Cemeteries of Screven County, Georgia Area
Note:
Published to this website on August 26, 2001 By Maynard Poythress. Generally I interpret the Screven County Area to be Screven, Effingham, Jenkins, Burke, Bulloch and even Chatham Counties. I don’t claim to have them all and if I miss one by all means send it to me. The source for these are in part personal readings and rubbings. In recent years, Bud Poythress and I have picked up a few redbugs and even a tick or two in this heroic effort. Also used were county records of sexton’s lists available in the Georgia Archives. In a number of instances, Bud and I have photos of tombstones if you wish to inquire about a specific one. I was surprised to note that the list has so few individuals buried earlier than the mid to even late 1800’s. It then dawned on me that burials in “maintained” church cemeteries with sexton records was not the custom in the rural South until later.
Sadly, many of these cemeteries are now lost and the ones that aren’t are usually in bad condition. MP
Sexton’s lists of tombstones Poythress and Poythress related. Not all inclusive. None of this material is copyrighted. Cemeteries listed alphabetically. Additional “text” and occasional notes included.
Bethel Lutheran Church Cemetery, Effingham County, Georgia
Poythress, Minnie “Wife of G. H. Poythress”
25 September 1879-27 August 1924
Goshen Methodist Church, Effingham, Georgia
(Located about one mile north of the Effingham-Chatham County line on east side of Georgia Highway 21, Effingham County, Georgia)
Viola M. Poythress
Died August 21 1916
Age 18 years
(Coping around grave and in coping at the foot: “Mother”)
Double stone:
William H. Poythress
Born December 15, 1848
Died June 5, 1927
Janie E. Poythress
Born April 23, 1863
Died March 10, 1928
(Coping around both graves and engraved at foot opposite above are “Father” and “Mother”)
Infant Daughter of Mr. & Mrs. T. H. Poythress
Born November 11, 1935
Died November 12, 1935
Theodore M. Poythress
1911- 1975
1
(Metal undertaker marker)—or
T. Milton Poythress
10 November 1911-9 August 1975
Infant son of Mr. & Mrs. J. E. Poythress
March 18, 1925
Double stone:
Mary Elizabeth Zipperer Poythress
Born October 10, 1873
Died October 17, 1954
“Wife”
John Addison Poythress
Born July 4, 1890
Died March 2, 1960
“Husband”
Poythress, William Hull
T/SGT U. S. Army WW II
19 September 1917 – 15 December 1975
Grosse Family Cemetery, Screven County, GA
(located between McBride Methodist Church on Ga. #24 and Briar Creek, Screven County, Ga. See detailed location map dated 26 April 1957. Inventory below made 26 April 1957; evidence exists of other graves that are not marked)
Susan A. wife of
John R. Conner
Born October 11, 1843
Died July 29, 1895
“Lovingly Remembered”
George L. son of
J. P. and Mattie Conner
Born May 3, 1894
Died August 1, 1895
In Memory Of
2
Ada M. Conner
Born August 3, 1876
Died May 23, 1891
“Our home is dark without cheer
We miss you everywhere”
In Memory of
Mary E. Poythress (m. Horace Cullen Poythress)
Born nee Mercer (daughter of John H. Mercer & Susan J. Mercer?)
March 10, 1846
Died December 16, 1899
“He giveth His Beloved Sleep”
Psalm 127, Verse 2
In Memory of
Lillian M. Conner
Born September 4, 1862
Died October 28, 1889
John W. Mercer
Born June 6, 1849
Died March 30, 1899
John H. Mercer
Born December 25, 1820
Died July 7, 1895
W. M. Wells
March 25, 1850
March 31, 1901
In Memory of
Silas L. son of
J. R. and S. A. Conner
July 8, 1878
July 4, 1885
Leslie Matthew
Son of Mr. and Mrs.
