NEW OLIVE GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH CEMETERY (1888), Pickens County, SC
a.k.a. >
Version: 3.0 Effective: 31-Aug-2006 Text File: P216.TXT Image Folder: P216
********************************************************************************
It's believed that the usage of any original work submittals contained within
these webpages such as articles, compiling, photographs or graphics, conform to
Fair Use Doctrine & Copyright Guidelines.
COPYRIGHT NOTE: (1.) Works published before 1923, are considered to be public-
domain. (2.) Works published 1923-1977 without a copyright notice, are
considered to be public-domain. (3.) Unpublished non-copyrighted works will have
Author permission for public-domain. Facts, names, dates, events, places & data
can not be copyrighted. Narration, compilations and creative works can be
copyrighted. Copyright law in the U.S. does not protect facts or data, just the
presentation of this data.
REPRODUCING NOTICE: These electronic pages may only be reproduced for personal
or 501(c) Not-For-Profit Society use. Use the following names, if, you would
like to give any author compiling credit.
AUTHORS: Paul M. Kankula-NN8NN & Gary L. Flynn-KE8FD
*********************************************************************** 05-01-15
HISTORY ........ : G. Anne Sheriff at claytonroom@swu.edu in 2005
RECORDING ...... : Robert G. Dodson at robertgdodson@aol.com in May-2006
CEMETERY LOCATION:
------------------
3 miles north of Central.
Street Address: 977 Gaines Street, Central, SC 29630
Church Address: P. O. Box 60, Norris, SC 29667
Deacon Walter Myles Address: Box 25, Norris, SC 29667, 864.639.5451
Telephone: 864.639.6729 (Church Office)
GPS = Latitude N34 43.970 x Longitude W82 46.042
CEMETERY HISTORY:
------------------------
A band of Christian men and women who were serving God under the oak trees
decided to organize a church. Emma Ashmore was working for the Brock family when
the Brocks donated land for the New Olive Grove Church. Tom Austin hauled the
first load of lumber to the church site. Tom Austin's daughter was Stacy Hicks.
The church was dedicated on 5 May 1888 with 40 members and Rev. Thomas Connor
building the church and Rev. J. D. Davis as pastor.
Thomas Conner, S.H. Chapman, B.J. Washington and L.H.T. Conner, Deacons of a
Baptist church at Central, Pickens Co., SC applied for incorporation of the New
Olive Grove Baptist Church. Charter was granted on 26 Dec 1900. J.M. Stewart,
Clerk of the Court.
Source: The Pickens Sentinel, 29 Nov 1900.
o----------o
During World War II the church didn't have deacons. The one deacon the church
had was sent to France. They borrowed some from White Oak Springs Baptist
Church. They were Deacon R.C. Jamison and Dean Ernest Samuel Watkins (husband
of Estelle Watkins).
Baptizing was done in a branch below the church for many years. The church
members would leave the church walking down to the branch singing Carry Me to
the River. In the 1960s Deacon Mack Jamison built a concrete baptism pool
beside the church.
There was a potbelly stove in the middle of the church. Someone would put a sack
of coal in the stove and everyone would get warm, start singing and shouting.
The church burned in the 1940s.
During the 1970s the church was enlarged adding a kitchen, a dining room, Sunday
School rooms, and a pastor study. The church was also bricked during the 1970s
by Rev. T.M. Morigne, Rev. C.C. Stewart, and Rev. C. Mayes, all of whom were
bricklayers.
In 1982 Deacon Smith and Walter Myles were chosen as deacons.
Central people attended this church along with people from Liberty and Norris.
Some of the families include Robert & Sophie Aiken, Mabel Littlejohn, Billy
Dawn, Walter Myles, PeeWee Hicks, and Chisalena Robinson.
Brother Jamison remembers the McKissick family from White Oak in the late 1880s
with his many children. The family left and went to Union.
The church belongs to Rocky River Baptist Association.
Source: Interview with Walter Myles by Anne Sheriff on 2 Sep 2004)
o----------o
Anne Sheriff interviewed Deacon Walter Myles on 2 Sept 2004 at 10:00 at the
church. He gave the following information.
