--photo by Leroy Blair, 2001

Nelson Cemetery

(Old Nigger Hill Cemetery)

Georgetown, Arkansas

The first settlement in White County dates from 1789 with the Spanish Grant #2416 to Francis Francure at Georgetown, early known as Nigger Hill, containing 1,361 arpens at the mouth of the Little Red River. This was the second settlement in the state following Arkansas Post. Cloie and Leister E. Presley of the White County Historical Society prepared a listing of the cemetery in 1967. Fifteen years later, Sam and Pauline Cleaver and Pearl Johnson of Georgetown updated the information, then the Cleavers updated again in June 1999 in cooperation with the White County Historical Society. Nelson Cemetery is located a mile and a half west of Georgetown on Highway 36.

"Nelson Cemetery (the land) was given to the people by the Nelsons," Pauline Cleaver said in 1999. "The Georgetown Cemetery was used when the town was cut off by floods between Nelson Cemetery and Georgetown. I do believe the Georgetown Cemetery is the oldest because of the Gosnell dates… Pearl Johnson for years was a midwife and the only ‘doctor’ as they called it for the town most of the time, so she knew people and a lot of history. Our cemeteries are beautiful! Kept up. Come and see them."

Leroy and Ellen Blair of the White County Historical Society visited Nelson Cemetery March 2, 2001. They found 11 tombstones that were not on the last list. They also made a few minor adjustments in the list. "Due to the depressions and mounds and how the graves are scattered, I would guess that are hundreds of unmarked graves in this cemetery," Leroy Blair reported. "The dates on markers do not reflect Georgetown’s age, nor do the ones in Georgetown Cemetery."

(See Oldest Existing Community in Arkansas for more information.)

Where known, maiden names are listed in parenthesis.

If you have corrections or additions to this list or other information on this cemetery, contact the White County Historical Society, P.O. Box 537, Searcy, AR 72145

