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Dorchester County, South Carolina Cemeteries

Location: On S-18-28, known as the "BEND ROAD" stands Bethel Methodist Church and Cemetery. A survey by Saml. A. Ruddock, 1820, Improved for MILLS' ATLAS, 1825, Colleton District, SC appears "CHURCH" which is in the same location, as proven below.

History: We have not been able to ascertain when Bethel was first organized. A marker first placed in front of the Church in the early 1900's recorded the establishment of the Church as Feb. 8, 1827, but this is inaccurate, in as much as there was a plat drawn up by one John Strobble, surveyor, dated Feb. 23, 1827 in which John and Lavinia Brownlee gave six acres of land "on the brow of the hill" for Bethel Church, and reference was made of an existing Church. But how many years before 1827 there was a church we do not know, but we feel safe in saying Bethel is over 150 years old. The David Bell and the Brownlee families were active promoters of the first Church. It was a one room log building with a clay chimney which served as a public school as well as a church. This and subsequent information is supplied by the oldest living member, Mrs. S. W. Mims, Sr. In the late 1890's this first structure was replaced with another in the same vicinity.

After completion, the first addition to the membership was the Hilton Family. The present Church building which is the third was begun in the fall of 1913, and completed in the spring of 1914 by Joe M. Bishop, an excellent carpenter, who also built the pews and pulpit furniture. Trees were cut from the property and Cyrus Mims sawed the lumber. Mr. Mims' wife, Ida F. Mims, furnished the grooved lumber for the ceiling and the metal shingles. Dedication services were conducted in 1916. In later years Sidney W. Mins gave several more acres of land adjoining the church and planted pine seedlings for the benefit of the church. In 1956 a cement block building was erected adjacent to the Church for Sunday School Class rooms, and social events.

In 1949, Bethel's interior was completely renovated, and in 1975 central air and heat was installed. We believe that many hand hewn cypress markers stood at the heads of graves in the cemetery adjoining the first log Church, probably of the donors and other early family members, which over the years have disappeared; nevertheless, the oldest remaining monument is that of "Elizabeth J. Brownlee, born April 21, 1813, died June 4, 1850, aged 37 years 1 mo. 13 days. She joined the Methodist E. Church in her early days." Two Infant Graves are beside her, which may have been earlier, but there are no names or dates.
Rev. Thornton B. Smith, Sassafras Hill, Dorchester, SC, 30 May 1979.

Copyists: Evelyn M. Hughes, Dot Pendarvis, "Dol" Hughes, Sybil H. Pate, Louise Bishop, Pattie Heaton, Lillian H. Harley.