Past Board of Deacons (2004) Deacon Board after 1980
James E. Benson Robert Cannon
Mack Jamison Walter L. Myles, Sr. (A. C.)
Adolphus Austin Thomas Smith ( C )
Will Austin Leroy Woodruff
Mr. V. Knox
George Graves
Past Trustees Trustees After 1990
Sir Alise Rosmond Melvin Jackson (A. C.)
Emmer Garvin James Oglesby
Stacy Hicks Harold Harrison
Robert Aiken Gregory Myers
Franklin Crane
Doris Cannon
Parishioners who became Ministers
Rev. O. D. Benson
Rev. Robert Hamilton
Rev. Sidney Durham
Rev. Pam Chapman (First Woman)
At first the church had one preaching a month with Sunday School every Sunday.
the other Sundays the members would attend surrounding churches. The first
teacher and preacher was:
1. Rev. J. W. McKissick
2. Rev. Galloway
3. Rev. Shumate
4. Rev. W. A. Butler from Greenville. Rev. Benson baptized during his
tenure. Had peg leg.
5. Rev. T. B. Butler (three months)
6. Rev. F. M. Glover was the pastor when Walter Myles and his family
came to church at New Olive. The Myles family lived in Norris and
attended Rock Hill Presbyterian Church. Being very poor the family
attended church every time the door opened. As children can
sometimes be cruel, they would make fun of the Myles family because
they wore knickers and whatever they could afford. There were ten
children in the family. The children wanted to quit but Mrs. Myles
would not let them. A man, Mr. Oglesby, told Mrs. Myles, that if she
had the children ready each Sunday, he would take them to church.
Every Sunday he would come by and take the children to church.
Walter Myles was about seven or eight years old when they first
attended. With ten children in this family, you can imagine how the
Sunday School attendance improved. Mr. Myles said that there were
many children attending the church during that time. Willie Lee
Hallum was intermediate teacher, Sister Alise Rosamond was youth
teacher, and Grover Littlejohn was adult teacher. The students
would get stars for perfect attendance.
7. Rev. T. M. Morigne (1960) He stayed about 20 years.
8. Rev. James B. Blassingame of Seneca preached at the church for seven
years. During his time in the 1970s, new carpet and pews were added
to the church.
9. Rev. Grover Peppers
10. Hoarce Young
11. Rev. Dewayne Getu
12. Rev. Bob Renvich (2000 - present)
(Article in The Pickens Sentinel, 24 May 1888, Central, SC. 10 May 1888.)
o----------o
The colored Baptist church near Central was dedicated on Sunday, the 5th
instant. The Presbytery organized at 10 o'clock, a. m., by electing Rev. G.
Wright chairman, Rev. S. Sullivan secretary. Rev. A. Hunter, W.S. Sutherland,
and J.D. Davis (who is also pastor of said church) and W.M. Anderson were the
ministers present. The first business of the Presbytery was to ordain a deacon.
Benjamin Washington was ordained as deacon. The other deacons present were
Thomas Conner and Moses Robinson. The dedication sermon was delivered by Rev. A.
Hunter, from the 16th chapter of Matthew, 18th verse. He read the 122d Psalm and
sung the 637th hymn, after which a collection was taken up and $5.25 collected.
The second sermon was preached by Rev. S. Sullivan. This church has a membership
of about 40, and they have a large and commodious church erected just outside
the corporate limits of Central. Our colored friends deserve a great deal of
credit for building this house of worship. It is an honor to them, and a credit
to the country, as the members are mostly poor and verifies the age, "where
there is a will there is a way. To Rev. Thomas Conner belongs, more, than to any
other person, the honor of building this house, and the wish of the entire
community is that he may live long to worship his God therein according to the
dictates of his own conscience.
Source: Rich, Peggy Burton and Whitehurst, Marion Ard. The Pickens Sentinel
1872-1893. Heritage Books, Inc. Bowie, MD. 1994, p. 313.
o----------o
New Olive Grove Baptist Church, at the northern edge of town, is a substantial
brick building set back in a grove of trees. A three-room educational department
adjoins the church. This is well-furnished with modern facilities. The 100
members have had the Reverend T.M. Morigne as their pastor for 16 years.