3
G. L. Williams
September 18, 1900
February 24, 1913
Catharine V., dau. of
John R. & Susan Conner
Born November 16, 1860
Departed this life
March 12, 1882
In Memory of
Mehala E. A. dau. of
John H. and Susan J. Mercer
Who was born August 10, 1850 and
Departed this life February 13, 1856
Infant of John H. and Susan J. Mercer
Was born September 3, 1851 and
Died September 4th. Aged 1 day
Sacred to the Memory of
Mrs. Susan J. Mercer
Wife of John H. Mercer
Who was born July 13, 1816
And departed this life
December 29, 1863
John H. Mercer (m. Susan Conner, dau. of Lewis Conner?)
December 25, 1820
July 7, 1895
“Crossed over the river and resting
under the shade of the tree.”
In Memory of
Samuel U. Grosse
Born September 30, 1888 (1883?)
Died October 26, 1888 ( 1883?)
4
Edna B. Grosse
Born September 5, 1872
Died November 17, 1901
GROSS
Sallie Mercer Gross
May 2, 1847
August 24, 1915
GROSSE
Maude, wife of Harper L. Proctor, M. D.
April 23, 1888
June 8, 1916
Otherwise unidentified marble tombstone initials E. V. G.
In Memory of
Bessie M. Gross
Born
August 5, 1877
Died
September 10, 1877
Herrington Family Cemetery, Screven County, GA
(no directions)
Candassa Maner
December 14, 1844
September 11, 1894`
5
McBride Methodist Church, Sylvania, Georgia
(Georgia Hway 24, Newington Highway)
Horace C. Poythress [Cullen]
Jan 23, 1867
June 8, 1918
Now thou art gone beyond the reach of woe,
Where sorrow’s tears shall ever cease to flow.
Flossie O.
wife of
H. C. Poythress
Oct 8, 1878
Nov 7, 1914
William H. Bazemore
Mar 5 1852
May 30 1926
His toils are past his work
is done
He fought the fight the
victory won
Fannie Wells Bazemore
Jan 30, 1859
Feb 26 1939
Her devotion was life’s
greatest blessing,
Her memory is our
truest inspiration
Myrtice L. Poythress [daughter of HCP above]
Feb. 26, 1913
June 10, 1984
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Reddick
Etta P. Capus L.
Oct 25 1902 May 20, 1901
July 15, 1974 Mar 1, 1971
[daughter of HCP above]
POYTHRESS
Daniel W. Poythress, Jr. Leila H. Poythress
June 17, 1878 Apr 26, 1874
Oct 10, 1950 Mar 9, 1928
At Rest At Rest
FATHER MOTHER [Daniel W. Poythress brother
Daniel W. Laura of John Maner Poythress(1)and
Poythress wife of son of Meredith Poythress, Jr.,
Feb 26, 1838 D. W. Laura was a Scott]
Nov 15, 1922 Poythress
Gone but not Apr 17, 1846
forgotten Dec 11, 1919
Gone but not forgotten
POYTHRESS
Edmund B. Gross
1818-1890
Susan Mercer
Gross
1824-1902
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REDDICK
Lennie Laura Alice Poythress [Alice Helen Poythress
Reddick wife of sister of Horace Cullen
June 23, 1876 P. A. Reddick Poythress and daughter of
Nov 1, 1951 May 11, 1855 John Maner Poythress(1)]
Sept 25, 1904
Though Lost __?___ __?__ ____ Memory Dear
Daughter Mother
(footstone) (footstone)
W. H. Reddick
1864-1935
Talulah Wells Reddick
1877-1950 (sister of Flossie O.?)
North Newington Baptist Church (Est. 1713)
(2 miles NE of Newington, Screven County, Georgia)
Poythress
Thomas Boston Julia Ann Usher
April 7, 1860 Feb. 6, 1873
May 13, 1937 June 24, 1940
“Father” “Mother”
May they find Joy in Life Everlasting
Sheddie W. Poythress
Son of T. B. & Julia Poythress
b. July10, 1902
d July 21, 1903
Falligant Bessie Poythress
Wm. Joseph wife
Nov. 15, 1878
Feb. 11, 1943
.
