Friends of African American Cemeteries and Churches Upstate SC

01/10/2023

"But they feel a sense of responsibility to fix what they find and to document the links to the history of the people of the area.

Many of them spoke of concern that family or forgotten church cemeteries could be leveled and lost forever by new development if not found and documented. The county has rules in place to protect cemeteries from development, but only if gravesites are known or discovered before dirt moves during construction.

They hope others will help document the history of the Upstate through forgotten cemeteries like the one at Golden Grove."

Link:
https://www.postandcourier.com/greenville/news/group-forms-to-find-restore-upstates-forgotten-cemeteries/article_c51b36fe-7fbc-11ed-b48e-23f32d58137c.html

(Sent from The Post and Courier)

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An Upstate group acquired a ground-penetrating radar as part of efforts to find and restore forgotten cemeteries across the region.

10/06/2022

Part FIVE of New Golden Grove Methodist Cemetery!

Richard Peterson and Rowelze Peterson were the sons of Emmiziah Peters/Peterson and Lula Mae Williams.

They owned the 1st Black cab company in Greenville SC, Royal Cab Co.

While Rowelze is buried at New Golden Grove, Richard was a member of the church but is buried at Resthaven Memorial Gardens.

09/19/2022

New Golden Grove Methodist Cemetery was just listed on the Black Cemetery Network!!

"The Black Cemetery Network [BCN] was founded in response to the national call to action to raise awareness about the issue of erasure and silencing of black cemeteries throughout the U.S. These cemeteries contain stories about people, place, and families which are often missing from the larger public narrative. Our network connects living records of forgotten histories through research, advocacy, and collaboration."

NEW GOLDEN GROVE METHODIST CEMETERY FOUNDED: 1875 ADDITONAL NAMES: Golden Grove Chapel AFFILIATION(S): Friends of African American Cemeteries Churches Upstate SC HISTORY: A historically Black neighborhood on the outskirts of the Piedmont Mill village, can be found nestled in

08/31/2022

I have recently come across more information on the New Mount Grove Baptist Church aka Dean-Johnson Cemetery formally located in Piedmont SC off of Hwy 86!

Below you will find 2 pages from the book of minutes for the church. It was from the last presiding pastor of the church, Dock Wakefield. He died in 1996. You will also see a picture of the Rev. James Robert Hammond who revived the church in the late 1930's according to WPA records.

Names mentioned for monies given for the building of church.

July 6
-May Bell Johnson
-Dock Wakefield

Sept 5 1954
-Dock Wakefield
-E. S. Watts
-Sister? Ashmore
-Lizzy Barksdale
-Rose Bell Johnson
-Reba Walton
-Will Ashmore
-Sarah Breziel

A total of $15.32 was given by those members.

Duffie Williams gave $1.11. (I wonder if this is Duff Williams of New Golden Grove)

April 6, 1952
"New Mt. Grove Baptist Church devotional was open by singing I will be alright someday by sister Mary Johnson. Prayer by deacon Dock Wakefield. Devotation was conducted by deacon Wakefield then singing Run on you got a race to run by sister J?(can't make out" Watts. Then turn the service over to the hands of the pastor A Wakefield. A wonderful sermon was preached by the pastor. his text was found in Book of Acts 13 chapter 26 verse his subject was too you I heard the voice same come unto me and rest, hymn sung? out by the pastor. Floor of the church was open, then the service was turned over to the officers. Collection was $5.05"

08/30/2022

There was a wonderful presentation yesterday on African American cemeteries hosted by the Piedmont Historical Preservation Society

You can watch parts of it in the link below! Thank you Anderson Observer for recording the presentation!

Greg Wilson/Anderson Obsever Piedmont Historical Preservation Society is working to identify an...

07/24/2022

Part FOUR of the history of New Golden Grove Methodist Church and Cemetery.

The Little family can be traced back to their enslaver West Allen Williams, the founder of the town Williamston, and his father Samuel Williams. After the death of West Allen Williams in 1857, the Little family is split apart. Hilery Little ends up in Laurens county where he is enslaved by James Little. After emancipation, Hilery is back in the Piedmont area, one can easily assume because he still has family here.

Hilery is married to Charity Wilson. One of their children, Graten Little, owned a pressing club here in Piedmont. His brother, John F. Little, was a longtime minister at Golden Grove M. E. Church.

07/21/2022

Part THREE on the history of New Golden Grove Cemetery.

Samuel Cunningham Born in 1841 and died on November 10, 1912.

Samual had significant ties with Silas F. Trowbridge, a prominent merchant in Piedmont. Numerous financial transactions between them can be found in Trowbridge's ledgers and accounting books. He is also living with Silas in the 1900 census. His relationship to head of household is servant and his occupation is farm laborer. It also mentions he is widowed and was married for 30 years. Unfortunately, these are the only documents I have on Samuel.

Let's take a closer look at the context of the inscription found on his headstone, a contrast compared to Mamie (see previous post).

"Erected by the Trowbridge family in memory of Uncle Sam"

In memory of, typically means someone that we VALUE who has now passed away. This emphasizes the importance of that individual for us. Versus, in honor of, it signifies a great respect or privilege towards someone.

The term ‘aunt’ or ‘uncle’ has historically been a degrading term of endearment when used to address an unrelated black person by a white person.

07/10/2022

Part TWO of the history of New Golden Grove Methodist cemetery!!

Mamie Fraizer Austin Burton
Born- August 10, 1876
Died- July 28, 1936

Little is known about her early life. According to her death certificate he father was Thos. Fraizer.

She was married twice and according to census records she was a cook.

She worked for the Piedmont Mill Village doctor S. D. Campbell. He is the grandfather of the late former governor Carroll Campbell. Ironically he established the SC African American Heritage Council.

The headstone the Campbell family provided for her did not use paternalistic language, a deviation from the cultural norm. An example would be referring to her as "aunt mame" They truly did honor her. ❤️

You can read more here https://greenbookofsc.com/fact-sheet-sc-african-american-heritage-commission/

07/08/2022

Part ONE of the history of New Golden Grove United Methodist Church (1920's).

It was formally known as Golden Grove Chapel (1875) and Golden Grove AME (1894).

The Golden Grove Chapel was deeded to Henry Kirksey, Sweney Westfield, and David Richardson by Mrs. Henrietta Shockley.

Stay tuned to learn about how this church was very much a part of the Piedmont Mill Village and Piedmont Manufacturing Co. and how this historic site is on it's way to be on the National Historic Register ❤️

06/12/2022

Please go pick up you Independent Mail newspaper today! Excellent reporting by A. J. Jackson.

06/06/2022

"Local historians believe there could be undiscovered and unmarked graves of Black children and former slaves on property being developed in Piedmont."

This is a subscriber article however I encourage you to become one. Reporters need the financial backing to continue these stories that would have not been known had they not done the work and research to write them.

Local historians believe there could be undiscovered and unmarked graves of Black children and former slaves on property being developed in Piedmont.