Source: Central Yesterday and Today by Mattie May Morgan Allen, p. 53.
o----------o
Mr. Myles said that in the church cemetery they have their church members and a
section where non-members can purchase lots. They also have two or three
sections on the curve that belong to individuals. He never could tell me who.
You notice they don't mow the grass. I just included them in the New Olive
Grove section.
Then they have Rock Hill Presbyterian Church (a black church in Norris). That is
a separate section and sold to Rock Hill. It is across from the Collins' home
[where Roy Collins grew up - small white house] on Lawton Road.
TOMBSTONE TRANSCRIPTION NOTES:
------------------------------
a. = age at death
b. = date-of-birth
d. = date-of-death
h. = husband
m. = married
p. = parents
w. = wife
Surveyed by G. Anne Sheriff during summer of 2005
Surveyed by Robert Dodson on May 11, 2006
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
Adolphus, Austin, h/o Lurlina Austin
Agnew, James & Annie, Husband and Wife
Allen, Earl, b. 2-Dec-1882, d. 19-Oct-1926
Allen, Rachel, b. 1853, d. 1918. Erected by Julia Allen
Ashmore, John T., b. 18-Jan-1888, d. 24-Apr-1907
Austin, Betty Ann, b. 6-Oct-1940, d. 19-Mar-1954
Austin, Clinton, b. 5-Aug-1939, d. 11-Aug-1969
Austin, Ellree
Austin, Ezell
Austin, Kathleen, s/o Adolphus Austin
Austin, Lurlina, b. 1879, d-1970, w/o Adolphus Austin.
Austin, Maggie, b. 15-May-1873, d. 7 Apr 1958. w/o William Austin.
Austin, Monroe, b. 14-Apr-1900, d. 28-Apr-1961. s/o William & Maggie Austin
Austin, William, b. 1868, d. 1966
Bailey, Willie Mae, b. 22-Jun-1920 Daughter
Benson, Ada, d/o Susen E. Benson d. 2-Apr-1917 broken
Benson, Houston, 14-Nov-1930
Benson, Infant, of J. A. and Daisey Benson, b. 4-aug-1917, d. 4-aug-1917, Broken
Benson, O.D. Rev., b. 1906, d. 1992, Pastored churches in Oconee County
Benson, Ollie K., b. 1909, d. 199?, Funeral Home Marker
Black, Anthony W., b. 1- Oct-1960, d. 2-May-1971
Black, Ben, b. 24-Dec-1895, d. 4-Jan-1958
Black, Fred, b. 1-May-1932, d. 5-Mar-1972
Black, Louise Gaines, b. 10-dec-1931, d. 18 -apr-1992, Mother and Grandmother
Black, Marcel, b. 4-apr-1920, d. 17-mar-1984
Blandon, Mary, d. 15-jul-1967, Funeral Home Marker
Bowen, Ralph W., b. 1902 d. 1951, These are on the same tombstone with heading Little and Bowen
Brown, Hattie R., d. 7-apr-1966, Funeral Home Marker
Brown, W. H. O., d. 16-aug-1991
Burke, Son of Mr. & Mrs. Edward Burke Jr., 1972
Burt, Dodie, d. 1972
Campbell, Dosia L., b. 17-sep-1882, d. 24-nov-1972, Footstone Dorothy L. Campbell, ?, b. 1882, d. 1972
Chamblee, Amelia Hicks, b. 2-may-1904, d. 11-jun-1977, Mother of John Chamblee
Chamblee, Andel
Chamblee, Ernest Jr.
