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PHOTOS TAKEN BY GLORIA GAYMON

Gloria states regarding the tombstones: “It looks like it said she (Laura Wilson) was born in 1860, although the 1880 census puts her birth at 1847.  Maybe they meant 1850.  Their daughter, Mary Jane Wilson Lake was born in 1867.”

“There is also an article in the Newberry Observer about Laura’s death.  By 1900 George was remarried to Della.  He was age 55, she was age 37.  They had been married for 3 years.  Della was the mother of 2 children, non were living.”

Per Gloria, the Gravesites are on the grounds of the Little River Baptist Church located in the Silver Street section of Newberry, SC near highway 34.  There are 3 cemeteries: one is at the church, one down the road from the church and the old, old cemetery is further down the road.  The first photo above shows Laura Wilson’s tombstone.  The dates listed are, b. Nov. 9, 1860 or 1840, d. Sept. 12, 1897; the second photo above shows George Wilson’s tombstone with the dates: b. March 12, 1845, d. Nov. 27, 1917.  The third photo (was accidently discarded by Editor, M. Herbert) showed how the old cemetery is not being taken care of, as so much brush has grown up around it. Gloria was in Newberry earlier this month at a funeral.  Usually when she visits during the summer months she would never go all the way back in the bushes to take photos, she said, “because of the big snakes!”)

Gloria reports, “I was in South Carolina about two weeks ago at the Little River Baptist Church cemetery. I took pictures, of the old, old cemetery after I got one of the cousins to walk through it again with me.  (There are actually 3 cemeteries for the church).  I first did it in the 1990’s.  The problem is no one wants to go there.  It is not being taken care of. It should be declared a historical site because many former slaves are buried there.  Here are several pictures that I took of George Wilson and his wife Laura.  They are both buried there as well as at lease one grand.  I took several pictures because it shows how grown up the graves are.”

George and Laura Wilson were the parents of Thomas, b. 1873; Ned, b. 1870; David, b. 1868 and Mary Wilson, b. 1857. 

Respectfully Submitted by

Gloria Leaks Gaymon, the writer of the Newberry Roots Newsletter and Spearman Family Newsletter

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