Flax Creek Cemetery

This data was copied, compiled, and typed by Joyce Durand, 562 Oakdale Road, Atlanta, GA 30307. Joyce is graciously allowing the Western NC Genealogy Resource Center for Cherokee County to post this material for public, not for profit use. Not to be sold for any reason.

Flax Creek Cemetery is located on Sunny Point Road about midway between Highways 64 and 294, the two end points of the road. The road was once called Taylor’s Ferry Road as it was the route to the ferry crossing of the Hiawassee River. Travelers to the ferry would often camp at the site of the cemetery, giving it its early name of Campground. It seems certain that the name of Flax Creek came from the creek flowing nearby and the flax that was grown for making linen and "linsey-woolsey" fabric for clothing. Flax Creek flows into Persimmon Creek. Other names that have been used are Shoal Creek Cemetery and Suit Cemetery.

The cemetery land originally belonged to Lawson Jones and tradition has that it was begun as a burial place for blacks, probably slaves. There are no surviving markers for these people, though they likely account for some of the unmarked stones. The earliest marked stone is for Polly Clonts who died in 1864, and in 1871 the infant son of Dr. J. A. Cooper was buried here; both were from white families. In 1873 Lawson Jones deeded five acres to the Mount Zion Methodist Episcopal Church "in consideration of the love and affection he has for the church." The indenture was made to trustees J. C. Ellis, Richard Wallis and Lawson Jones in trust for the Methodist Episcopal Church. The trust stated in part that "the premises shall be used, kept, maintained and disposed as a place of Divine Worship for the use of the ministry and membership of the Methodist Episcopal Church."

The original church building stood atop the small hill directly across Sunny Point Road from the cemetery. In addition to serving as a Methodist church it was a gathering place for the community and was the site of singing schools, one of which is pictured on the cover. At a later time in its history, the building served as a Baptist church, known as Flax Creek Baptist Church.

In 1958 the successor trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church released a quitclaim deed to Ervin and Bobby Jones for the Flax Creek property. Then in 1962 Ervin Jones and wife Barbara Jones and Bobby Jones made a deed for the property to Ervin Jones, F. B. Johnson, and Charles Forrister as Trustees for Flax Creek Cemetery. During those years the church building was destroyed. Eventually the present dwelling replaced it.

The second Sunday in June each year is observed as Decoration Day for Flax Creek Cemetery.

Row 1
HARRIS
Headstone:			 Harris  
		Troy				Rosa Lee
		Feb. 17, 1930		Jan. 24, 1932
						July 20, 1972
						She was the sunshine of our home.
Footstone:					Mother

HARRIS
Headstone:	Scott Harris
		Born - Died 	Nov. 4, 1966
		Gone to live with Jesus.

HARRIS
Headstone:			Harris
		George W.			Idar
		May 3, 1889			Apr. 24, 1890
		Mar. 15, 1965		Apr. 16, 1966
			Safe in the arms of Jesus
Back of headstone:		Harris
Footstones:	Father				Mother

CHASTAIN
Headstone:			Chastain
		Lon				Rosezell H.
		Apr. 30, 1912			July 9, 1920
		Mar. 10, 1992			Sept. 6, 1996
			Precious Lord take my hand
Back of headstone:	Chastain Two grand people of great dignity, strength and 					courage. An inspiration to all.
Footstones:	Daddy				Mother

Row 2
WALLACE
Headstone:	M. H. Wallace
		Apr. 19, 1866 	Jul. 9, 1933

WALLACE
Headstone:	Sallie Harrison Wallace
		Feb. 11, 1867	May 31, 1958

WALLACE	
Headstone:			Wallace
		Bob				Ada
		Dec. 1, 1889			Oct. 10, 1889
		June 23, 1956			Apr. 3, 1974
		Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.
Footstones:	Father				Mother

Row 3
JONES
Headstone:	Emory Jones
		Died 1906
		Gone but not forgotten
Footstone:	Father

JONES
Headstone:			Jones
		R. L. Jones			Dillie Price Jones
		June 1, 1859		Nov. 14, 1874
		Apr. 24, 1940		Apr. 22, 1919
		Asleep in Jesus		Blessed are they who die in the Lord.

JONES
Headstone:	Nora Mae Jones
		May 1, 1903	June 1, 1922
		Dying is but going home.

JONES
Headstone:	Dora Bell Jones
		July 17, 1905	Aug. 4, 1943
		Gone to a bright home, here grief cannot come.