Chamblee, Morris, b. 19-sep-1931, d. 14-oct-1988, s/o Amelia Hicks Chamblee,
Chamblee, Robert
Chamblee, Theatrice
Children's names are on bottom of marker: Ernest Jr., Robert, Andel, Theatrice
Clinkscales, Ezma, b. 23-jun-1930, d. 3-aug-1931
Clinkscales, Florence Garvin, b. 26-jan-1908, d. 29-mar-1950
Collins, Sidney, b. 10-jan-1907, d. 9-oct-1963
Conner, Dortha M., b. 3-oct-1926, d. 5-apr-1927, Infant of A. J. & R. M. Conner
Conner, Fannie, b. 20-jun 1865, d. 1891, w/o Andrew Anderson
Crane, Arthur, b. 4-jul-1895, d. 12-jun-1909, s/o Joe and Ella Crane
Crane, Carte, d. 15-jun-1902
Crane, Roada, 26-jun-1891
Entzminger, Ella G., d. 2-jul-1984
Gaines, Anna Burt, b. 19-mar-1913, d. 2-feb-1993, w/o Franklin Gaines
Gaines, Anna, b. 1903, d. 29-jun-1942
Gaines, Beulah M., b. 15-jul-1936, d. 16-feb-2001, Mother
Gaines, Burrell, b. 1891, d. 5-dec-1941
Gaines, Dessie S., b. 12-jan-1902, d. 10-apr-1982, Wife
Gaines, Franklin Punch, b. 18-dec-1908, d. 11-jul-1965, Father, Husband of Anna Burt Gaines
Gaines, Norman Edward, b. 6-aug-1940, d. 8-apr-1973
Gaines, Ralph R., b. 17-jan-1934, d. 22-apr-1971
Garvin, Aaron, d. 1938, Brother of Bill Garvin
Garvin, Bill, b. 11-dec-1905, d. 7-apr-1934, Brother of Aaron Garvin
Garvin, Emma, b. 9-nov-1908, d. 24-sep-2000, Sister
Garvin, Grover, b. 10-mar-1888, d. 13-apr-1930
Garvin, John, d. 10-mar-1963
Garvin, Rebecca Hallums, b. 7-sep-1871, d. 2-sep-1909
Garvin, Savannah, b. 2-mar-1893, d. 14-apr-1918, w/o Grover Garvin
Garvin, Thomas, d. 25-feb-1965, Brother
Gist, Choice, b. 1-jan-1886, d. 5-feb-1915
Graves, Sophia, b. 19-dec-1900, d. 26-sep-1972
Green, Sallie, b. 4-mar-1962, d. 6-nov-1916
Guzman, Nora A. Padilla, b. 20-nov-2004, d. 13-jan-2005, 2 months, Granddaughter of Pearl Austin Radcliff
Hallums, Douglas "Mac", b. 29-nov-1942, d. 16-aug-1998
Hallums, Fannie S., d. 19-sep-1958
Hallums, Georgiana, b. 25-sep-1848, d. 23-may-1891, w/o Isaac Hallums
Hallums, Lula, b. 1865, d. 10-apr-1917, a. 42 yrs, w/o Will Hallums
Hallums, Mattie Knox, b. 21-jan-1888, d. 18-feb-1926
Hallums, Nancy, b. 8-sep-1862, d. 19-oct-1898, w/o Nero Hallums
Hallums, Nero, b. 29-jan-1855, d. 1-nov-1902
Hallums, Tena Marrow, b. 18-aug-1920, d. 12-jul-1921, d/o Will & Annie Hallums
Hallums, Thaddeus Bazzie, b. 26-sep-1883, d. 1-sep-1900
Hallums, Wallace C., b. 2-mar-1890, d. 27-aug-1892, h/o Georgiana Hallums
Hamilton, Shirley, b. 31-jan-1942, Alive in 2005, w/o Thirso Hamilton
Hamilton, Thirso, b. 22-feb-1937, d. 10-may-1988
Harris, Theodore, b. 23-mar-1913, d. 22-jan-1914
Harrison, George, b. 29-mar-1968, d.
Harrison, Harold, b. 9-apr-1938, d.
