Hancock County (Georgia) Cemeteries

Cemetery details

Bethel Church Cemetery

Moved here in 1828 from the original Bethel Church at Bethel Hill

Bethel Church Cemetery photo
Bethel Church Cemetery photo
Location:
From the Hancock County Courthouse, go south on Hwy 15 for 2.2 miles to where Shoal Rd turns off to the left. Follow Shoal Rd for 3.5 miles to Bethel Church Rd. Turn left on Bethel Church Rd. Go on Bethel Church Rd for 0.7 mile until you come to the church on the right. The cemetery is behind the church.

GPS coordinates: 33 16' 00.7" N 82 52' 39.0" W
or in degrees only form: 33.26686° N X 82.8775° W
See location on a Google map in a new window (NOTE:The map opens in a new window. The cemetery will be at the location indicated by a red marker.)

GMD: 113
Cemetery Status: Active
Predominant race: White

Church founded in 1802, but the original church was about 3-1/2 miles from Sparta on Shoals Road. The church was moved to this site in 1828. The land for the new site was deeded by John S. Latimer, and the deed names the following trustees of the church: Jesse Lockhart, David Hitchcock, William Barksdale and Byrd W. Brazill. The land was deeded "as a place of Divine worship and burying ground." (Hancock County Deeds, p. 515, Sparta, Ga.).

Early records show that this church was about 1/3 African American. It is believed some black members were buried at the back of this cemetery prior to 1868, when black members left this church and organized Hickory Grove Church.

See Original Bethel Church Cemetery for more information.

Indexer or Contributor: Kathy Fuller and Susan Harrington

Number of persons found: 60
Unmarked Adult Grave

This grave is within a fenced area containing graves 1-8.
Grave 1
Unmarked Child Grave


Grave 2
M. B. Loren
1913 - 1914

Grave 3
George W. Loren
Feb 14, 1862 - Dec 26, 1941

Grave 4
Mary L. Loren
1873 - 1909
"Asleep in Jesus / Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
Grave 5
C. Loren
1902 - 1903

Grave 6
Infant of J. Johnson
Apr 6, 1914 - Apr 6, 1914
Only one date given.
Grave 7
David H. Loren
1891 - 1918
"Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord."
Grave 8
Arabella Warthen
Aug 29, 1838 - Jul 15, 1903
"In after time we'll meet her." Graves 9 through 12 were formerly surrounded by a fence with granite posts.
Click for more info.
Grave 9
Malinda Johnson
Jul 30, 1842 - Oct 24, 1907
w/o Ivan Johnson. "Asleep in Jesus, blessed sleep, From which none ever wake to weep."
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Grave 10
Unmarked Grave

One definite grave. Possibly 2 graves.
Grave 11
Unmarked Adult Grave

Brick surrounds the grave. There is room for additional possible graves.
Grave 12
John E. Smith
Mar 19, 1827 - Apr 11, 1911
Graves 13 through 23 are within the same lot
Military Service: Confederate States of America
Prudens Btry Ga Arty
Grave 13
Emily H. Smith
Oct 11, 1827 - Apr 7, 1906

Grave 14
Lucy Smith
Mar 7, 1904 - Nov 15, 1911

Grave 15
E. W. Smith
Nov 17, 1893 - Jan 17, 1894

Grave 16
Grady Smith
Mar 28, 1899 - Mar 4, 1908

Grave 17
Stephen M. Smith
Oct 17, 1853 - Jul 3, 1908
Both 1853 and 1908 are hard to read. 1908 may also be 1893 or 1896.
Grave 18
Winnie Cosby Smith
Oct 28, 1872 - Jan 4, 1944
w/o S. M. Smith.
Grave 19
W. Stephen Smith
Nov 17, 1891 - Dec 21, 1941

Grave 20
Unmarked Child Slabs

5 slabs in a cluster.
Grave 21
William T. Grace
Feb 12, 1856 - Nov 17, 1919

Grave 22
Sarah Smith Grace
Apr 26, 1861 - Feb 3, 1948
w/o William T. Grace.
Grave 23
Unmarked Adult Grave