JONES
Headstone:			Jones
		Dewey Gay			Laura May P.
		Feb. 14, 1899		Aug. 2, 1905
		Nov. 13, 1986		July 25, 1990
		John 14:2-3 In my father’s house are many mansions. If it were 
		not so I would have told you so.
Footstones:	Father				Mother
Metal markers:	Dewey Jones			Laura Mae Jones
		10-14-99 11-13-86		1905-1990

Row 4
JONES
Headstone:	W. C. Jones
		Aug. 21, 1864	Jan. 27, 1954
		At rest

MONTGOMERY
Headstone:	Brother
		Matney B. Montgomery
		Feb. 14, 1898	July 18, 1964
		Gone so soon 2 Timothy 2:19

MONTGOMERY
Headstone:	Robert A. Montgomery
(broken)	Born Dec. 3, 1860
		Died Dec. 14, 1916
		Farewell my wife and children all, From you a father God doth call.

MONTGOMERY
Headstone top:	M
Headstone:	In memory of
		S. M. Montgomery
		Oct. 28, 1856	May 15, 1941
		Farewell dear Children One and all, From you a Mother God doeth call.

FORRISTER
Headstone:	Iowa wife of C. C. Forrister
		Jan. 18, 1893	Aug. 9, 1928
		At rest.

MONTGOMERY
Headstone:			Montgomery
		Worley T.			Josie M.
		Dec. 21, 1889		Feb. 10, 1898
		June 22, 1963		June 19, 1957
		They were the sunshine of our home.

1 empty space beside Worley outlined with concrete border

MONTGOMERY
Headstone:	Mary Helen Montgomery
		Nov. 29, 1936

MONTGOMERY
Headstone top:	Father
Headstone:	James B. Montgomery
		Nov. 4, 1926	Aug. 10, 1949
		He was the sunshine of our home.
Footstone:	James B. Montgomery
		North Carolina
		PVT. AGF REPL DEPOT 1
		World War II
		Nov. 4, 1926 -- Aug. 10, 1949

Row 5
HARRIS
Headstone:			Harris
		M. W. Harris			Nancy E. Harris
		May 26, 1840			March 24, 1842
		Dec. 5, 1927
		Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord
Footstone:	M.W.H.

5 unmarked stones

DEAVER
Headstone:	Reubin J. Deaver
(facing 		Son of E.M. and M.E. Deaver
opposite)	Born Feb. 8, 1891
		Died June 27, 1892

Row 6
KIMSEY
Headstone:	Twin sons of Mr. - Mrs. W. C. Kimsey
		Dec. 7, 1949
Footstones:	(twin stones, no inscription)

9 unmarked stones

JOHNSON
Headstone top:	Mother
Headstone:	Jane Passmore Johnson
		1860 - 1899
		Rest in peace.

Row 7
11 unmarked stones

TILSON
Headstone top:	Mother
Headstone:	Malissa Tilson

YOUNG
Headstone:	Spurgeon
		Son of W. W. and G. Young
		Born Apr. 16, 1895
		Died Oct. 12, 1898

2 unmarked stones

JOHNSON
Headstone:	J. M. Johnson
		Born Sept. 3, 1896
		Died Oct. 14, 1897
		Sleep on sweet babe And take thy rest. God called thee home He thought it best.

Row 8
RICE
Headstone:	Carmon Lee Rice
		North Carolina
		PFC US Army	World War II
		Dec. 27, 1913 Nov. 27, 1962

1 unmarked stone [W.W. Rice.]

RICE
Headstone:	Ada Rice
		Wife of W.W. Rice
		Born Nov. 1, 1884
		Died Sept. 1, 1924
		Gone but not forgotten

6 unmarked stones

PATE
Headstone: 	Sacred to the memory of 
		Martha A. Pate
		Born Oct. 10, 1822
		Died July 3, 1877
Footstone:	M.A.P.

4 unmarked stones

WALLACE
Headstone:	In loving memory of
		Richard Wallace
		July 14, 1814	Oct. 9, 1900
		Dear husband’s now gone To that mansion above
		While I am still left This desert to rove.
		His place is now vacant But I know it is best
		That he has now entered That haven of rest.

		When I too shall anchor In that peaceful shore
		I know I shall meet him To part never more.
		Oh, may I be faithful And watch unto prayer
		That when I am summoned I’ll meet him up there.

2 unmarked stones

Row 9
5 unmarked stones

JONES
Headstone:	Martha J. W. Jones
		Born Aug. 20, 1820
		Died Apr. 30, 1903
Footstone:	M.J.