Name Birth Death Comments
Abbet, Grandpa no dates concrete
Acree, J. Arthur September 8, 1881 June 14, 1947
Acree, James R. April 19, 1921 January 9, 1963 Indiana S1 U.S. Navy WWII
Acree, Johnny no dates concrete
Acree, Orpha Neoma (Clements) July 5, 1930 August 16, 1991
Acree, Steve D. April 1, 1905 June 10, 1905 70 years old funeral home marker
Acree, Willie Lee concrete broken no dates wife of S.D. Acree
Adamson, Rosalee August 6, 1916 August 26, 1931 concrete
Adamson, William February 16, 1878 December 29, 1918 Woodman
Akers, B. Dora January 22, 1877 November 2, 1907
Akers, Bessie (Thomas) November 19, 1909 November 9, 1998 on double stone with Lee Akers
Akers, Birtha October 30, 1903 November 9, 1903
Akers, George W. October 10, 1872 January 19, 1941
Akers, Infant son of Lee & Bessie Akers September 22, 1934
Akers, Jean Marie February 16, 1934 February 1, 1997
Akers, Lee September 27, 1898 February 10, 1986 on double stone with Bessie Akers
Akers, Mary (Little) February 1, 1893 July 11, 1970
Baker, James D. December 7, 1906 July 23, 1970
Barnes, Carthel September 25, 1925 April 8, 1978
Barnes, Lena (Heathscott) July 4, 1902 July 8, 1929
Barnes, W.C. February 16, 1879 August 11, 1914 Woodman
Beauchamp, Jahiles S. February 5, 1875 January 12, 1915 Woodman
Bell, George G. May 13, 1886 December 17, 1961 Father
Bell, Hazane Elizabeth January 4, 1898 May 20, 1965 Mother
Bell, Johnnie Odean October 12, 1934 July 19, 1935
Bell, Mrs. Brinnie November 25, 1897 September 14, 1941
Bell, Ois Edmon no dates concrete
Bell, Ruth no dates concrete
Berryman, Effie E. (Daughter) November 21, 1894 September 30, 1930 on double stone with "Father" James C. Shinaberry
Betts, Allen R. April 15, 1839 February 22, 1917 Co. A. 34 Regt. Ala. Inf. CSA
Bradley, Alex November 6, 1879 March 22, 1905 Alex, Betty, Elizzie and Martha Bradley are all on the same stone; originally, concrete markers
Bradley, Betty January 29, 1905 March 3, 1905
Bradley, Bonnie Ruth January 8, 1940 June 15, 2001
Bradley, Elizabeth "Elizzie" (Clifton) April 18, 1878 March 25, 1905
Bradley, George Newton April 11, 1905 April 11, 1905 original list said "1927 60 days old"
Bradley, Infant daughter of Pete & Zelma Bradley November 5, 1922
Bradley, Martha (England) January 15, 1905 March 17, 1887
Bradley, Mildred November 5, 1922 daughter of Pete and Zelma Bradley
Bradley, Rachel Lance November 6, 1907 June 1, 1996
Bradley, Zelma March 29, 1899 September 23, 1988
Bridger, John December 11, 1852 November 8, 1933
Byerley, Frances April 6, 1905 April 7, 1905 concrete
Chambers, Alice G. July 31, 1921 blank on double stone with William C. Chambers
Chambers, Alvin Boyd December 2, 1906 October 11, 1985
Chambers, Baby no date concrete child of Rosie Chambers
Chambers, Jessie Lucille May 26, 1914 June 3, 1992
Chambers, Rosie November 28, 1888 August 14, 1928
Chambers, William C. October 4, 1917 February 24, 1999 on double stone with Alice G. Chambers
Chambers, William C. January 13, 1878 December 25, 1931
Cheek, Neoma no dates concrete
Clay, G.W. March 10, 1846 December 19, 1903
Clay, Hannah H. December 17, 1856 January 16, 1916
Cleaver, Arthur September 9, 1884 February 1, 1972 on double stone with Julia (Beard) Cleaver
Cleaver, Grover C. November 8, 1925 October 5, 1926
Cleaver, James about 1931 only date son of Arthur and Julia Cleaver
Cleaver, Julia (Beard) November 11, 1899 May 10, 1971 on double stone with Arthur Cleaver
Cleaver, Leland about 1918 only date son of Arthur and Julia Cleaver
Cleaver, Theodore R. March 24, 1931 November 25, 1931
Clemmer, Burton M. no dates concrete
Clemmer, Delilah B. no dates concrete
Cooper, Earl Ray February 9, 1937 April 7, 1997 Sgt. U.S. Army, Korea
Cross, Alta March 24, 1905 April 13, 1905 concrete Leroy Blair could not find the dates on the concrete in 2001 survey
Denise, Rhonda September 27, 1979 one day old
Farris, Marvin October 8, 1899 October 27, 1914 son of I.S. & C. Farris stone is lying on ground
Ferran, Elizabeth "Lissie" (Clay) September 5, 1882 January 13, 1955 funeral marker lying on ground
Gentry, Anna (Heathscott) October 19, 1900 February 18, 1928
Gillespie, Tom January 9, 1878 February 22, 1930 concrete surveyor unable to find dates on concrete in 2001 survey
Good, George W. February 22, 1914 March 21, 1982
Goods, Maggie September 2, 1878 September 11, 1948
Green, Edith M. June 29, 1925 November 19, 1999
Green, George no dates concrete
Green, Paul March 26, 1919 March 11, 1985
Griffin, Samuel August 10, 1888 January 25, 1910 son of S.J. & M.F. Griffin stone is lying on ground
Halliburton, Jim February 9, 1905 August 28, 1918 on cement block
Harding one name only no dates concrete
Harris, William V. January 4, 1875 January 2, 1915 Woodman
Heathscott, baby no dates child of John and Wilma Heathscott
Heathscott, Hubert March 19, 1912 January 28, 2000 funeral home marker
Heathscott, John March 27, 1905 June 7, 1905 S1 US Navy WWII on double stone with Wilma B. Heathscott