Grave 24
Unmarked Adult Grave
1856 - 1919
Broken headstone. Name is missing.
Grave 25
Unmarked Graves

Possibly 3-4 unmarked graves.
Grave 26
Unmarked Adult Slab


Grave 27
W. T. Dunn
Oct 5, 1839 - Feb 19, 1882
The last name of Dunn is assumed based on the Kimbrough listing since only initials "W. T. D." appear on the grave.
Grave 28
T. Harrison
1841 - 1914

Military Service: Confederate States of America
U.C.V. on gravestone.
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Grave 29
Amanda Kelley Harrison

- Mar 13, 1918
No birth date.
Grave 30
James Curry Dickson
Apr 14, 1843 - May 17, 1920
On same stone as Martha A. Kelley Dickson.
Grave 31
Martha A. Kelley Dickson
Jan 17, 1842 - Nov 17, 1918
w/o J. C. Dickson.
Grave 32
Alice May Dickson
Nov 27, 1877 - May 31, 1912
d/o J. C. & M. A. E. Dickson. "She was too good and too gentle to dwell in this cold world."
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Grave 33
William L. Dickson
1873 - 1940

Grave 34
James Benjamin Dickson
Oct 25, 1871 - May 31, 1920
On same stone as Julia K. Miller Dickson
Grave 35
Julia K. Miller Dickson
Jan 26, 1869 - Jun 11, 1925
On same stone as James Benjamin Dickson
Grave 36
James Curry Dickson
Oct 8, 1895 - May 16, 2000

Military Service: World War I
U.S. Army
Grave 37
Marvin Miller
Mar 6, 1878 - Sep 2, 1947

Grave 38
Frances C. Miller
Aug 16, 1840 - Jan 28, 1898

Grave 39
John M. Grace
Nov 15, 1866 - Nov 12, 1945

Grave 40
William Henry Grace
Jul 3, 1894 - Nov 26, 1915
"Sweet be thy rest till he bids thee arise."
Grave 41
Unmarked Grave


Grave 42
Jennie Garrett
1848 - 1924

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Grave 43
Joseph H. Garrett
1850 - 1928

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Grave 44
Mary Garrett


Grave 45
Unmarked Graves

10-15 possible graves, with 5 definite graves.
Grave 46
Naomi Garrett


Grave 47
Mrs. P. E. Miller
Aug 7, 1879 - Jun 7, 1907
"In love she lived, in peace she died; Her life was craved, But God denied."
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Grave 48
Persie Miller
May 2, 1907 - Jul 3, 1908
d/o Mr. & Mrs. W. C. Miller. "Budded on earth to bloom in heaven."
Grave 49
Tom Garrett


Grave 50
Emily G. Ezell


Grave 51
Unmarked Grave

Graves 52 through 55 are within a fence.
Grave 52
Gustavus Dickson
May 18, 1884 - May 29, 1884
"Happy infant early blessed, Rest in peaceful slumber, rest."
Grave 53
Willie S. Dickson
Nov 8, 1896 - Nov 14, 1898
"A little time on earth he spent 'Til God for him His angels sent."
Grave 54
Unmarked Graves

Two graves.
Grave 55
Unmarked Graves

Several depressions outside the fenced area. Possibly 12 or so graves.
Grave 56
Unmarked Adult Graves

2 graves marked by fieldstones within a wrought iron fence.
Grave 57
Unmarked Adult Grave - Benjamin Thompson, Jr.
1758 - Mar 17, 1840
Burke Co., N.C. A Baptist minister. All info and the fact that he is buried here per family tradition handed down from Nancy Holliday Warthen to Lee Dickens.
Grave 58
Henry Long

Possibly buried in this cemetery, per Alex Long, Jr.
Grave 59
Clarissa Long

Possibly buried in this cemetery, per Alex Long, Jr.
Grave 60