JONES
Headstone:	Lawson Jones
		Born Dec. 4, 1818
		Died June 8, 1882
Footstone:	L.J.

5 unmarked stones

CLONTS
Headstone:	Polly Clonts
		Born Sept. 16, 1804
		Died May 30, 1864

CLONTS
Headstone:	John Clonts, Sr.
		Born June 21, 1800
		Died Feb. 13, 1879

1 unmarked stone

CLONTS
Headstone:		Jno. Clonts, Jr.
(Union emblem)	Co. F. 2nd Tenn. Cav.

Row 10
1 unmarked stone

BANDY
Headstone:	Harold Bandy
		Apr. 5, 1931	Apr. 7, 1931
		Gone to be an angel

BANDY
Headstone:	Alene Bandy
		Apr. 9, 1927	Sept. 13, 1929
		Gone to be an angel

4 unmarked stones

COOPER
Headstone:	John C.
		Son of Dr. J.A. & L. Cooper
		Born Aug. 9, 1870
		Died Sept. 24, 1871
Footstone:	JCC

COOPER
Headstone top:	In memory of our dear mother
Headstone:	Violet Cooper
		Born June 7, 1813
		Died May 24, 1871
		Honored, beloved and wept, Here Mother lies

3 unmarked stones

COLE
Headstone:	Anna R.
		Daughter of C.E. & R.C. Cole
		Born June 24, 1889
		Died Feb. 17, 1890
		Gone but not forgotten

COLE
Headstone:	Dora B.
		Daughter of C.E. & R.C. Cole
		Born Feb. 17, 1899
		Died Mar. 16, 1899
		At rest

COLE
Headstone:	Florence
		Daughter of C.E. & R.C. Cole
		Born Feb. 27, 1902
		Died Mar. 27, 1902
		Asleep in Jesus

COLE
Headstone:	A. L.
		Son of C.E. & R.C. Cole
		Born Nov. 29, 1888
		Died Feb. 20, 1909
		He followed virtue as his truest guide. Lived as a Christian, as a Christian 		died.

Row 11
HARRIS
Metal marker:	Kissie N. Harris
			1860 - 1956
			Finch

HARRIS
Headstone:	Clifford Harris
		Jan. 24, 1945	Jan. 3, 1946
Footstone:	Son

1 unmarked stone

HARRIS
Headstone:			Harris
		Ranzy				Frances
		June 16, 1854		Apr. 3, 1852
		Dec. 9, 1928		Dec. 16, 1921
			Gone but not forgotten.

2 unmarked stones

HARRIS
Headstone:		Burgie
			Dau of M.W. & N.E. Harris
			Born Mar. 21, 1882
			Died May 20, 1901
			Dear Bergie’s now gone to the mansions above
			While we are still left this desert to rove.
			She’s done with all suffering, from pain she’s set free
			With Christ and His angels how happy she’ll be.	

HARRIS
Headstone (broken):	___M___
Headstone (broken):	L.T. & S. Har_____
			Born Jan. 28, 1_____
	 (2nd piece): ___.N.H.

3 unmarked stones

Row 12
14 unmarked stones

LEDFORD
Headstone:	Eli Ledford
		Born Mar. 19, 1820	
		Died Aug. 8, 1900
		A husband and father dear (broken)

1 unmarked stone

Row 13
6 unmarked stones

HARRIS
Headstone:	Children of D. M. and A. N. Harris
		Beary Harris			Sarah Harris
		Born May 10, 1907			Born June 1, 1880
		Died Oct. 15, 1909		Died June 6, 1882
		Christ loved them and took them home.

HARRIS
Headstone:	D. M. Harris
		Oct. 15, 1857	May 12, 1948 
		 At rest

HARRIS
Headstone:	Flury Ann
		Wife of D. M. Harris
		May 16, 1863	Jan. 6, 1940
		At rest

4 unmarked stones

CRAWFORD
Headstone:	(metal funeral home marker, broken glass, faded paper)
		Rufus C. [Crawford]
		Date of birth Nov. 17, 1923
		Date of death [June 13, 1979]

MARTIN
Headstone:			Martin
		Arlene L.			Buel A.
		June 25, 1930		Dec. 25, 1942
						May 25, 1989
		At rest			Gone but not forgotten
Footstones:	Wife				Husband

Row 14
2 unmarked stones

HARRIS
Headstone:	Louis M. Harris
		Born June 24, 1844
		Died Apr. 10, 1913
		God’s finger touched him and he slept. He is not forgotten

HARRIS
Headstone:	Margret Harris
		Mar. 8, 1849	Feb. 17, 1915
		She professed faith in Christ in early life and died as she had lived.
		Gone but not forgotten.

