which Smith 
interpreted as "December" but which here is interpreted as 
"deceased"]

May, John J., Dec. 25, 1870-Mar. 8, 1946 (fallen)

Mays, James U., Aug. 30, 1900-____; also temporary marker, 
Bledsoe Funeral Home, d. Apr. 2, 1996
Mays, Maggie W., Nov. 28, 1900-Jan. 24, 1969

Mays, William Bennie, July 21, 1933-July 31, 2001, military 
marker "SSgt US Air Force Vietnam"

McCain, Howard, Jan. 4, 1915-Feb. 26, 1980

McHaney, Bell, d. Apr. 16, 1953

McHaney, Howard, d. Oct. 1, 1976, Aged 63, temporary marker, 
Ford Funeral Home [reported by Smith in 1995 in southern part 
of cemetery; probably is the temporary marker in 2003 on which 
only "McHaney" could be read which lay between the marker 
forWillie Howard McHaney and the marker for Lizzie B. Spencer

McHaney,Willie Howard, Oct. 9, 1939-Oct. 6, 1963

Merriweather, Rosebertha, d. Jan. 13, 1987, temporary marker, 
Mercer Brothers, 4 yards west-southwest of marker for Iva 
Brown

Moore, Cora [see Watson, Cora Moore H.]

Neal, Emerson, 1881-1967
Neal, Raymel, 1889-____

Neal, Emma, 1890-1928

Neal, Fernard James, Mar. 27, 1918-April 3, 1997 [not found in 
2003; reported by Smith in 2000]

Neal, Irene C., Nov. 22, 1923-Aug. 14, 1995

Neal, Sylvester, June 9, 1921-June 24, 1954

Pearson, Cleofard, born & died 1920, "Son of Shellie B. 
Pearson"

Pearson, Shellie B., May 28, 1902-Mar. 30, 1920, "Dau. of A. 
H. & M. L. Pearson"

Person, Sarah, d. Feb. 4, 1902, "Wife of Paul Person" "Sleep 
On Dear Mother"

Pickens, Lula Mae Swift, Apr. 21, 1919-Dec. 19, 1986

Pyles, J. T., Sept. 7, 1912-Jan. 2, 1916, "Son of Floyd & Cora 
Pyles"

Reid, Sarah E., June 25, 1900-Nov. 24, 1973

Rodgers, Charles E., June 19, 1936-Sept. 3, 1996, military 
marker "US Air Force"

Rodgers, Mollie, 1861-Apr. 13, 1913, "Wife of D. Rodgers"

Rodgers, R. D., June 10, 1922-Aug. 2, 1952, military marker 
"Tennessee PFC 923 AAAF AB Scty Bn

Rodgers, Reacie M., Feb. 14, 1890-Nov. 10, 1960
Rodgers, Daniel C., Jan. 1, 1881-Aug. 30, 1966

Rodges, Annie, d. June 18, 1945, Age 85 Yrs. [not a typo; is 
not Rodgers]

Sandlin, Dersie, 1882-1932

Sanlin, Dersie L., June 30, 1881-May 3, 1932, "Mother"
Sanlin, Charles W., Aug. 7, 1880-June 24, 1956, "Father"

Sharp, Vera N., Oct. 5, 1905-Feb. 15, 1985

Sharp, Walter, Oct. 29, 1890-May 13, 1976, military marker "US 
Army, World War II"

Sistrunk, Mary E., 1909-1943, loose out of place temporary 
marker, Stephenson, found at base of cedar tree east of access 
drive

Snipes, Doris, d. Feb. 24, 1992, temporary marker, 5 yards 
southwest of double marker for Sampson and Harriett Willis

Spencer, Lizzie B., June 20, 1918-Mar. 6, 1963

Stovall, Jeneka Tiwain, Jan. 3, 1979-Jan. 28, 2001, also 
temporary marker as footstone, Mercer Brothers, Jeneka Weddle

Swift, D. L., 1921-1987 [was Mr. D. L. Smith on temporary 
marker read in 1995]
Swift, Laura B., 1923-____

Swift, Dorothy A., July 10, 1951-Feb. 4, 2001, "Daughter"
Swift, Dorothy M., May 2, 1931-Dec. 31, 1998, "Mother" 

Swift, Eva Mae, Feb. 3, 1917-May 11, 1975 [not found in 2003; 
reported by Smith in 1995; was in southern part of cemetery]

Swift, George E., Dec. 24, 1940-Mar. 30, 1995, "Daddy" 
footstone, also temporary marker, George Edward Swift
Swift, Kathleen E., Dec. 27, 1940-____, unplaced "Mama" 
footstone
"Wed 1959" "Our children Gregory, Sonia, Brandon"

Swift, Joseph, d. September 13, 1936, military marker 
"Tennessee Pvt 804 Pioneer Inf. World War I"

Swift, Lula Mae [see Pickens, Lula Mae Swift]

