Bethel Baptist Church Building Marker & Photos

This congregation grew from an early prayer group, established in the Bethel Community in1875 A small group met in the schoolhouse, which also served as a community center, for weekly prayer and Bible study On April 16, 1884, nine men and women met to organize the Bethel Baptist Church. These charter members were Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Autrey, Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Blanton, Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Holland, Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Jones, and Mrs. Sarah Miller. The Rev. Bob Thomas served as first pastor The small congregation grew rapidly and soon had more than 150members.

In 1897, this property was deeded to Bethel Baptist Church by Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Autrey. In the same year, during the pastorate of J. M. Harder, a one-room sanctuary was constructed. A 1918 storm damaged the building, but it was repaired and the congregation continued to worship there until another was constructed in 1937.

Throughout its history, Bethel Baptist Church has served as a focal point for the small community. The congregation continues to maintain the ideas and traditions of its pioneer founders.

* The congregation voted to tear down this beautiful little white church in 2006 and replace it with a modern metal building. A lot of Grayson Co. History was bulldozed away. They did not reuse the historic stained glass windows in the new structure.

An old storm shelter is located on the south edge of the church's parking lot, this was the location of the Bethel School.

Original List by Michael Cross, Susan Hawkins has added more listings and corrections, photographs by Elaine Bay and Patricia Nall , 2010 adds more detail and corrections. This is an annotated list and copyrighted.

*S/W-MEANS STONE WITH

Alley,  Charlie                           1906 - 1981    US  ARMY  WW II.
Alley, Jess Clarence                 16 Sep 1901-3 May 1969
Alley, Joe F.                              1863 - 1937
Alley, Mandy                            1870 - 1956
Alley, Willie E.                          1910 - 1965

Autrey, Anna                             10 Mar 1855 - 16 Jan 1917
Autrey, Hattie                           7 Sep 1894 - 20 Sep 1895, Dau. of J.R. & N.A. Autrey
Autrey, J.P.                               6 Oct 1857 - 8 Jun 1955

Footstone reading only 'D.B.'

Badgett, Duke                          20 Jun 1892 - 3 Nov 1905, Son of J.D. & M.F. Badgett

Bartley, Billy Ray                    11 Jan 1925 - 27 Nov 1936
Bartley, Cecil Alvin                 5 Apr 1900-1 Oct 1992
Bartley, Lillie Rae                  21 Aug 1905 - 21 Dec 1973

Beam, Maxilene E.                24 Dec 1920 - 18 Nov 1921

Black, Alissa Lauren              7 Feb 1992 - 17 Jun 1994
Black, Willie Edward              14 Nov 1925 - no date
Black, Yvette Rhea               17 Dec 1967 -  no date

Blanks, Nile Morrow              B&D 17 Sep 1914, Son of Jim & Katie Blanks
Blanks, Truett                         14 May 1903 - 7 Sep 1920, Son of J.E. & Katie Blanks

Blanton, Benjamin Franklin      1843 - 1935
Blanton, Charles Samuel           14 Nov 1876 - 14 Dec 1944
Blanton, John B.                        29 Aug 1872 - 15 Feb 1902
Blanton, Julia Ann                     1843 - 1947
Blanton, Priscilla Virginia         20 Mar 1880-30 Jul 1940
Blanton, Vera                            13 Jul 1897 - 13 Aug 1899

Bradley, Felix G.                       16 Apr 1816 - 10 Jan 1901, 84 yrs, 8 mos, 20 ds

Brents, Nannie W.                     6 Dec 1900 - 17 Jun 1901, Dau. of W.O. & Telitha Brents

Brides, Prof. C.W.                      6 Dec 1867 - 8 Aug 1903 , 35 yrs, 8 mos, 2dys

Burris, Helen                              1913 - 1938

Cameron, S.A.                            Died 1 Dec 1899  37 yrs 8 mos 21 days

Cannon, Pearl                            10 Mar 1893 - 14 Nov 1906, Dau. of G.C. & T.A. Cannon

Cawthon, Robert N.                  25 Sep 1913-3 Jun 1995
Cawthon, Ruby W.                    24 Aug 1913-16 Nov 1974

Cooley, James H.                      11 May 1861 - 7 Sep 1895, Husb. of Nettie Cooley

