Yazoo County Cemeteries

CHAPTER 425
HOUSE BILL NO. 780
AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE AND EMPOWER THE RESPECTIVE BOARDS
OF SUPERVISORS IN THIS STATE, IN THEIR DISCRETION AND UPON
AN APPROPRIATE CERTIFICATE FROM THE.TRUSTEES OF THE STATE
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY, TO REPAIR, REHABILITATE, AND MAINTAIN ABANDONED CEMETERIES.

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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI :

SECTION 1.
 Upon the official certificate of the Trustees of the Mississippi State Department of Archives and History that any abandoned cemetery is of historical significance and should be repaired, rehabilitated, or maintained as a historical monument, the boards of supervisors of the respective counties in this state are hereby authorized and empowered, in their discretion, to repair, rehabilitate, and maintain any such cemetery within the borders of the county over which such board has jurisdiction.

SECTION 2.
 Subject to like certificate from the said Trustees of the State Department of Archives and History, the board of supervisors in adjoining counties may in their discretion, jointly accomplish such repairs, rehabilitation, or maintenance in those instances where the cemetery in question occupies territory which at one (1) time or another was located as a part of said adjoining counties.

SECTION 3.
 This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
Approved: March 23, 1971

CRITERIA FOR THE CERTIFICATION
OF HISTORICAL
SIGNIFICANCE OF ABANDONED CEMETERIES
UNDER THE PROVISIONS
OF
HOUSE BILL NO. 780
Laws of Mississippi, 1971
 
1. The request for a certificate of historical significance must pertain to an "abandoned" cemetery.
 
A. For the purposes of the implementation of this act, an "abandoned" cemetery shall be construed to be one that is not adequately maintained by its legal owner or owners, whether religious bodies, private individuals, or governmental agencies.

B. An "abandoned" cemetery shall also be interpreted as one in which no burials have been made in the five years preceding the date of the official, written request to the Board of Trustees of the Department of Archives and History for a certificate of historical significance.

C. A single grave, in some instances, may constitute an abandoned" cemetery.

D.  Indian burial grounds shall be regarded as "abandoned" cemeteries

 
II. In determining whether or not to issue a certificate of historical significance, the Board of Trustees will consider:

A. Cemeteries which contain the graves of persons who have contributed significantly to the history of the nation, the state, or the local region.

B. Cemeteries which are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of the history of the nation, the state, or the local region.

C. Cemeteries which are associated with properties entered on the National Registry of Historic Places.

D. Cemeteries which are associated with "State Archeological Landmarks," provided for in the Antiquities Law of the State of Mississippi.

E. Cemeteries which are located on land belonging to the State of Mississippi, to a county or municipality, or to any political subdivision of the State.

F. Cemeteries containing the graves of veterans of any of the nation's wars.

G. Cemeteries containing statuary, vaults, markers, and monuments of sufficient architectural and artistic value to merit their protection and preservation.

H. Cemeteries which, by their preservation, would contribute in turn to the preservation of the earlier historical image of a locality.

I. Cemeteries containing 18th century burials.

J. Indian burial grounds, officially identified by professional archaeologists.

 
III. Those cemeteries which have been officially certified by the Board of Trustees shall be inventoried by local persons or groups requesting the certificate, and the inventory shall be deposited with the Department of Archive. and History. This procedure will not be necessary if the Department already has the records for that particular cemetery in its collections.

Approved by the Board of Trustees of the Department of Archives and History at its meeting August 27, 1971.

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Visit the web site of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History where matters of Historical Preservation and particularly abandoned cemeteries are outlined.


Mississippi Department of Archives and History
From the page that opens, click on 'criteria' under the heading 'Cemetery' for the criteria establsihed for the preservation of Mississippi cemeteries. Contact the MDAH for more specific information on preserving local cemeteries.

