Old Hopewell Cemetery

White County’s Top 25 Forgotten Cemeteries

From the White County Historical Society

Here are the top 25 “forgotten” cemeteries in White County, listed in alphabetical order. Based on reports from Leroy Blair, the Historical Society volunteer who has visited every cemetery, these are in the worst shape. Some are so remote and neglected they are in danger of being lost.

Arnold Cemetery, Holly Springs, north of Sunnydale. There are some 100 graves here, dating back to 1872.Very poor condition.

Beeler Cemetery, near Plainview.  Also known as Cullum Cemetery.  One of the most historic endangered sites. At least 20 graves. Virtually inaccessible until County Judge Bob Parish recently cut a road into this remote location.

Belew Cemetery south of Rose Bud.  Also known as Pence Cemetery.  Some 75 graves here.   So overgrown, the headstones are in a forest of trees.

Boggs Family Cemetery, Clay.  Graves as early as 1884.  Badly overgrown and no longer in use.

Coffey Cemetery, east of Pangburn.   Doyle, Hilger, Howell, Pollard and other pioneer families are here.

Coffey Family Cemetery, near Coffey Cemetery.

Crow Cemetery, Kensett.  Also known as Whitney.  There were hundreds of burials, including slaves and slave owners, here from 1859 to 1935.  The largest cemetery on this endangered list. 

Dupriest Cemetery, south of Rose Bud.  Slaves, slave owners and possibly Civil War casualties are buried here.

Judsonia Colored Cemetery.   Poor condition, very overgrown.  27 marked graves, at least 50 unmarked.

Lessenberry Cemetery, Kensett.  Graves dating from 1871 to 1919.  Overgrown and vandalized.

McKnight Cemetery, Bradford.  Overgrown, some stones damaged.  Graves dating 1874 to 1936.

Norman Cemetery, west of Joy.  Also known as Oliver Cemetery.  Many unmarked graves.  Badly overgrown and long abandoned.

Old Holly Springs Cemetery, north of Holly Springs Church on Fairview Road.

Old Hopewell Cemetery, east of Rose Bud.  There are 12 marked graves and more than 100 unmarked graves here. Very poor shape. Trees have fallen on the graves.  Abandoned more than 75 years ago.

Old Slave Cemetery, Judsonia.   No engraved headstones but many depressions and graves marked with field stones.   This graveyard is almost lost.

Owen/Henson Cemetery, between Plainview and Providence. At least 12 marked graves from 1868 to 1952.   Badly overgrown.

Patton Hollow Cemetery, Pangburn.   More than 50 burials here but only a few sunken spots and rocks marking graves.  This site is almost lost.

Pleasant Ridge, Joy.  Also known as Georgia Ridge, Good Springs or Sweet Springs Cemetery. Graves as early as 1890 & as recent as 2001.  Badly overgrown.

Robb Cemetery, Bradford.  Vandalized and ignored, very poor shape.  Some 25 marked graves and that many unmarked or marked only with field stones.

Shiloh Cemetery, between Judsonia and Bald Knob.

Smyrna Black Cemetery, east of Center Hill on Highway 36. Blair reports there could be as many as 100 unmarked graves in the black burial area near the old Smyrna church.

Stamps Cemetery, south of Floyd.  This could be the  cemetery for the lost Royal Colony.   Some of White County’s most significant pioneers rest here.  Stones have been accidentally bushhogged and broken and are stacked in a heap overgrown with brush.   Although some stones survive, the location of these early graves has probably already been lost.

Tilley Cemetery, Floyd.  Trash dump 40 feet away. 

Wells Cemetery, Worden.  Burials 1899 to 1915.