AAbandoned church cemeteries ... what happens to them now?

Let me begin by saying I don't have the complete answer to that question, but maybe I can give some insights into what is happening. Several people have called me about church cemeteries in our area, distressed that no one has kept them up. Most of these folks are from out of town and made trips to Fayette, Coweta or South Fulton counties to seek information on their early ancestors. The church has moved, they said. Who's responsible for the cemetery now?

Good question.

The most recent victim of progress is Line Creek Baptist on the western outskirts of Peachtree City, crowded out by not only the Wal Mart/Home Depot development, but also by the impending widening of Ga. Hwy. 54. I received a call about that one several months ago from a member who sounded very distressed and, understandably, a little resentful.

Line Creek is one of the older churches in Fayette County, having been organized Aug. 5, 1869 with only six members.

According to The History of Fayette County, published by the Fayette County Historical Society and compiled by Carolyn Cary back in the 1970s, the church wasn't actually constructed until 1875 and was built on a 2.5 acre tract donated by a Mr. Leach and a Mrs. Pollard. The first pastor was the Rev. G.B. Davis and the first deacon was A.B. Mitchell. J.A. Brown was the first church clerk and he served for 20 years. Church conference meetings were conducted on the fourth Saturday and Sunday of each month.

In 1890, members elected their first Sunday school superintendent, F.M. Chandler, and in 1892, the first treasurer, M.V. Whitlock, was elected. Music was a capella until 1903, when an organ was purchased.

When it was surveyed by the Fayette County Historical Society back in 1977, the Line Creek Cemetery contained 140 marked graves and four unmarked, but known, graves. The book, Cemetery Records, Fayette County, Georgia, also published by the Fayette County Historical Society, shows predominant names are Whitlock, Huddleston, Couch and McWilliams. The earliest known death date I found was 1917, although several graves have only one date and one cannot discern whether this is a birth date or death date. The earliest birth date I found was that of M.A.E. Spradlin, born March 4, 1852.

Line Creek has survived through the years, until now, and will be moving across the county line into Coweta, according to what I've been told. What will happen to the old cemetery? I have no idea, but read on.

Another church that moved away and abandoned its cemetery is Hopewell Methodist in Tyrone, which was purchased several years ago by the town and now is used as their municipal building (city hall). I remember Hopewell very well from the days when I lived in Tyrone beginning in 1972. Every weekend I would see either Mr. Mayfield or Mr. Winkles faithfully mowing the grass in the cemetery and tending the area. I'm sure there were others who helped also.

Hopewell goes back into Fayette's history even farther than Line Creek, having been established in 1849 on three acres donated by Jared Handley. This information also is found in the Fayette history book mentioned above. The Hopewell church building originally doubled as a school. Early trustees were Josiah W. Elder, Samuel H. Ellison, John Rush, John Palmore, John Watson, Gainy Westbrook and Charles Clements. Services were open to all orthodox denominations, so it wasn't just the Methodists who worshiped there ... it was anybody and everybody.

In 1854, the Methodists established the Hopewell Methodist Protestant Church and a new building was built west of the original structure which continued to serve as a school.

I was shocked when I counted the number of graves in this cemetery because it was unbelievable. The cemetery looks quite small from the road, but the cemetery books lists 820 graves at Hopewell with one unmarked, known grave. Predominant names are Mayfield, McElwaney. Farr, Slaton and Handley.

With several pages of names, I didn't even try to find the earliest grave, but just a glance told me many of the people buried here were born as early as 1816 and some graves give death dates as the 1870s.

A quick call to Valerie Fowler, the town clerk for Tyrone (who also just happens to be my sister-in-law), gave me some information which I really had not considered. Valerie said although the town had purchased the Hopewell church building and the property upon which it sat, it had not purchased the cemetery. Valerie said it was her understanding that the cemetery plots were individually owned and, therefore, the families who owned the plots were responsible for their upkeep.

You know, thinking about it, that makes a lot of sense. Unless you purchase a cemetery plot which offers perpetual care in the contract, that little piece of land you are buried on is yours to have and to hold, from that day forward, so to speak. I don't believe any church has ever assumed the responsibility for its cemetery but has always depended upon members, particularly family members, to keep up the grave sites. Those of you who have ancestors buried in church cemeteries, but who live out of town, might want to make a contribution to the church's cemetery maintenance fund, if there is one.

If you live close by, grab your Weedeater and get busy.

There is much more to be discussed about cemeteries but we'll have to leave it for another time. Both books I mentioned above may be purchased from the Fayette County Historical Society, 195 North Lee Street, P.O. Box 421, Fayetteville, GA 30214. You may call them at 770-716-6020.

Do you have ancestors who are buried in Fayette, Coweta and South Fulton counties? Send their stories to The Citizen, Drawer 1719, Fayetteville, GA 30214; E-mail jkilgore@thecitizennews.com or jodiek444@aol.com.

Until next week, happy hunting!

(Judy regrets that time does not permit her to do personal research for others. She will willingly share research information on her own family lines, including collateral and allied lines.)