           Mississippi Department of Archives and History
           Historic Preservation 
           Abandoned Cemetery Project
           P. O. Box 571
           Jackson, MS 39205-0571
           Telephone: (601) 576-6940
           Fax: (601) 576-6955
           Email: msshpo@mdah.state.ms.us

*§ 97-29-25. Desecration of cemetery.*

* *
Every person who shall knowingly and willfully dig up, except as otherwise provided by law, obliterate, or in any way desecrate any *cemetery* where human dead are interred, or cause through word, deed or action the same to happen, shall upon conviction be imprisoned for not more than one (1) year in the county jail or fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00), or both, in the discretion of the court. In addition to any penalties that the court is otherwise authorized to impose the court may, in its discretion, order such restitution as it deems appropriate.

In construing this section, a*cemetery* shall mean any plot of ground (1) on which are grave markers of stone, wood, metal or any other material recognizable as marking graves, or (2) the boundaries of which are defined by a recorded plat, a fence line or corner markers, or trees, or are defined in any other discernible manner.
 

*Sources: *Codes, 1942, § 2076.5; Laws,  1971, ch. 398, § 1; Laws, 1972, ch. 351, § 1; Laws, 1983, ch. 406, eff from and after July 1, 1983.
-- 
Scott McCoy
Mississippi Department of Archives and History
Post Office Box 571
Jackson, Mississippi 39201
Phone: 601-576-6986
Fax:   601-576-6955
 

NAME

LOCATION

DIRECTIONS 

ALEXANDER PLACE

. 

3 miles south of Ogden Baptist Church on Henry Alexander Place, between Bentonia and Sartartia.

Alsop

Vaughan

.

Anderson

Ebenezer

.

Banks

Bayland SE

.

BENTON

. 

. 

Unknown Cemetery near Benton

Near Benton

Near Benton in Yazoo County there is what seems to be an old family cemetery in the woods behind a home. There is no road to the cemetery but there is evidence of what used to be a road that led to it. There is no evidence of a building near the cemetery. The cemetery contains at least 6 graves with marked head stones, dating back to the 1880's. Some of them are surrounded by an iron fence.

BENTON BAPTIST CHURCH

Benton

Behind Benton Baptist Church and down the hill.

BETHANY METHODIST CHURCH

T12N; R1W; S18

Going south on Hwy 49, turn left at red light (across from McDonalds in Yazoo City). Go 4.2 miles down Graball Freerun Road. Cemetery is on the right.

Bethany Primitive Baptist Church (aka Shiloh)

T12N; R1E; S30

From Hwy 49 at Eden, turn on Eden/Midway Road. Church and cemetery are 10.3 miles on the left.

BETHLEHEM BAPTIST CHURCH

T10N; R1E; S4

Going east on Hwy 16, (about 12.4 miles) turn right on Fugate Road. Church and cemetery is 2.4 miles down on right side of road.

BETHEL BLACK JACK BAPTIST CHURCH

T11N; R1E; S12

 "At Exit 133 on I-55 go west (away from Vaughan) on Vaughan Road 4.0 miles to Ellison Independent Methodist Church and Cemetery. Proceed an additional 2.1 miles on Vaughan Rd to the south end of Black Jack Road. Go 2 miles on that road to Black Jack Baptist Church and Cemetery".

Blaylock

Linwood

.

BONNEY (AKA CHURCHILL PLANTATION CEMETERY)

. 

. 

BRIGGS

T10; R1E; S14

Travel east, from Benton on Hwy 16 for approximately 6 miles.  Turn right on Berryville Road and go one and a half miles to Campbell Road.  Turn left and go two and a half miles.  Cemetery is on the left, with a chain link fence around it.

BROWN

Vaughan 

BRUMFIELD

. 

About 1 1/2 miles east of Valley, behind the Brumfield home.

BULL

T11N; R1E; S26

About 13.5 miles down Hwy 16 (towards Canton) on the left side of road.

CAGE/HAYS

Little Yazoo

The location is about 1 mile south of Little Yazoo on Highway 49.  One will come to a Pentecostal Church on the left (if you are travelig south).  Turn toward the east by the church onto a little graveled road.  There is a house about one/half mile beyond church.  Keep going to a gate (thisis on privat property).  The cemetery is just inside the gate on the left side i a wooded area.  Trees have fallen into the cemetery and damaged some of the monuments. 