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Robert L. Poythress
Jan 2, 1867
Feb 10, 1935
Mrs. E. D. Poythress
April 28, 1861
May 2, 1946
Ina M. Poythress
Daughter of T. B. & Julia A. Poythress
5-19-1904 to 2-12-1905
Double grave:
William E. Poythress
Born July 11, 1833
Died December 23, 1907
He lived as he died, a Christian
&
Martha J. Poythress
June 4, 1841
December 8, 1935
A Tender Mother, faithful to Her Trust, even unto Death
Sacred to the memory of
Idella Poythress
b. Jan 5, 1867 (1859?)
d Jan. 26, 1883
(note Idella was daughter of William and Martha above)
A single, large triple marker:
POYTHRESS
Thomas Ralph Joann Verna Mae Bryant
1936-1937 1908-1945 1897-1946
A single, large double marker:
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POYTHRESS
Bessie M. James C.
March 26, 1887 November 21, 1885
August 11, 1966 July 20, 1950
A single, large double marker:
POYTHRESS
Gazzie H. Beulah B.
February 22, 1879 November 19, 1896
February 4, 1969 February 6, 1982
Frank Poythress
November 22, 1885
September 18, 1977
A single, large marker:
PITTS
James T. Magnolia P.
March 3, 1853 January 8, 1886
April 17, 1937 February 11, 1945
(note: Magnolia (Poythress) Pitts was the daughter of John White and Martha Virginia/”Virgin” Poythress. The Frank Poythress above is Magnolia’s brother
and Frank is buried in with the Pitts family).
A single large marker:
FALLIGANT
William Joseph Bessie Poythress
November 15, 1878 August 4, 1886
February 11, 1943 February 6, 1980
Louise Poythress Lee
January 18, 1922
(no death date given)
10
Sacred to the Memory of
Isaac Wilder
Died July 12, 1881
Aged 56 years, 3 mo.,18 days
In Memory of
H. J. Poythress
Born July 9, 1875
Died October 9, 1876
Savannah Colonial Cemetery
Section “D”, small granite headstone fastened on east wall of “typhus section”:
In Memory of Hetty A. Poythress
Wife of
Geo. Poythress of
Burke County
Who departed this life
December 24, 1818
It is suggested that George Poythress and wife Hetty (mother of John Carter Poythress went to Savannah for a Christmas holiday where she contracted
Typhoid fever and died. She was buried in the typhus section as was required by law at the time. (Source: “Some Early Epitaphs in Georgia”, compiled by the Georgia Society of Colonial Dames, Mrs. Peter W. Meldrin, Historian).
Scott/Poythress/Gross/Mills/Sanders Private Cemetery, Screven County, GA
(location off Rifle Road in Screven County) Write up below includes genealogy notes)
It is believed that this cemetery is not listed nor inventoried in either of the previous inventories of Screven County cemeteries: “Footprints in the Sands of Time” by Willie Mae Yeomans, a private cemetery supplement to prior
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D. A. R. cemetery surveys covered in two volumes, 1955-57.
Restoration on a portion of this cemetery was begun soon after uncovering the gravestones and this inventory was taken 16 August, 1998. The information below transcribes text from individual tombstones. There is evidence of other graves either unmarked and or with major parts of headstones broken and missing.
The Scott stones appear to be granite, were found standing and are reasonably well preserved. The Mills stones, enclosed with a concrete block wall about four feet high, are also granite and well preserved.
The Poythress, Sanders and Gross stones appear to be made of molded concrete and show considerable deterioration. Most of these stones apparently toppled over many years ago. They were uncovered by probing in the accumulated leaf mast and humus. These stones are being repaired where broken and are to be replaced on the original sites.
Scott
Martha Scott Denis Scott
November 27, 1813 February 17, 1803
July 24, 1888 June 19, 1874
Rest Mother, rest in Rest Father, rest in
quiet sleep, quiet sleep,
While friends in Sorrow While friends in Sorrow
O’er thee Weep O’er thee Weep
[footstone: M. S.] [footstone: D. S.]
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[single stone]
Mary Virginia Scott Martha Ann Scott
March 23, 1846 March 10, 1838
January 27, 1921 September 2, 1902
She is safe in She is safe in
her Father’s home above her Father’s home above
Poythress
In Memory In Memory
of of
John M. Poythress Rhoda E. Poythress
Born Born
July 26, 1832 March 28, 1828
Died Died
October 1, 1866 May 9, 1884
Quiet rest our Quiet rest our
Angel Father Angel Mother
[footstone: J. M. P.] [footstone: R. E. P.]
