Upstate Cemetery Preservation Alliance of SC

Upstate Cemetery Preservation Alliance of SC UCPASC’s mission is rooted in preservation—preservation of our history, as well as the graves.

The Cemetery Alliance is a nonprofit organization committed to preserving and protecting cemeteries in the Upstate region of South Carolina. Our purpose is to ensure that these important historical and cultural resources are protected for future generations through education, advocacy, and preservation efforts. Through our educational efforts, we aim to raise awareness of the significance of cemet

eries in our communities, as well as the threats they face from neglect, vandalism, and development. We believe that by educating the public about the importance of cemetery preservation, we can inspire individuals and communities to take an active role in protecting and maintaining these valuable resources. Our advocacy efforts focus on promoting policies and practices that support cemetery preservation, such as providing funding for restoration projects, implementing protections for cemeteries in land use planning, and enforcing laws against vandalism and theft. By working with elected officials, government agencies, and other stakeholders, we seek to ensure that cemeteries in Upstate South Carolina are recognized and protected as important historical and cultural assets. Through our preservation efforts, we work to actively protect and maintain cemeteries in the region. We provide training and resources to volunteers interested in cemetery cleanup and restoration, and partner with local organizations and municipalities to fund and coordinate preservation projects. By taking a hands-on approach to cemetery preservation, we strive to ensure that these important cultural resources are protected for generations to come. Please consider donating to help our cause by going to this link https://paypal.me/UCPASC

For those who use Find A Grave, you may have noticed a recent update regarding Revolutionary War Veterans. Find A Grave...
06/18/2026

For those who use Find A Grave, you may have noticed a recent update regarding Revolutionary War Veterans. Find A Grave has added a new edit and search option specifically for Revolutionary War Veterans.
As a result, I have received quite a few edit notifications this week requesting that memorials be updated to reflect Revolutionary War service. This new feature should make it much easier for researchers, historians, genealogists and cemetery enthusiasts to locate and identify Revolutionary War Veterans buried across the country.



Last September I did a post about Anne Peden trying to locate the Old Seaborn Cemetery which was believed to be on the p...
06/17/2026

Last September I did a post about Anne Peden trying to locate the Old Seaborn Cemetery which was believed to be on the property at the corner of Emily Lane and Old Gunter Rd in Piedmont. She had gotten permission to search the property. The only thing we found was one field stone that was clearly from a cemetery.
Anne did some more research and found that the headstones had been moved in 1983 to another location. Guessing they did not realize they missed one or they left it because there were no markings on it.
While logging cemeteries in Wahalla, Oconee County yesterday I stopped at West View Cemetery. I noticed a couple headstones that looked older than the surrounding graves. I took a couple pictures so I could research them later. When I got home and looked more closely, I realized they were the Seaborn graves that had been relocated from Piedmont. It was quite a surprise and I feel like I have come full circle with the Seaborn Cemetery. One of the things I love about cemetery research is how often one story leads to another.
Transcription of the rectangle marker:
June 7, 1983. The graves of James Seaborn 1702-1792, George Seaborn 1732-1818, James S. Seaborn 1757-1804, of Frederick County, VA. Before 1784. And a child’s grave were brought here from Piedmont, S.C. -
The Seaborn Burying Ground near a spring on Golden Creek. The site was surveyed & recorded Greenville Co. C. H., Mende Conveyance. Plat Book 9-V. P 50.





The first pictures is the marker we saw on the property in Piedmont.
The other two are from West View Cemetery.