CALLIHAN

West of Pickens

CAMPBELLSVILLE

Holly Bluff

.

CAPTAIN SIMMONS

Benton

Is also known as Wilburn's Family Burial.  It is hidden and has been there for a long long time.  Directions -- US 49 to Hwy 16 (or 55S to Yazoo Exit) drive 15 miles the turn is after a gas station on Hwy 16.  It looks like a residential street and it is  - but the cemetery was there first.

CENTER RIDGE BAPTIST CHURCH

. 

. 

CENTRAL HOLMES

Bentonia

.

CESSNA

T10N; R2W; S7

From Stevens Road, turn left on Cessna Road. Cemetery is about .3 mile on right side of road.

CHEATHAM 

Manor Place -- near Kirk's Crossroads

CLUNAN 

T10N; R2W; S10

Go 8.7 M south on 49, (from the last redlight in Yazoo City) and turn right on Concord Church Road. Follow road around. Cemetery is past Concord Church on the right side of the road back up on a hill.

CONCORD BAPTIST CHURCH

T10N; R2W; S14

Go 8.7 M south on 49, (from the last redlight in Yazoo City) and turn right on Concord Church Road. Follow road around. Church and cemetery are on the right. 

CONCORD CATHOLIC CHURCH

CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL

T9; R3W; S15

Going west on 433, about 8 miles from Bentonia, located across from Mt. Olivet Methodist Church Cemetery. There are a couple of memorial plaques near the flag pole and sitting area.

COOPERS

Benton

Located 3 miles west of Benton in Pearce Cross Roads Community. 

CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN (AKA ZION)

. 

. 

CYPRESS GARDENS

Yazoo City

.

DAY

T11N; R2E; S6

Going east on Hwy 16, turn left on Wildwood Road (at Benton). Travel approximately 7.5 miles to Walker Road. Turn right for .4 mile. Cemetery (fenced) is located on the right side out in a pasture under trees.

DAYS

Bentonia

.

DOVER

T10N; R1W; S20

 At Yazoo City, at the point where US Hwy 49 divides into 49E and 49W ("Four Points"), go south 9.5 miles on US 49 to Little Yazoo. Turn left onto Dover Road and proceed 3.4 miles. The cemetery is on the left just as you come out of the big curve. 

ELLISON

. 

 Same as for Ellison United Methodist Church Cemetery below except it is just south of the Church on private property accessible by private road. This is the original cemetery and located on private property just south of Ellison United Methodist Church.

ELLISON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

T11N; R2E; S20

At Exit 133 on I-55 go west (away from Vaughan) on Vaughan Road 4.0 miles to Ellison Independent Methodist Church and Cemetery.

Going east on Hwy 16, turn left on Vaughan Rd for approximately 5.7 miles. Church and cemetery is on the right side of road.

EXUM

Vaughan

.

FLETCHERS CHAPEL

T11N; R1W; S19

Going south on Hwy 49, turn left on Myrleville Road. Approximately 3 miles turn right on Fletchers Chapel Road. Church and cemetery is on the right.

GERALD

. 

. 

GLENWOOD

T12N; R2W; S34

In Yazoo City -- Going South on Hwy 49, turn next street past McDonalds, which is Grady Street. Cemetery is at the end of the street.  (Lintonia Avenue)

HAMBLIN

Satartia

.

HARDSHELL BAPTIST aka 
PRIMITIVE BAPTISH

T12N; R1W; S3

From 49S, turn left at red light (across from McDonalds in Yazoo City). Go appr. 8 miles down Graball Freerun Road until you get to Beale Road. Take the first left (.1 mile) past Beale. Cemetery is on the right, with one grave on the left.

HART CHILDRESS LACIE

Phoenix

.