Date: February 13, 1979

Annie E. Bell  - Wife of G. W. Bell Jan. 17, 1845 Sept. 30, 1905 Bobbie Loraine Bell Dau of LaVonne Priddy & Holcombe M. Bell III Nov. 14, 1963 June 24, 1970 (Verse by Rev. T. D. Liles) Carrie Collier Wimberley Bell June 4, 1887 July 11, 1953  - Supreme Forest Woodman Circle Claudia Campbell Bell Oct. 10, 1883 Oct. 26, 1962  - Wife of Holcomb Marion Bell G. W. Bell Apr. 3, 1832 Jan. 14, 1903 George W. Bell Oct. 3, 1873 Sept. 1949 Holcomb Marion Bell Mar. 9, 1888 Nov. 7, 1937 Jonathanu Bell Aug. 1, 1866 Jan. __ 1908 W O W John Vincent  -  Son of R. N. & E. A. Bell Oct. 9, 1905 Sept. 17, 1908 INFANT of G. W. & Lillie Bell (no dates) Kate W. Bell Feb. 11, 1917 ___________ Laura Jane Bell  - Dau of Holcombe Marion Bell & Mamie Mims Bell Mar. 27, 1956 Nov. 17, 1971 Laura Verlelia  - Dau of R. N. & V. A. L. Bell Mar. 16, 1881 July 31, 1970 Roy McCrady Clark Feb. 15, 1916 Oct. 13, 1924 Anna Rebecca Bunch Colvin April 8, 1947 July 8, 1974 Clarissa Murray Crawford Oct. 23, 1870 July 15, 1955 Joseph Crawford Mar. 18, 1868 Aug. 24, 1926 Joshua W. Crawford Jan. 18, 1873 Dec. 14, 1931 Harry A. Cummings Mar. 16, 1890 Sept. 19, 1907 Mary A. Gross  - Dau of G. W. & A. E. Bell Dec. 4, 1870 Apr. 26, 1896 Susan Hall  - Dau of Ruby M. Bell & Willard N. Garhihi June 9, 1945 Mrs. A. A. C. Hilton Oct. 29, 1832 May 22, 1899 Allen Mose Hilton Feb. 19, 1914 Feb. 19, 1914 Arel Hilton May 9, 1890 Jan. 27, 1954 Becky Hilton (no dates) Blanche Catherine Hilton Feb. 10, 1895 July 15, 1948 Boyet W. Hilton Feb. 18, 1901 Feb. 9, 1954 Emma J.  - Wife of L. A. Hilton July 22, 1855 Aug 22, 1876? (78-80) Adaline Egerina  - Wife of Cyrus Mims Sept. 14, 1866 Sept. 11, 1886 Joined the M. E. Church when 14 yrs. old. Adaline Valula  - Dau of Cyrus & A. E. Mims Jan. 16, 1884 July 23, 1889 Adline E. Mims July 1, 1830 Aug. 11, 1899  - Wife of Thos. H. Mims Cornelia B. Mims Oct. 4, 1896 __________  - Wife of Sidney W. Mims, Sr. Cyrus Mims Aug. 27, 1859 Oct. 3, 1923 Ida Brownlee Mims July 3, 1870 April 7, 1943 Katie        ?      Dec. 10, 1890 March 14, 1892 INFANT  -  1895 INFANT  -  1897 INFANT  -  1897 Lottie Elizabeth  - Dau of Cyrus & Egernia A. Mims April 11, 1886 Sept. 18, 1887 Sidney W. Mims, Sr. Sept. 3, 1893 May 15, 1967 *Lieut. Thomas H. Mims July 21, 1830 June 4, 1905 Thomas H. Mims  - Son of T. H. & A. E. Mims Sept. 7, 1864 Oct. 28, 1897 Tommy  -  Son of Thomas & Cora Mims Aug. 6, 1890 July 5, 1902 Julia A. Risher 1933  -  1935 Louise Gayle Risher  Wife of D. J. Risher March 18, 1925 ____________ Mary Louise Risher Sept. 5, 1944 Mar. 16, 1947? Mary Varner Risher Aug. 23, 1872 Mar. 29, 1962 Rebecca M. Risher May 10, 1902 ___________   (Wife of Van Buran Risher) Sarah H. Risher Dec. 17, 1920 ___________ (Wife of Jesse Risher) Van Buran Risher Jan. 6, 1898 June 23, 1966 Angie D. Rush Nov. 18, 1868 Feb. 24, 1946  - Dau of G. W. & Annie Bell John Myers Rush Oct. 16, 1863 Jan. 27, 1883 Joined the M. E. Church in 1877. INFANT SON of Rev. & Mrs. T. B. Smith Feb. 21, 1945 INFANT SON of Rev. & Mrs. T. B. Smith Oct. 25, 1946 Matilda Elaine Stroble Dau of Jack & Minnie R. Stroble (no dates)

