Just how long this hallowed spot has been used for a burying ground is not known. It was the usual thing for the graveyard to follow the church organization, but in this instance, the church was built close by the burying ground. The oldest tombstone is marked "Joseph Blackwood, October 22, 1780". Tradition says that he was wounded at the Battle of Kings Mountain and died a few days later. Other Revolutionary soldiers buried here are Lt. James White, Capt. Samuel Espy, Pvt. James Henry, and perhaps others.

Since the original burying ground was laid out, it has been enlarged twice and now contains about 2 acres. For a great number of years, it was the only church burying place for many miles around

It is not known just when the first wall was built around the graveyard. It was about 4 feet high and 3 feet across. The rocks of which it was made were placed in the wall without mortar. There were 2 gates, one on the Northeast and one on the Southwest. Just outside the wall, at the South end, is the graveyard where the slaves were buried.

The last time that this old burying place was made larger was in 1922, when Messrs. J.C. Plonk and Rufus Roberts, whose ancestors were members of this church, and were buried there, generously offered to have the graveyard enlarged and a rock wall of masonry to enclose it... if the people of the community would haul the rock and sand. This offer was readily accepted by the members of the community, and now the spot that is most dear to the hearts of so many people is enclosed by a beautiful wall to which all point with pride. Mr. M.L. Plonk gave freely of his time in superintending the construction of the wall. Early in 1923, the enclosure had been finished at the approximate cost of $1,500.

Please click HERE for more specific information about those buried in our cemetery

It is our prayer that this cemetery history will be a blessing to all who read it. May it help to make us all aware and appreciative of our ancestors, without whose help our church would not be alive today.