HARTTOWN

Ebenezer 

From the intersection of Interstate 55 and MS Hwy 432, west of Pickens, MS, go west on Hwy 432 approximately 100 yards to first mailbox.  Turn in this driveway, go over a small hill and follow the gravel road about 1/4 mile to the cemetery. 

HEARD

.

Located 6 miles west of Vaughan, MS. 

HEBRON BAPTIST CHURCH

Phoenix

. 

HENRY

Satartia

.

HENSON

. 

. 

HICKS aka MEDLEY or VAUGHN

T11N; R1E; S29

Going east on Hwy 16, (about 12 miles) turn right on Hicks Road. Go 1.6 miles and turn right at the curve. Cemetery is back off the road.

HILDERBRAND

Phoenix

.

HOOVER

Ebenezer

.

HUDSON

Tinsley

.

NAME

LOCATION

DIRECTIONS 

JOHN ROBERSON

Bayland SE

.

KING

. 

East of Hwy 16, between Benton and Canton.

KNOTT

Way

.

LACY

Berryville

.

LIVERPOOL CHURCH

Liverpool Road

LOCUST GROVE

T13N; R1E; S28
Zeiglerville

Going north on Hwy 433 towards Lexington, turn left on Locust Grove Road. Cemetery is 1.5 miles on left.

LUCE

Linwood

.

McLELLAN-WILKINS

This cemetery, situated approximately 13 miles northeast of Lexington, between Bowling Green and Centerville, just west of the blacktop road leading to West.

McLEOD

near Mechanicsburg

On private property off Hwy 433 near Mechanicsburg.

MARBLEHEAD

Bentonia

.

MARTIN

T10N; R2W; S17

. 

MAYDAY

Bayland SE

.

MEDLEY aka HICKS or VAUGHN

T11N; R1E; S29

Going east on Hwy 16, (about 12 miles) turn right on Hicks Road. Go 1.6 miles and turn right at the curve. Cemetery is back off the road.

MELROSE BAPTIST CHURCH

T10N; R1W; S15

Located on Myrleville Road in Myrleville Community.

MIDWAY BAPTIST CHURCH

T12N; R1E; S8

Located on Eden-Midway Road, about 2 miles west of Midway.

MIDWAY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

T12N; R1E; S16

Located on Hwy 433 about .3 miles north of Midway.

MILLER

. 

2 Miles W of Deasonville, and 1/2 mile N of the Vaughn-Yazoo Rd.

MORNING STAR

.

Go north from Yazoo City,on hwy 49 E, towards "Eden, Ms" for aprox.8-9 miles. Turn right on "Morning Star Hill Rd.", go to top of hill, stop, cemetery is on the left.  It is not maintained, will be hard to see and find.  Some old dates on markers, early (1800s).

MOORE

Phoenix

.

MT. OLIVET METHODIST CHURCH

T9N; R3W; S's 10, 15, 16
Satartia

Located on Hwy 433 about 8 miles west of Bentonia. Cemetery is across the road from the church.

MOUNT ZION

Berryville

.

MOUNT ZION

Linwood

.

NEW ZION

Vaughan

.

NEW CONCORD M.B. CHURCH

.

.

NOBLE

Berryville

.

OAK GROVE BAPTIST 

Phoenix

Phoenix Road, Yazoo County, MS

OAK VALLEY

Bayland SE

.

OGDEN BAPTIST CHURCH

T9N; R3W; S13
Phoenix

Located on Hwy 433 about 5.5 miles west of Bentonia. Cemeteries are on both sides of the road, across and adjacent to the church.

OLD CONCORD MB CHURCH

OLD OGDEN BAPTIST CHURCH

Tinsley

.

PEASTER

Vaughan

.

PEPPER

Vaughan

.

PERKINS

. 

. 

PHILLIPS

T13N; R2W; S10
Carter

Going north on Hwy 49 (7.5 miles from redlight at McDonalds), turn left on Chat Williams Road. At the end of this road turn left on Money Sunk Rd for 1.3 miles. Cemetery (fenced) is on a small hill on the left.

PICKETT

.

