Belleview Church Cemetery

Locality: Roanoke County Temporal Period: 4^th quarter 19^th c., 20^th c.

Realty Map: 86.11-4-47 Cultural Affiliation: Euro-American

USGS Map: Bent Mountain Landform: Ridge bench

Grid Locus: J-4 Elevation: 1280 feet

UTM Easting: 586060 Aspect: Southwest

UTM Northing: 4119060

Site Dimensions: 56 by 91 feet

Survey Description: Site consists of four adjacent cemeteries that contain a total of 54 interments. The largest cemetery contains 42 interments enclosed by a galvanized pole and chain link fence that measured about 40 by 67 feet. Observed graves include 28 with inscribed marble/granite markers, 2 with metal markers, 2 with uninscribed fieldstone and inscribed granite markers, 5 with uninscribed fieldstone markers, and five uninscribed rock slabs. Attached to the west side is an unenclosed plot containing four interments with inscribed granite/marble markers in an area about 12 by 40 feet. Attached to the east side is another plot containing two interments with inscribed fieldstone markers enclosed by an iron fence that measured about 12 by 40 feet. Finally, attached to the south side of the large cemetery is a plot with six interments marked by enclosed by a wooden post and wire fence that measured about 16 by 25 feet. Four of these graves have inscribed cement markers, on has an inscribed marble marker, and two share an inscribed granite marker. All of the cemeteries are well maintained and covered with mowed grass. Historic plantings include dogwood trees, periwinkle, boxwoods, yucca, and daffodils. Site was field inspected, photographed, and headstone inscriptions were transcribed and compared to previous site documentation. Site size was estimated by pacing the horizontal extent of observed graves and the surrounding fence lines

Survey Date: 4/98

Field Notes: __X__Yes ____ No

Photographs: __X__Yes ____ No

Reference(s): Roanoke Valley Historical Society

1986 Roanoke County Graveyards Through 1920. Privately printed, RVHS, Roanoke.

Additional Comments: Assigned temporal period was based on the range of death dates inscribed on observed grave markers. These dates range from 1888-1989. However, the presence of uninscribed markers of fieldstone and rock slabs may reflect an earlier use of the sites.

This cemetery was surveyed by the RVHS and designated as the “Belleview Cemetery” (1986: 12). The name was retained during 1998 survey. However, it should be noted that the USGS Bent Mountain map sheet groups together this cemetery, another nearby cemetery, and an associated church and labels them as the “Bellvue Church” and “Bellvue Cems.” Furthermore, a sign at the entrance of a drive way that leads to the cemeteries and new church is labeled “Laurel Ridge Primitive Baptist Church / Organized 1825 / Rebuilt 1975.” Furthermore, while the cemetery is not specifically marked and labeled on local real estate maps, it is on a parcel labeled “Laurel Ridge Baptist Ministry.”

The RVHS report included inscriptions transcribed from 12 headstones that predated 1921. The following list provides biographical information derived from all of the inscribed headstones observed in the cemetery during the 1998 survey. Bold italics denote information documented in the Roanoke Valley Historical Society report, but not observed during the 1998 survey.

Belleview Cemetery (continued)

Marker Inscriptions:

1. Largest Section

Annie M. Stratton Bonnie Stratton Dorsey J. Susan Ann

Oct. 10, 1887 June 23, 1884 Stratton Stratton

June 5, 1983 Apr. 2, 1962 Born Born

Sept. 16, 1849 Oct. 14, 1853

Died Died

May 1, 1931 Feb. 11, 1934

Benjamin S. Muse Margaret Ferguson Elmer White John Barksdale

Born Jan. 25, 1827 Wife of Muse Nov. 13, 1875

Died Dec. 23, 1900 Benjamin S. Muse July 30 Jan. 2 June 29, 1926

Born Oct. 7, 1827 1906 1988

Died Oct. 4, 1917

Bessie Lois Barksdale Harold L. Barksdale J.W. Muse Infant dau.

1885 1978 Nov. 25, 1907 Oct. 28, 1850 of

(metal marker) June 24, 1908 Sept. 11, 1888 E.L. & L.J.

Muse

(inscribed granite

beside uninscribed

fieldstone)

Poage Sarah F. Charles W. Charlie H.

Walter L. Alice M. Wife of Bowles son of

June 7, 1885 Aug. 25, 1900 C.W. Bowles Born B.C. & Eliza C.

Mar. 18, 1952 Mar. 19, 1974 Born Mar. 8, 1858 Harman

June 28, 1858 Died Born June 3, 1887

Died Nov. 5, 1930 Died Mar. 1, 1919

Nov. 8, 1893 Aged 31 yrs.

B.C. Harman Eliza C. Muse Harman

Born Apr. 12, 1855 wife of B.C. Harman Nannie G. Cary H.

Died Apr. 20, 1920 Born Mar. 11, 1864 July 3, 1892 Jan. 29, 1890

Aged 65 yrs. Died Sept. 10, 1949 Jan. 5, 1030 Jan. 14, 1928

Infant Son of Dora Harman Joseph S. Tinnell William E. Tinnell

B.F. & Bertie Muse Tinnell Born Son of

1893 Kennett Oct. 22, 1879 Mr. & Mrs. Joseph

(inscribed granite beside Mar 28, 1885 Died S. Tinnell

uninscribed fieldstone) Mar 4, 1919 Mar. 25, 1911 Born

Sept. 7, 1903

Died Oct. 10, 1903

Belleview Cemetery (continued)

Infant Harman Richards Eddie Kessler Louis G.

1944 – 1944 Clarence L. Frances A. VA Son of

(metal marker) June 22, 1918 1922 T. SGT US Army B.W. & Sarah

Feb. 14, 1978 _____ Korea Kessler

(marker buried) Feb. 12, 1916

------------ UF. 18, 1916

Eddie C. Kessler Aged 6 mo.

1930 1972

(metal marker)

Kessler Maude A.

Ben W. Sarah Daughter of

Sept. 12, 1883 July 15, 1893 C.W. & S.F.

June 10, 1966 Feb. 2, 1973 Bowles

Born Sept. 14, 1888

Died Nov. 6, 1895

II. Eastern Section

Tinnell

John Griffin Sarah Emily Wertz

1852 – 1938 1849-1933

III. Southern Section

Uninscribed Uninscribed Uninscribed Uninscribed

cement marker cement marker cement marker cement marker

(John William Stump

Died March 29^th 1943

Aged 59 yrs 5 mos. 24 days

Metal marker )

John Wilson Ruby R. Stump

Stump Feb. 4 Jan. 3

June 8, 1906 1917 1989

May 13, 1968

(marble)

IV. Western Section

Minter Lula M. Sowder W.H. Hawley

Edward J. Marie H. Wife of Oct. 18, 1870

1910-1997 1909-___ W.H. Hawley Feb. 12, 1958

April 20, 1877

July 12, 1941

Back to Cemetery Link Page

Back to HomePage