Last month we were logging Cemeteries in Anderson County and stopped at Providence United Methodist. This church was or...
06/15/2026

Last month we were logging Cemeteries in Anderson County and stopped at Providence United Methodist. This church was organized circa 1800.
Many of the cemeteries oldest burials are marked with fieldstones and a few have initials or names scratched into them.
The cemetery is the final resting place of Revolutionary War Veteran David Verner, whose grave is marked with a fieldstone. At some point he has given a headstone and a DAR marker. It is also believed that his father, John Verner, Sr., another Revolutionary War Veteran , is buried there as well.
While walking the perimeter of the cemetery, we noticed several headstones located outside the fenced area. After exploring further, we came across a wooden cross that read, “Indian Burial Mounds, Slave Graves, Graves from Early 1800s.” Unfortunately we will never know how many individuals are buried there.
After we logged that cemetery we noticed a large wooden cross standing over a little farther. On that cross was a plaque that read, “37 Pauper Graves from Shockley Baptist Church Re-Interred here in 1960 due to the creation of Lake Hartwell.”
There is so much history packed in a small area next to Providence United Methodist Church. If you’re a cemetery enthusiast like we are, you’ll understand just how excited we were to discover these three distinct burial areas. From the historic church cemetery with Revolutionary War connections to the area identified by the sign referencing Indian burial mounds, slave graves and early 1800s burials and to the Paupers burials, every step revealed another layer of the past. It’s places like this that remind us how much history can survive in the quietest corners, just waiting to be noticed and appreciated.



While in Abbeville County I logged Little River Baptist Church Cemetery. The church history states its origins have bee...
06/15/2026

While in Abbeville County I logged Little River Baptist Church Cemetery. The church history states its origins have been traced to 1791 when it was founded.
I have to say this is the first cemetery that I have seen that the ground is totally covered in rock.
Revolutionary War Veteran, Zachariah Carwile has a large monument stating he is buried in an unmarked grave in the cemetery.
The cemetery has a wide variety of beautiful old headstones and box tombs.
I would highly recommend a visit if you enjoy exploring old cemeteries. I would suggest you wait until the temperatures cool down. After about 20 minutes of walking around, the rock reflected so much heat it became extremely hot.



The White Family Cemetery is the other cemetery I went to on Wednesday. It’s also in Volume 2 Cemetery Records of Abbev...
06/12/2026

The White Family Cemetery is the other cemetery I went to on Wednesday. It’s also in Volume 2 Cemetery Records of Abbeville County. They call it the Lesly - White Family Cemetery. The cemetery is located on the same private property as the Cozby Family cemetery.
There are 5 headstones standing and remnants of one on the ground. It’s located at the edge of a wooded area. My pictures are difficult to read. The light was horrible for pictures. There were two burials covered with brick. One was smaller so I assume it was a child.
I’m hoping I can go back in the fall and get better pictures.
Headstone Picture Order
1. Elizabeth White
Wife of John White
Daughter of John & Ann Jones
Born Jan. 27, 1789 Died July 9, 1852
2. Virginia Lesly
Wife of William Lesly
Daughter of John & Elizabeth White
Born June 16, 1826 Died Sept. 18,1841
3. Mary B. White
Wife of Reuben White
Born April 30,1751 Died April 11, 1837
4. Eliza Frances White
Daughter of John & Elizabeth White
Born Nov 1, 1822 Died 5/26/1824
5. John White (based on dates in Vol 2)
Born Oct 13, 1784 Died Sept 7, 1839
6. Stephen Mercer White
Son of John & Elizabeth White
Born Nov 25, 1818 Died April 6, 1819
I’ve also included the listing from Volume 2.
This cemetery is not on Find A Grave. I’m hoping to add it today.



I went to see a friend, Mike yesterday in Abbeville County. I happened to mention there was a cemetery fairly close to ...
06/11/2026

I went to see a friend, Mike yesterday in Abbeville County. I happened to mention there was a cemetery fairly close to his house and did he know anything about it. He said yep and called the owner and off we went on his Mule. We finally found it after a little searching. It wasn’t the one that he was thinking about. (We did find the one he knew about)
This is the Cozby Family Cemetery. Located near Lowndesville, SC. It is located on private property.
I only saw 3 headstones and each had a foot stone with initials.
The Cemetery is listed in Volume 2 of Abbeville County Cemetery Records though there are a couple date errors.
In picture order
Cemetery Picture
Robert Cozby. Died Jan. 11, 1846
Temperance L. Cozby died March 1, 1852
Isabella T. Cozby died Nov. 13, 1838
Someone had entered the death information on FAG with Burial Details Unknown. I’m extremely excited to find this cemetery and I’ve sent an edit to move them to the Cozby Cemetery.
It still amazes me how many small family cemeteries are out there.
Please if you can help us locate any of these family cemeteries please message us!!!!