[following is contemporary granite veteran’s marker placed 16 Aug 1998]
JOHN M POYTHRESS
PVT CO D 47 GA INF
CONFEDERATE STATES ARMY
JUL 26 1832 OCT 1 1866
In Memory
of
J. W. Poythress
Born
March 21, 1865
Died
13
May 4, 1877
14
Gross
In Memory of
William Gross
?/?/1825
?/?/1886
[note: above from headstone fragments; also, the 1886 is questionable]
In Memory of
Ann A. Gross
March 25, 1825
June 20, 1912
“Asleep in Jesus”
Mills
The Mills portion of this cemetery is contained in a concrete block wall 4 feet in height built as an outside perimeter to what was the original area enclosed by 6” marble coping 23’ x 25’. This area contains the graves of Stephen B. Mills and his wife Fannie D. Mills, along with what may be inferred (from the text and stone sizes) to be four children lost in infancy.
There are no inscriptions other than those shown.
[first is double headstone, others single]
Stephen B. Mills Fannie D. Mills
March 3, 1851 October 3, 1850
January 11, 1900 September 17, 1897
Belle Elizabeth
daughter of daughter of
S. B. & Fannie Mills S. B. & Fannie Mills
Sallie Francis
daughter of son of
S. B. & Fannie Mills S. B. & Francis Mills
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Sanders
In my Father’s House are Many Mansions
Hattie Sanders
October 31, 1869
April 16, 1903
“At Rest”
Infant of D. W. &
Hattie Sanders
Apr 13, 1903
Apr 13, 1903
“Our Little Daughter”
Genealogy notes on individuals interred:
Scott
Dennis Scott was the son of James Scott b.1760-1770 d. 1832 m.1 Sarah Brunson, m.2 Clarissa Harden, m.3 Temperence Rawls). After the death of James Scott, Temperence m.2 7 Nov 1833 Lewis Powell. Son Dennis Scott married Martha Gross 13 Sep 1833. Martha (Gross) Scott (1813-1888) was the daughter of William Gross who m. Harriet Burns ca 1814.
Martha Ann Scott and Mary Virginia Scott (sisters) were unmarried daughters of Dennis Scott and Martha (Gross) Scott.
Poythress
John Maner Poythress was the son of Meredith Poythress, Jr. m.2 Susan R. Maner. Contemporaneous material states that John Poythress died in 1866 of yellow fever contracted in the War for Southern Independence.
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Rhoda E. (Gross) Poythress was the daughter of William H. Gross and his wife, Harriet Burns Gross (d. 1849). Rhoda Gross married John Maner Poythress on 5 Apr 1854.
A son born after the death of his father John Maner Poythress, Horace Cullen Poythress (1867-1918) m.2 Flossie O. Wells (1878-1914). Both are buried at McBride Methodist Church Cemetery. At the present time (1998) a Poythress/Wells family reunion has been held continuously in Sylvania for over 50 years. In recent years the site has been the Meeting Room of McBride Methodist Church. Included in this group are many representatives of the historic Screven County families of Bazemore, Reddick, Austin, Godbie and Poythress.
The grave of J. W. Poythress is that of John Willie Poythress, a son of John Maner and Rhoda (Gross) Poythress who died in childhood.
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Gross
William Gross (1825-18??) is very tentatively presumed to be a brother of Rhoda Gross.
Ann A. Gross is an unmarried sister of Rhoda Gross. Records indicate that the tomb of Kissiah Gross, another unmarried sister, is also supposed to be in this cemetery. Her headstone was not located.
Mills
Stephen B. Mills would very likely be the son of Stephen Mills II. Stephen
Mills II was the son of Stephen Mills, Sr. and Sarah Kemp (the daughter
of Solomon and Sarah (Freeman) Kemp (m. 15 Sep 1825).