1 unmarked stone

HARRIS
Headstone:	Father				Mother
		James Henry				Lydia Margeret Wiles
		Mar. 7, 1818			Apr. 10, 1822
		Mar. 17, 1888			Sept. 25, 1882
Back of Headstone:		Harris

1 unmarked stone

WALLACE
Headstone:	Morgan E. Wallace
		Born Sept. 13, 1837
		Died Jan. 30, 1909
		We hope to join you on that shore

BEAVERS
Headstone:	Father
		Alfred Beavers
		July 22, 1874	Sept. 1, 1941
		A precious one from us is gone, a voice we love so well,
		A vacant place in our home that never can be filled.
		At rest with Jesus.

4 unmarked stones

Row 15
BUCHANAN
Headstone: 	Georgia Lue Buchanan
		1912-1937
		At rest

MCMILLEN
Headstone:	Joe McMillen
		1908-1934
		At rest.

1 unmarked stone.

PRICE
Headstone:	Annie Price
		The mother of H. J. McDonald
		She is not dead but sleepth.

HARRIS
Headstone:			Harris	
		Noah Monroe			Margaret Painter
		July 31, 1904		June 23, 1908
		Mar. 18, 1940		Apr. 11, 1987
			The Lord is my Shepherd.
Headstone back:		Harris

Row 16
3 unmarked stones

HORTON
Stone:		H
		(Bloomfield Horton, born Jan. 1843, died unknown)

HORTON
Stone:		H
		(Rachel Payne Horton, born ca 1822, died unknown)

HORTON
Stone:		Horton
		(Anthony Horton, born ca 1806, died 1875.)

JENKINS
Headstone:	Emily Jenkins
		Nov. 4, 1850	Aug. 26, 1910

JENKINS
Headstone:	James Jenkins
		Jan. 12, 1849	Age 35 years old

JENKINS
Headstone:	A. M. Jenkins
		Mar. 4, 1887	Mar. 23, 1913

HARRIS
Headstone:		Harris
		Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done
		Otis Monroe
		March 19, 1925	July 4, 1960
Footstone:	OMH

BANDY	
Headstone:			Bandy
		Lura				Fred
		May 19, 1896		Oct. 22, 1888
		Feb. 2, 1938		Apr. 27, 1972
Headstone back:		Bandy
Footstones:	Mother			Father B

Row 17
HARRIS
Headstone:	Coolidge Harris
		Mar. 21, 1926	Oct. 10, 1978

2 unmarked stones

HARRIS
Headstone:	Thomas M.			Ollie B.
		Sept. 5, 1884		Oct. 11, 1895
		Aug. 29, 1959		Nov. 11, 1972
				At rest
Back of headstone:		Harris
Footstone:	Father
Metal marker:				Mrs. Ollie Harris
						1895 - 1972
						Townsend Funeral Home

JENKINS
Headstone:	Pafford
		Feb. 23, 1919	May 12, 1924

JENKINS
Headstone:	Emily
		Mar. 4, 1912	Mar. 6, 1912

JENKINS
Headstone and
back of headstone:		 Jenkins
Footstones:	Father				Ella M. Jenkins
		Elbert E. Jenkins			Feb. 22, 1887
		Dec. 5, 1875			Sept. 12, 1983
		Dec. 21, 1965			Home at last
Metal marker:	Elbert Jenkins			Ella Mae Jenkins 1887-1983
		1875-1965			Townsend Rose Funeral Home

6 unmarked stones

Row 18
HARRIS
Headstone:	Ora Harris
		Oct. 24, 1915
		Jan. 26, 1922
		Gone to live with Jesus

HARRIS
Headstone: 	Elmer Harris
		1919-1921
		Gone to be an angel

HARRIS
Headstone:			Harris
		Parley			Sam
		1875 - 1925		1894 - 1979
			Gone but not forgotten
Back of headstone:	Harris
			Children
		Lewis Hazel Elmer
		Claude		 Clyde
Footstone:	Moma

HARRIS
Headstone:	Clyde Harris
		1923-1925
		Gone to be an angel

HARRIS
Headstone:	Every
		Dau. of D. L. and Dixie Wallace Harris
		Dec. 9, 1913	Jan. 10, 1914

HARRIS
Headstone:	Harris infant
		1934

LEFEVERS
Headstone:	Eddie Wilburn Lefevers
		Pvt US Army
		1888 1979
Footstone:	Father