Lillie Bowman Bell Oct. 17, 1875 Aug. 20, 1963  -  Wife of George W. Bell Marion Boyd Bell June 14, 1887 Oct. 23, 1933 Mattie Kizer Bell Mar. 9, 1882 Oct. 21, 1975  - Wife of William Lawton Bell Richard N. Bell Feb. 21, 1880 Jan. 12, 1917 R. N. Bell Dec.__ 1824 Dec. 2, 1906 Verlelia Ann Laura Wife of R. N. Bell Dec. 12, 1845 July 9, 1934 Ubie Bell Nov. 20, 1907 Oct. 20, 1972 William Lawton Bell May 7, 1882 May 3, 1958 Maryan M. Bowman Died July 28, 1924 Carrie Brownlee July 11, 1866 Mar. 22, 1945 Elizabeth J. Brownlee April 21, 1813 June 4, 1850 Aged 37 yrs. 1 mo. 13 days She joined the Methodist E. Church in her early days. (and) TWO INFANT GRAVES beside her. Hillard H. Brownlee  - Son of John & Elizabeth Brownlee June 25, 1842 Oct. 10, 1851 Emma Line Hilton Mar. 5, 1890 July 6, 1902 Dessilee Hilton July 28, 1902 Oct. 19, 1914 Georgia C. Hilton Oct. 19, 1863 Oct. 14, 1946 Gordon C.  - Son of L. A. & G. J. Hilton May 3, 1886 Feb. 27, 1890 Greeley W.  - Son of L. A. & C. J. Hilton Dec. 5, 1884 Aug. 5, 1898 INFANT Daughter of L. A. & E. J. Hilton Born & died 1878 INFANT Son of L. A. & E. J. Hilton Born & died Aug. 7, 1879 Laura Ann Catherine Mizell Hilton Jan. 10, 1856 June 13, 1931 Lavemia E. Mizzell Hilton Aug. 22, 1872 Mar. 20, 1962  - Wife of Stephen Frederick Hilton Chester Mitchell Aug. 22, 1922 Oct. 6, 1974 Daisy Maeola Mizell Jan. 7, 1919 July 11, 1932 J. Wesley Mizell June 7, 1870 Dec. 12, 1938 John Wesley Mizell Feb. 21, 1923 Apr. 13, 1923 INFANT SON of Ted C. & Alberta Mizell Mar. 13, 1941 Mar. 16, 1941 Lula T. Mizell June 22, 1880 April 12, 1953  - Wife of J. Wesley Mizell Matthew H. Mizell July 17, 1890 Nov. 20, 1964 Susan E. Mizell Dec. 26, 1874 Apr. 21, 1949 Ted C. Mizell 1916  -  1978 William Curtis Mizell Dec. 28, 1920 July 22, 1935 Elizabeth Murray Bell Morrer Dec. 28, 1883 Dec. 11, 1967 E. D. Murray Mar. 1, 1841 July 28, 1913 Louis A. Hilton Aug. 21, 1849 March 14, 1928 Mose Hilton (no dates) Moses J. Hilton Sept. 21, 1879 Died 1882 Richard Allen Hilton Aug. 1, 1850 June 6, 1926 Stephen Frederick Hilton Feb. 2, 1866 Dec. 21, 1928 Wesley I. Murray Oct. 15, 1882 Jan. 18, 1958 *Thomas A. Myers Feb. 16, 1836 April 6, 1916 A Confederate Soldier Terry Lyn Page April 5, 1969 April 6, 1969 Annie Varner Taylor June 8, 1888 Aug. 28, 1954  - Wife of Danner Taylor Augustus Taylor May 7, 1839 July 6, 1924 His toils are past, His work is done, He fought the fight, the Victory Won. Augustus N. Taylor Sept. 24, 1908 Mar. 12, 1942 Danner E. Taylor Feb. 17, 1885 Nov. 4, 1970 INFANT DAUGHTER of D. E. & Annie Taylor Born & died Feb. 22, 1915 Martha A. Taylor June 2, 1852 July 17, 1938 Thelma  - Dau of D. E. & Annie Taylor May 19, 1921 Sept. 29, 1924 Henning William Von Lehe Aug. 11, 1897 May 25, 1961 George S. Whetsell 1915  -  1917 Brother Henry O. Whetsell 1889  -  1934 Father Verginia Lee Whetsell Aug. 29, 1930 Oct. 13, 1931 Hayward White 1934  -  1934 Vernon White 1937  -  1938