This Stephen B. Mills married 1.Frances Scott 8 Dec 1868, shown on her
tombstone as Fannie D. Mills and married 2.Florence Brunson. None of the
names on the four infant graves in this cemetery agree with any of the ten
children of Stephen B. Mills and Frances Scott Mills as listed in the History of Screven County, Georgia (pg. 226). Perhaps the case is that the SCoGaH author did not have access to the names of the four children who died in infancy.
Sanders
Hattie Poythress Sanders is the daughter of Daniel W. Poythress and
Laura (Scott) Poythress. Hattie Poythress m. David W. Sanders, Jr.
(b. 1874) on 26 April 1900. The gravestone of their infant daughter (b. and d. 13 April 1903) would suggest that Hattie Sanders Poythress’ death three days later resulted from complications of childbirth.
Restoration of cemetery by Donald W. Bazemore
Write-up by: John M. Poythress
Donald Webster Bazemore and John M.
Poythress are respectively the great-
great grandson and great grandson
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of John Maner Poythress.
Corrections or additions to this
material are welcomed; please
contact:
John M. Poythress
2903 Glen Hill Court
Louisville, KY 40222-6159
e-mail: vkratliff@aol.com
Date 18 February, 1999
USGS 7.5’ Topo
Jacksonboro Bridge Quadrangle
(N32-47-27xW81-35-45)t
Wades Baptist Church Cemetery
(West from city limits of Sylvania, GA for 10.9 miles to junction of U. S. 301 and State Highway 17, turn right for 2 miles. Cemetery approximately 200 yards from highway)
Hope Brannen
May 9, 1844
January 10, 1894
Aged 52 years
Sarah Cooper Brannen (on same stone with Hope Brannen above)
December 10, 1850
April 27, 1918
Hope C. Brannen
Born October 29, 1877
Died April 27, 1910
Welbourne T. Brannen
Born January 18, 1887
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Died January 16, 1914
H. J. Poythress
Born July 9, 1875
Died October 9, 1875
Z. L. Poythress
Born April 16, 1873
Died March 15, 1874
L. C. Poythress
Born November 17, 1871
Died November 17, 1872
Waynesboro Confederate Memorial Cemetery, Waynesboro, Ga.
John Carter Poythress
Born September 14, 1796
Died September 12, 1862
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Oak Hill Baptist Church, Jenkins County, Millen, Georgia
SIDNEY
PAYTHRESS
June 16, 1889
Feb. 26, 1916
Asleep in Jesus
Blessed Sleep
ARTHUR
PAYTHRESS
June 6, 1896
Mar. 19, 1922
Gone But Not
Forgotten
JAMES T.
POYTHRESS
FEB. 27, 1887
MAR.31,1924
RACHEL F. POYTHRESS
BORN MAY 1860
DIED OCT. 8, 1938
IN MEMORY OF
MY HUS. N. H.
POYTHRESS
JUNE 7, 1861
JAN. 6, 1908
There will be
no sorrow there
MABEL E.
POYTHRESS
MAR. 1, 1913
21
GORDON E.
POYTHRESS
AUG. 20, 1912
AUG. 19, 1972
OUR MOTHER
LUCY LIVELY DALEY
POYTHRESS
AUG. 20, 1867
JAN. 28, 1966
MARTHA
WIFE OF
_____ POYTHRESS
MAR. 19, 1871
JUNE. 24, 1909
LEE A. POYTHRESS
DEC. 25, 1861
JAN. 6,1938
INFANT DAUGHTER
OF
L. A. & S. P.
POYTHRESS
JUNE 24, 1909
JULY 10, 1909
Old North Newinton Baptist Church Cemetery, Newington, Georgia
“From Newingtoncross railroad on Route 24, pass North Newington Baptist Church and travel about 1 1/2 miles to first dirt road to right. Continue for 3 miles to home of Lloyd Pryor. This cemetery is back of the Pryor home in a field. The graves were placed there when the church was located there. Today practically all of the tombstones are are fairly well preserved. Mr. Pryor has carefully left the graves to rest in peace.” (John Robert Peavy 20 May, 1999).
22
Scott Cemetery, Rifle Road, Sylvania, Georgia (Screven County)
In Memory of
Ann A. Gross
March 25, 1825
June 20, 1912
“Asleep in Jesus”
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