Swift, Naomi Louise, Dec. 19, 1952-____
Swift, Ruth Estelle, July 26, 1952-____, "Sisters"

Swift, W. V., Apr. 3, 1911-Feb. 13, 1981

Tally, Will, Mar. 27, 1877-Jan. 11, 1924 (broken)

Tate, Ernest, no dates, temporary marker Home [not found in 
2003; reported by Smith in 1995; was in southern part of 
cemetery]

Thomas, Canzadia, Mrs., d. Dec. 10, 1992, Aged 77 Years, 
temporary marker, Stephenson-Shaw Funeral Home [not found in 
2003; reported by Smith in 1995; was west of access drive]

Tomlinson, Dora L., Mrs., Apr. 8, 1927-June 15, 1976

Tomlinson, William [see Estes, Luther]

Ward, James Curtis, III, Mar. 28, 1979-Mar. 30, 1979

Watson, Bernert, 1904-1925, loose temporary marker, 3 yards 
west-southwest of marker for Mae Bell Hayes Graham [only dates 
present on marker in 2003; temporary marker from Stephenson is 
not contemporary with death date but is much more recent]

Watson, Cora Moore H., Aug. 5, 1869-Dec. 22, 1963

Watson, Daniel, d. May 20, 1913

Watson, Newton, Nov. 15, 1883-Apr. 25, 1967 (fallen)

Watson, Sid, June 10, 1888-Aug. 26, 1926, "Theus Temple 930, 
Jackson, Tenn." (fallen)

Wedell, Jeneka [see Stovall, Jeneka Tiwain]

Williams, Annie M., Mar. 20, 1909-____, "Mother" footstone
Williams, John, May 5, 1907-Sept. 24, 1977, "Father" footstone
[Annie probably is buried here; both graves covered with 
concrete slab in 2003]

Williams, Annie Pearl [see Corbitt, Annie Pearl Williams]

Williams, Asbery, d. July 7, 1942, military marker 
"Mississippi Pvt 816 Pioneer Inf"

Williams, Louise Barnett, 1985 [not found in 2003; reported by 
Smith in 1995; was west of access drive]

Williams, Sidney, Mar. 30, 1927-June 23, 1959

Willis Note: Carent Willis, Dennis Willis, Javan Willis, Sammy 
and Lula Willis, Samuel Garfield Willis, and an unidentified 
burial with a "Son" footstone share a common concrete border.

Willis, Carent, ________ [Masonic symbol; dates if any are 
buried; marker built into southwest corner of concrete border 
of Willis lot]

Willis, Dennis, Oct. 4, 1909-Mar. 8, 1972

Willis, G. W., no dates (homemade)

Willis, James, d. Apr. 29, 1999, temporary marker, mercer 
brothers, 5 feet north of marker for J. D. Donnell

Willis, Javan, June 21, 1910-Dec. 18, 1971, military marker 
"Tennessee Pvt US Army World War II"

Willis, Kermit W., Dec. 12, 1916-Dec. 27, 1996
Willis, Eva Nell, Mar. 11, 1919-Nov. 1, 1988

Willis, Leroy, Apr. 6, 1926-Dec. 1, 1991, military marker "PFC 
US Army World War II"

Willis, Levi, 1861-1940
Willis, Susie, 1863-1946

Willis, Middleton F., Feb. 23, 1888-Mar. 14, 1905

Willis, Milton, 1863-1927

Willis, Milton, May 26, 1945-June 21, 1984

Willis, O. D., Nov. 4, 1902-Aug. 24, 1926, "We Love Our 
Mother"

Willis, Prentice E., Mar. 15, 1895-Feb. 23, 1914

Willis, Sammie, Mar. 4, 1871-Mar. 20, 1958, "Father" footstone
Willis, Lula, Aug. 4, 1881-May 30, 1972, "Mother" footstone

Willis, Sampson, d. Apr. 19, 1889, "A loving father"
Willis, Harriett, d. Died Sep. 23, 1906, "A mother dear"

Willis, Samuel Garfield, July 4, 1945-March 8, 1972, military 
marker "Michigan Pvt US Army Vietnam"

Willis, William, Nov. 12, 1899-Dec. 2, 1971 [Masonic symbol]
Willis, Guy Eula, Feb. 7, 1902-____ [flowers indicate burial 
here; Smith in 1995 also noted she was buried here]

Wills, Connie, 1881-1959

Wilson, Willie Ann, Mrs., d. Dec. 4, 1974, temporary marker, 
Stephenson-Shaw Funeral Home [not found in 2003; reported by 
Smith in 1995, was east of cemetery access drive]

 

Unidentifiable

"Mary" footstone, no headstone

M. W. footstone [within concrete border of Pearson lot]

"Son" footstone, burial otherwise unidentified [within 
concrete border of Willis lot]

 

Death Certificate Indicates Buried Here Also (as reported by 
Smith):

Rogers, Alfred, 1847-May 22, 1917. Son of Emanuel Rogers and 
Mary Rogers