LEFEVERS
Headstone:	Elsie Lefevers
		June 15, 1913	Feb. 19, 1980
Footstone:	Mother

Row 19
JENKINS
Headstone:	[Mason symbol]
		A. L. Jenkins
		Aug. 12, 1884	Aug. 16, 1943
		Here I lay my burden down, Change the cross into the crown.
Top of headstone:	Our Brother

JENKINS
Headstone:	Paul Jenkins
		Aug. 1, 1930	Sept. 20, 1932
		At rest

JENKINS
Headstone:	Jewerline Jenkins
		Aug. 1, 1932	Oct. 3, 1932

JENKINS
Headstone:	Winfred S. Jenkins
		Aug. 17, 1919	Oct. 17, 1953
		May he rest in peace.

JENKINS
Headstone:			Jenkins
		Hettie			Winslow
		Apr. 19, 1897		Aug. 25, 1889
		Apr. 18, 1964		Mar. 7, 1981
			Beyond the sunset
Headstone back:	Jenkins
Footstones:	Mother			Father

JENKINS
Headstone:	Elmer Jenkins
		SP3 US Army
		Korea
		May 20, 1928 Jun. 10, 1981
Footstone:	Brother

J [ENKINS]
(three stones with J, reserving spaces for Winslow Jenkins family, according to Ruth Jenkins)

ROGERS
Headstone:			Rogers	
				Eva Mae
				Oct. 13, 1913	Oct. 2, 1988
				Precious Lord take my hand.
Footstones:	[blank]			Mother

Row 20
JOHNSON
Headstone:			Johnson
		Zeno M.			Nora E.
		Apr. 7, 1896		Dec. 7, 1892
		Aug. 8, 1962		July 14, 1976
Footstone:	Zeno M. Johnson
		North Carolina
		Pvt Co. B Prov Dev Regt
		World War I
		April 7, 1896 Aug. 8, 1962
Headstone back:			Johnson
Footstone:	WSJ

ZUKOSKIE
Headstone:			Zukoskie
		Aloysius			Elsie McAllister
		Apr. 1, 1907		Apr. 12, 1912
		Feb. 1, 1993		Nov. 24, 1993
Headstone back:			Zukoskie

NEWMAN
Footstone:			Newman
		James Edgar				Luella
		Oct. 24, 1908			Oct. 17, 1909
		Nov. 4, 1987
			Beyond the sunset
		Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Footstone:	James Edgar Newman		Mother
		TEC 5 US Army
		World War II
		Oct. 24, 1908 Nov. 4, 1987
Steel marker:	James Edgar Newman
		1908 - 1987
		Townsend Rose Funeral Home

Cherokee County Register of Deeds
Western NC Genealogy Resource Center for Cherokee County, page by Diane Miller
The Heritage of Cherokee County, Vol. II., article by Jean V. Horton
Charles Forrister
Beulah Montgomery McAfee
Luella Jenkins Newman
Katherine Payne Burrell

Joyce Durand
562 Oakdale Road
Atlanta, GA 30307
Phone: 404-584-6622
Email: joyced@mindspring.com

In the cemetery survey for Flax Creek an unmarked grave is suspected to
have the remains of  Patrick H. PATE.  My aunt, Flora OLDHAM, had provided
this information.  However, she is mistaken.  Patrick H. PATE (1860-1901)
is buried in Liberty Cemetery, Viola, Fulton County, AR along with his wife
Cordelia KEITH PATE (1860-1943).

If you will check the Cherokee County Marriages, you will find that Patrick
and Cordelia were married in 1879.  They were married by Katherine PAYNE
BURRELL's great grandfather and Patrick's brother-in law, William G. PAYNE.
 In the 1880 census Patrick had changed his name to Robert Lee PATE.  There
are 2 delayed birth certificates with Robert PATE and Cordelia "Louarta"
KEITH as the parents.

Living grandchildren of Robert and Cordelia were surprised to see the name
Patrick on the tombstone, but no one would tell why he had changed his
name.

Jesse PATE, father of Patrick and 2 sons name Elijah as well as others,
according to records on file in the NC archives went to Bean Station, TN to
collect the remains of his son Elijah C. PATE in October 1862.  It is more
likely to be Elijah and Clingman buried between their mother and
grandparents CRAWLEY.  The second Elijah was born in 1865 and named for his
deceased brother.

Would you please put a note with the Flax Creek Cemetery showing that the
information regarding Patrick is disputed.

Thanks for your consideration,

Janice C. PATE

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