Harrison, Lula Mae, b. 1938, d. 10-oct-1970, Mother
Hicks, Edward, b. 10-may-1912, d. 27-sep-1987
Hicks, Lucile B., b. 5-may-1933, d. 20-oct-1965
Hicks, Margaret, b. 10-mar-1962, d. 11-oct-1964
Hicks, Robert Samuel, b. 1961, d. 1978, Son
Hill, Perry, b. 1912, d. 1978
Hillhouse, St. John, b. 26-feb-1881, d. 18-nov-1906
Horton, Icy, d. 29-mar-1952 Broken
Jamison, Dennis, b. 24-dec-1913, d. 2005
Jamison, Mable Ruth, b. 26-dec-1920, d. 24-jun-1990
Jamison, Mac, Superintendent, Chairman of Deacon Board, Treasurer of New Olive Grove Church
Jenkins, Mose A., b. 28-sep-1925, d. 17-may-1952, s/o Hattie J. Rhone
Jones, Ollie May, b. 3-jul-1916, d. 25-sep-1927, d/o Eugene and Matilda Jones
Jordon, Melvin, b. 14-oct-1900, d. 30-jun-1917
Lawrence, Eugene, b. 1908, d. 12-nov-1922, s/o John & Minnie Lawrence, Railway Accident
Little, Emma M., b. 1838, d. 1953
M. E.
Mantion, Lou, b. 19-nov-1854, d. 4-feb-1933, w/o Zip Mantion
Mantion, Zip, b. 1844, d. 1918
Mayo, Phillis, d. 19-aug-1953
McMullen, Kelvin, d. 8-jun-1997
Miles, Amos Jackie, b/o Walter Myles
Miles, Charlie, Grandfather of Walter Myles
Miles, Lucius C., b. 1936, d. 1939
Miles, Nora, Grandmother of Walter Myles
Moore, Mamie Marean, d. 1917
Moore, Mary, b. 1882, d. 1929
Moore, Samuel, d. 22-dec-1923
Pauli, Daughter of Adam Ben__, b. Aug, d. Oct
Pickens, Clarence, b. 7-mar-1920, d. 21-mar-1955
Ratcliff, Pearl Ola Austin, b. 26-apr-1927, d. 9-nov-2001, Daughter of Adolphus & Lurlina Austin
Robinson, Hayward, b. 19-jan-1929, d. 15-mar-1987
Robinson, Hayward, b. 19-jan-1929, d. 15-mar-1997
Rosamond, Ina J., w/o Abron Rosemond
Rosemond, Abron, b. 28-mar-1892, d. 6-mar-1976, h/o Ina J. Rosemond
Rosemond, Ola Austin, b. 1902, d. 1964, d/o William & Maggie Austin
Rosemond, s/o Ina Jamison Rosemond and Abron Rosemond, b. 19-jun-1888, d. 4-dec-1945
Sanders, Irene, b. 9-jan-1883, d. 30-jul-1907
Scott, George, b. 15-dec-1899, d. 20-dec-1952
Sellers
Shorter, George W., b. 1871, d. 29-dec 1919, a. 48 yrs
Singleton, Ola, b. 3-jan-1879, d. 2-oct-1909, w/o Jno. M. Singleton
Stokes, Ed., b. 30-jul-1902, d. 24-jan-1904
Stokes, Jessie, b. 13-oct-1904, d. 19-oct-1938, w/o George Graves
Stokes, Joe, b. 1858, d. 2-jul-1918, a. 60 Yrs, Father
Stokes, John, b. 1867 d. 22-may-1940
Stokes, Vena, b. 1860, d. 1883, a. 23 yrs, Mother
Taylor, Nan K., b. 3-dec-1903, d. 1-dec-1976, Mother
U.G.A., Baby, b. 1-Jan-1900, d. 12-Jul-1901
Wallace, Hattie, b. 24-dec-1905, d. 16-nov-1906, d/o Linda Wallace
Watkins, Ernest Samuel, b. 12-nov-1891, d. 13-jan-1972
Watkins, Estelle Jamison, b. 6-jun-1895, d. 27-feb-1970, w/o Ernest Samuel Watkins
Watkins, Lois, b. 4-may-1912, d. 16-oct-1960
White, Geneva B., b. 10-dec-1905, d. 6-oct-1971
Whitner, Ella C., b. 18-jun-1863, d. 4-feb-1911
Williams, Clarsie, b. 1-mar-1845, d. 31-dec-1906
Woodruff, Leroy, b. 1932, d. 1989
Wright, Gus, b. 25-mar-1876, d. 16-oct-1960
Wright, Jule, b. 1890, d. 13-mar-1922, s/o Henry & Etta Kirksey Wright