Yesterday my friend, Nell Rowland and I were out and logged a few cemeteries.We stopped by Sullivan (Grove) Cemetery als...
06/09/2026

Yesterday my friend, Nell Rowland and I were out and logged a few cemeteries.
We stopped by Sullivan (Grove) Cemetery also known as Old a Lebanon Methodist located in Southern Greenville County.
The historical marker states there are several Revolutionary War Veterans buried there.
I only saw one military marker which was for Moses Sullivan. His marker states he was a Lieutenant in the Continental Line.
I believe Charles Simpson, Peter Ragsdale and Hewlet Sullivan are also Revolutionary War Veterans. Can anyone confirm that?
I also noticed a small metal marker for Rev. J.W. McCall who died in 1855. The marker says United Methodist Minister with a picture of a man on a horse. First time I’ve ever seen one of these markers.
This is clearly an old cemetery. A large portion of burials are marked with field stones.

Please notice the age listed for Mary Sullivan in the 3rd picture.




Yesterday I met Zach at a location in Southern Greenville County. He was kind enough to take me to a cemetery he stumbl...
06/07/2026

Yesterday I met Zach at a location in Southern Greenville County. He was kind enough to take me to a cemetery he stumbled across while metal detecting. It was about a 1/2 hour walk into the woods.
There are two fieldstones with initials and a year etched into them.
PMD - 1801
AMD - 1814
It’s thought their last name was possibly Davenport.
It was a beautiful walk. We heard an owl and on the way out we saw it flying in an old road bed.
Thank you Zach for taking the time to take me there. And thank for letting me use your field stone pictures.
Unfortunately when I got home I realized I brought home an unwanted hitchhiker. I was reminded to use my tick spray before wandering into the woods. 😩




I

This is the James Lee Family Cemetery located in Spartanburg County, off of Hammett Grove Road. Following a 30-year abse...
06/06/2026

This is the James Lee Family Cemetery located in Spartanburg County, off of Hammett Grove Road. Following a 30-year absence, Mike Becknell recalled the cemetery's location and led us to it after a couple of attempts. Unfortunately, James' headstone is broken and lies on the stone wall enclosing his grave and that of his wife, Anna. Her headstone, however, is fragmented, and regrettably, no pieces with dates could be found. James Lee was born in 1799 and died in 1861. Due to the overcast weather, the headstones were somewhat difficult to
read. I have finally listed it on Find A Grave for those interested in accessing the dates not visible in the photographs.
FYI the property where the cemetery is located not has a gate and a no trespassing sign. They have brought in some large construction equipment.
The cemetery fortunately does have a fence around it.


A couple of weeks ago, Mike Becknell escorted me to the historic Old Fairfirest Cemetery, a burial ground situated near ...
06/04/2026

A couple of weeks ago, Mike Becknell escorted me to the historic Old Fairfirest Cemetery, a burial ground situated near Jonesville Cemetery in Union County. The journey to the cemetery proved to be a considerable undertaking, requiring nearly a two-hour walk, a fact Mike had warned me about, though I initially suspected exaggeration.
The first picture is when we finally got close enough to see the stand of trees where the cemetery is located.
Unfortunately, Hurricane downed several trees, one of which struck the corner of Samuel Morrow's box tomb. Notably, Samuel Morrow, a veteran of the Revolutionary War born in Baltimore in 1760, lies buried alongside his wife, Janet Nelson Morrow, whose box tomb has sunk over time.
Additionally, the cemetery is the final resting place of Capt. J. H. Cunningham, who succumbed to wounds sustained at Chickamauga in 1863.
The cemetery contains 16 marked graves with headstones and an estimated couple of dozen more marked by field stones.
As we stood there, we couldn't help but imagine what a peaceful and beautiful cemetery this was when it was still in active use.



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Simpsonville, SC
29680

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