Heathscott, John Parker November 8, 1934 blank on double stone with Mary Kathryn (Kay) Heathscott
Heathscott, Mary Kathryn "Kay" October 9, 1930 blank on double stone with John Parker Heathscott
Heathscott, Pearl April 14, 1883 March 25, 1931 on double stone with W.W. Heathscott Pearl also has a single stone about 25 feet from the double stone
Heathscott, Walter W. August 26, 1877 January 29, 1968 double stone
Heathscott, Wilma B. (Self) June 21, 1905 November 10, 1991 on double stone with John Heathscott
Height, Jesse March 25, 1905 April 23, 1905 concrete marker
Height, Stella Jossie October 25, 1911 May 28, 1940 funeral home marker
Hill, Rufus B. March 3, 1935 only date Ark. Pvt. 50 Inf. 20 Div.
Hunter, Edward December 8, 1867 June 3, 1932 concrete
Jenkins, George E. September 10, 1899 November 29, 1899 son of I.W. & B.E. Jenkins
Jenkins, I.N. November 12, 1850 October 12, 1924
Johnson, Aaron Francis January 31, 1905 July 4, 1910 husband of Elizabeth
Johnson, Alan December 7, 1920 December 9, 1920
Johnson, Baby April 9, 1905 concrete
Johnson, Elizabeth (Pruitt) February 5, 1905 March 29, 1905
Kidd, William Ray "W.R." May 27, 1935 about two years old
Lance, Algie Lee August 24, 1924 December 1, 1987 U.S. Navy WWII
Lance, Earl Leon September 29, 1933 July 6, 1934
Lance, Thomas Edward December 8, 1900 May 20, 1985
Lance, Tom Jr. January 28, 1927 October 22, 1939
Lane, George December 11, 1881 March 7, 1966
Long, Cleaveland January 7, 1887 January 1, 1945 Mason
Long, Nellie Fern August 17, 1898 June 22, 1981
Lucas, Baby no dates concrete
Lucas, Doris no dates infant daughter of Jossie Lucas
Lucas, Mary December 29, 1905 May 19, 1936
Lucas, Silvie Jean July 11, 1937 December 11, 1937 concrete
Manion, J.B. April 3, 1849 May 1, 1917
Manion, Mary A. August 3, 1849 May 1, 1919 wife of J.B. Manion
Nimmo, infant no dates child of Frank and Mable Nimmo
Noble, Billy W. August 23, 1930 January 8, 1993 U.S. Army, Korea
Noble, Shelia Marie May 27, 1961 5 months funeral marker
Pankey, Cora Lee March 31, 1931 only date
Pankey, Louise no dates concrete
Pankey, Orville L. August 10, 1909 April 29, 1997
Pankey, Suddie Mae January 9, 1909 November 13, 1986
Phillips, Hershel September 19, 1933 April 5, 1994
Pipkin, Marion J. August 31, 1918 October 28, 1944
Roberson, Erba June 24, 1937 December 26, 1937
Roberson, Eunice September 2, 1913 October 16, 1917
Roberson, Nancy Ruth May 20, 1904 October 15, 1915
Roberson, Wesley March 6, 1874 July 27, 1940
Roberson, Willie August 8, 1923 June 4, 1965
Sebourn, Hazel (Cleaver) January 25, 1935 July 9, 1974
Self, William S. February 16, 1905 April 18, 1905
Shelton, Carolyn Auneene October 20, 1939 October 20, 1939
Shinaberry, Delilah J. August 25, 1873 May 20, 1949 on double stone with James C. Shinaberry
Shinaberry, James C. December 25, 1866 July 13, 1937 (Father) double stone with Delilah J.
Sims, Wanda (Bradley) February 17, 1926 May 19, 1998 on double stone with William Sims
Sims, William January 31, 1919 December 19, 1991 on double stone with Wanda Sims
Smith, Pearlie (Heathscott) February 25, 1910 April 7, 1969
Snelling, Laura Ann Davis August 20, 1881 August 19, 1918
Starkey, Arizona no dates child of W.L. and Emma Starkey
Starkey, baby no dates
Starks, Hannah L. September 11, 1880 September 7, 1929
Starks, Oscar December 5, 1883 November 12, 1965
Surratt, Georgdon April 12, 1913 May 7, 1913
Surratt, Infant July 31, 1931 daughter of Mr. & Mrs. H.F. Surratt
Surratt, Lawrence May 18, 1899 March 20, 1962
Surratt, Leona April 18, 1864 August 29, 1942
Surratt, May January 21, 1909 October 3, 1914
Surratt, May September 5, 1892 July 12, 1926
Surratt, William Jeff November 9, 1861 June 25, 1931 Woodman
Surratt. Tossaco April 14, 1883 July 4, 1940
Surrett, T.S. April 14, 1883 July 4, 1940
Swan, Lynda Kay September 23, 1943 October 28, 2014
Taylor, Willard July 17, 1882 November 23, 1918 Woodman
Varble, Betty Jean February 17, 1932 stillborn
Vincen, Jess no dates concrete
Wade, Audie January 19, 1927 May 12, 1994 U.S. Army WWII
Walter, George Muldrow October 1878 November 13, 1939 husband of Katie M. then Cora Miesen son of George Cathey Walter and Susie E. Walter
Walter, Susan Eveline (Bishop) July c1840 c1909 wife of George Cathey Walter of Ivey, MS daughter of Permelia Day and Alfred Bishop of Lawrence County, TN
Warnell, Ruby Lee (Baker) March 6, 1931 June 24, 1972
White, Alfred Howard September 10, 1929 February 24, 2003 husband of Ercie Green White
White, Charles H. September 28, 1889 October 12, 1913 Woodman
White, Ercie E. February 17, 1930 August 23, 1998
Williams, Burt February 20, 1905 August, 1938
Wilson, Mary E. November 6, 1896 January 12, 1915
Wright, George T. January 5, 1880 March 8, 1900 son of J.B. & Rilda Wright
Wright, Murilda (Dunn) January 6, 1858 August 3, 1927 wife of J.B. Wright
SIXTY ONE GRAVES MARKED WITH ROCKS - NO INFORMATION