From Benton, MS go east on MS Hwy 432 for approximately 1 mile.  There will be a good drive to the right.  At about 100 feet, turn right on old road.
Cemetery is on the left in a weedy and brushy area.
Northwest 1/4 Section 6, Township 11 North

PINEY SPRINGS

 ZEIGLERVILLE

PLEASANT GROVE BAPTIST

Bentonia

.

PLEASANT HILL UNITED METHODIST

T13N; R1W; S19
Eden

Going north on Hwy 49 (7.5 miles from redlight at McDonalds), turn right on Zelleria Hill Road and go up .3 mile. Turn left and go .4 mile. Church and cemetery are on the right.

PRIMITIVE BAPTIST aka HARDSHELL BAPTIST

T12N; R1W; S3

From 49S, turn left at red light (across from McDonalds in Yazoo City). Go appr. 8 miles down Graball Freerun Road until you get to Beale Road. Take the first left (.1 mile) past Beale. Cemetery is on the right, with one grave on the left.

PURVIS I

.

. 

PURVIS II

. 

.

NAME

LOCATION

DIRECTIONS 

RILEY

.

Southwest 1/4 Section 3 Township 12 North Range 1 East

ROBINETT

T11N; R2W; S6

. 

ROCKY SPRINGS

T13N; R1W; S26

From Hwy 49 at Eden, turn on Eden/Midway Road. Church and cemetery are 4.4 miles on the left.

ROSS

7 Miles S of Ebenezer, near the Slack Plantation

RUCKER

Berryville

From Benton, MS, go east on MS Hwy 16, approximately 6 1/2 miles to Slayton road.  Turn right and go 3/10 of a mile.  Cemetery will be on the left in a small grove of trees, out in acultivated field.  southwest 1/4 Section 6 Township 10 North Range 2 East.

SATARTIA

. 

. 

SCOTLAND BAPTIST CEMTERY

Berryville 

.

SHILOH (aka Bethany Primitive Baptist)

T12N; R1E; S30

From Hwy 49 at Eden, turn on Eden/Midway Road. Church and cemetery are 10.3 miles on the left.

SHANNON/ McMASTER/CRIPPEN

Holly Bluff

.

SHORT CREEK

Yazoo City

Near Tinsley

SMITH RIDGE CEMETERY (BLACK)

T11N; R1W;S20

From Hwy 49 S, turn on Fletchers Chapel Road to Myrleville Rd. Turn left and take the first gravel road to the right, which is Cox Rd. Cemetery is .9 on the right.

STEWART FAMILY CEMETERY

This cemetery is across MS highway 3 from Satartia and just up the hill in a grove of trees.  There is a clear view of Satartia from the cemetery.  The post office is about 1/2 mile toward Yazoo City from the property where the cemetery is located.  The cemetery is a total overgrown ruin.

STRANGER'S HOME

Vaughan

.

SWAYZE

. 

. 

TRANQUIL    

T13N; R1W; S.34

From Hwy 49 at Eden, turn on Eden/Midway Road. Turn right on Beale Rd and go 2.5 miles. Cemetery is on the right.

WALLER

T12;R1W;S2

Very small cemetery located on private property on the south side of the Grabell-Freerun Road approximately 9.5 miles from Yazoo City.

WATERS

. 

. 

WESLEY CHAPEL METHODIST CHURCH

Phoenix 

. 

WILLIAM REGAN FAMILY

On the old Wyoming Plantation up on the hill behind the Mississippi Chemical Plant in Yazoo County

WOODS

T12N; R1E; S30

From Hwy 49 at Eden, turn on Eden/Midway Road. Cemetery is 10.3 miles on the left, next to Bethel Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery.

UNION

T11N; R1E; S36
Charlton

Going east on Hwy 16 (approximately 15 miles), cemetery is at the intersection of Hwy 16 and Berryville Road.

VAUGHN aka MEDLEY or HICKS

T11N; R1E; S29

Going east on Hwy 16, (about 12 miles) turn right on Hicks Road. Go 1.6 miles and turn right at the curve. Cemetery is back off the road.