John Brownlee Oct. 26, 1802 Oct. 31, 1874 Aged 72 yrs. & 5 days He joined the Methodist Church in early years. John Brownlee April 12, 1872 Nov. 25, 1943 J. A. Brownlee April 26, 1837 Mar. 10, 1922 Levinia Brownlee Apr. ___ 1867 Aug. 26, 1936   Levinah A. Brownlee Jan. 22, 1837 Sept. 22, 1900  - Wife of J. A. Brownlee Maxie G. Brownlee April 15, 1863 Dec. 16, 1932 Benjamin C. Bull 1893  -  1971 Matilda M. Bull 1906  -  1952 BABY GIRL BUNCH March 6, 1967 Bertie V. Bunch Jan. 11, 1899 __________ Charlie C. Bunch 1881  -  1933 Lovie R. Bunch 1900  -  1977 Wife of Charlie Bunch Sam L. Bunch Aug. 18, 1885 Sept. 29, 1960 Emily Mims Bell Campbell 1868  -  1957 Clark  -  Body removed Robert Ray Clark 1892  -  1965 W. H.  -  Son of L. A. & E. J. Hilton Aug. 26, 1878 Oct. 17, 1878 Jessie Clements Hilton Dec. 22, 1889 May 17, 1964 Ann F. Horlbeck Sept. 27, 1824 Sept. 25, 1906 Buelah Lee Huff  - Wife of H. B. Jackson Nov. 6, 1911 Feb. 11, 1961 Jimmie Huff 1909  -  1978 Sarah Huff Died Jan. 30, 1965 Aged 71 yrs. George W. Infinger April 15, 1909 Mar. 7, 1969 George W. Infinger, Jr. Aug. 15, 1929 June 30, 1930 *SP/4 Franklin W. Infinger 2nd Inf.   Div. C Co 122nd Sig. Bat. Korea 1969-1971 Nov. 14, 1949 Sept. 2, 1971 John L. Infinger Sept. 10, 1907 Jan. 3, 1969 Julia R. Infinger Feb. 7, 1909 April 28, 1978  - Wife of George W. Infinger Elizabeth Kraemer Feb. 4, 1926 __________  - Wife of Chester Mitchell Mary Martin April 2, 1870 Jan. 6, 1944 Tony W. Page April 14, 1968 April 15, 1968 Mrs. M. E. Phillips Oct. 29, 1837 Sept. 14, 1903 Barbara T. Pye  - Sister 1892  -  1909 Jan H. Pye  - Mother 1859  -  1917 Samuel M. Pye  - Father 1867  -  1919  Billie Huff Race Aug. 28, 1945 Dec. 3, 1963 James Riley Born in Ireland Died Aug. 26, 1909 Age about 65 yrs. (Compliments of H. M. Bell) Derrick Jacob Risher, Sr. Feb. 21, 1905 Jan. 25, 1968 INFANT SONS of Derrick J. Sr. &  Louise C. Risher Nov. 15, 1949 and June 6, 1946 INFANT SONS of Jessie & Elizabeth Risher (no dates) INFANT SON of Matilda & Derrick J. Risher Nov. 16, 1925 Nov. 16, 1925 INFANT DAUGHTER of Matilda & Derrick J. Risher Mar. 27, 1927 Mar. 28, 1927 Jesse Risher Oct. 2, 1916 Nov. 30, 1968 John Wesley Risher Oct. 20, 1871 Feb. 10, 1956 Ida S. Wiggins  - Dau of J. B. & M. C. Wiggins Aug. 17, 1866 July 8, 1868 Curtis P. Williams 1903  -  1930 Dallas Williams Oct. 9, 1911 __________ Ella V. Williams 1880  -  1978 Jessie S. Williams 1905  -  1939 Lewis C. Williams 1857  -  1927 Malisa Williams  - Wife of Dallas Williams Aug. 9, 1905 __________ V. Allen Williams Oct. 25, 1952 June 14, 1972 Florence  -  Wife of I. P. Wimberly Dau of G. W. & A. E. Bell Nov. 18, 1877 Apr. 7, 1913 A tender Mother and A faithful friend.