Locality: Realty Map: USGS Map: Grid Locus: UTM Easting: UTM Northing: |
Roanoke County 97.03-1-18 Garden City A-8 588800 4115530 |
Temporal Period: Cultural Affiliation: Landform: Elevation: Aspect: |
20 th century African-American Ridge top 1340 feet Northeast |
Site Dimensions: 110 by 200 feet
Survey Description: Site consists of a large church cemetery with at least 95 graves. The identified graves included six with inscribed granite markers, 21 with metal markers (two illegible), 19 with uninscribed fieldstone markers, and at least 49 unmarked graves observable as ground surface depressions. Other graves may exist. Observed graves ranged in orientation from northeast through southeast. Deteriorated remnants of a wood post and wire mesh fence were observed at the cemetery. The site is covered with a young growth of pines. Historic plantings include yucca and periwinkle groundcover. Site was field inspected, photographed, and grave marker inscriptions were transcribed. Site size was derived from local realty maps.
Survey Date: 11/98
Field Notes: _x_Yes ___No
Photographs: _x_Yes ___No
References: None
Additional Comments: Assigned temporal period was based on the 1922 through 1996 range of death dates
inscribed on observed headstones. However, the presence of uninscribed fieldstone markers and unmarked graves
may reflect an earlier use of the site. The cemetery is not marked on the USGS Garden City map sheet. It is marked
on local realty maps, but it is not labeled as a cemetery.
Marker Inscriptions:
Mr. Thomas E. Brown 1921 1986 (metal marker) Mr. Kevin L. Brown 1965 1996 (metal marker) George Wright (metal marker) Mrs. Mary White 1881 1959 (metal marker) |
Mrs. Girlie H. White 1963 1992 (metal marker) Mrs. Rosa L. Ellis 1930 1959 (metal marker) Mrs. Lena D. Wright 1907 1985 (metal marker) Mrs. Gertie C. Alleyne 1936 1964 (metal marker) |
Mr. Michael A. Brown 1960 1992 (metal marker) Mr. Dred Wright 1868 1952 (metal marker) Marie B. Wright 1916 1975 (metal marker) Al Taylor Jan. 15, 1866 Aug. 8, 1946 (metal marker) |
Back Creek Baptist Church Cemetery (continued)
Joseph Childress Sept. 17, 1892 May 29, 1922 Aged 30 Yrs. He is at rest in Heaven. (footstone: JC) Mrs. Bessie F. Wright 1910 1966 (metal marker) Mr. Harrison F. Hale 1895 1958 (metal marker) Mrs. Alice M. Barnette 1894 1962 (metal marker) Mr. Eddie Smith 1902 1984 (metal marker) |
Richard Simmons (sunken granite marker) Mr. Daniel M. Hale 1916 1985 (metal marker) Lucinda E. Francis May 26, 1883 Feb. 4, 1959 Thy memory shall ever be. A guiding star to heaven. (footstone: LEF) Richard L. Wright Virginia PFC US Army Feb 18 1941 April 30 1971 |
Mrs. Betty A. Johnson 1882 1970 (metal marker) Mr. Glenn H. Hale 1914 1982 (metal marker) Barbara J. Francis Nov. 11, 1936 Oct. 19, 1956 How many hopes lie Buried here. (footstone: BJF) M. Louis Barnette 1920 1994 (metal marker) |