Cowan, Hiram M.                       25 Dec 1852 - 19 Apr 1934
Cowan, Melisa                           1857 - 1906
Cowan, Neugin                           1895 - 1895

Crouch, John                               1897 - 1897 
Crouch, Mollie F.                        1861 - 1897 
Crouch, William B.                      1861 - 1944

Davis, Vera Mae                        4 Apr 1903 - 27 Feb 1976

Denton, John L.                        1870 - 1944
Denton, Lena M.                      19 Jun 1902 - 9 Jul 1979
Denton, Lester May                11 Oct - 12 Oct -year is not visible
Denton, Susie M.                      1874 - 1970
Denton, William Ezra                15 Oct 1894 - 13 Nov 1976, PVT US ARMY WWI

Dixon, Bessie Lee                     25 Aug 1904 - 15 Oct 1906, Dau. of G.B. & C.E. Dixon

Edward Charles  M.                   2 May 1867- 28 Sep 1898

Ferguson, Geneiva Irl               3 Feb 1926 - 26 Mar 1982

Fields  no other info on stone (Infant dau. of Cecil D. & Otis Danis Fields, B&D 17 Jun 1932)

Hall, Angie May                        19 Jul 1909- 4 Oct 1915, Dau. of T.C.L. & Nora Hall
Hall, Honorah                             1869 - 1951
Hall, James W.                           20 Aug 1891 - 5 Mar 1974
Hall, Mattie L.B.                        19 Jul 1909 - 20 Jul 1909, Dau. of T.C.L. & Nora Hall
Hall, Thomas Calvin Lincoln     1862 - 1946

Hicks, Floyce May                     1906 - 2000
Hicks, Gerald Lee                      B&D 26 Apr 1930
Hicks, Otis                                  23 Oct 1903 - 23 Oct 1993 

 Hill, J.W.                                    5 May 1861 - 28 Aug 1922
 Hill, Mrs. J. W.                          13 Jul 1862 - 17 Nov 1934

Hodges, Doracelia                      1879 - 1927
Hodges, John Arthur                  1879 - 1949

Holland, Eliza O.                         23 Aug 1860 - 24 Jul 1943
Holland, Gus                               28 Jul 1884 - 23 Jul 1905, son of J.F. & E.O. Holland
Holland, J. Frank                        3 Apr 1853 - 30 May 1932

Howard, Dorothy Nell               22 May 1921 - 30 Oct 1991

Hume, Margaret A.                   1834 - 1917
Hume, Thomas R.                      1829 - 1893

Jennings, Robert Lee                1923 - 1993
Jennings, Vaun Dean                1923 - no date

Johnson, Billy Lee                      1 Mar 1932 - 15 Feb 1987
Johnson, Rosie Norman             8 Mar 1936-8 Oct 2005

Jones, A.B.F.                               18 Aug 1885 - 8 Dec 1917
Jones, E.F.                                   1848 - 1930
Jones, Baby of Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Jones 12 Oct 1927 - 31 Oct 1927
Jones, Ezra Floyd          5 Sep 1848-29 Mar 1930, b in Lincoln, Kentucky, husb. of Mary Adline Bradley, wed 1 Sep 1872
Jones, Lillia A.                             1874 - 1953
Jones, M. Zack                            1882-1964
Jones, Mary Adline                     1852 - 1920
Jones, Ruby Mae                        3 Aug 1910 - 13 Mar 1912

Kimsey, Laura C.                         7 Apr 1855 - 24 May 1903, Wife of V.L. Kimsey

King, Broadus B.                         14 Feb 1895-15 May 1901, Son of J.W. & M.F. King

Knox, George G.                          29 Nov 1896-19 Dec 1897, Son of J.B. & A.B. Knox

Lewis, Charles David                       1958 - 1958
Lewis, Henry O.                               1 Feb 1907 - 17 Feb 1977
Lewis, Mayme W.                            7 Jul 1905 - 2 Sep 1992

Martin, Infant Son                             B&D 1964

May, Daniel W.                                  3 Aug 1865 - 11 Sep 1897, Husb. of Fannie Holcomb May

McBroom, Dicy L.                             30 Dec 1858 - 23 Mar 1906
McBroom, Marion                            18 Jan 1884 - 1907
McBroom, Mary E.                           21 Jul 1878-24 Mar 1908
McBroom, Sidney D.                         22 Jun 1875 - 1906

McDonald, D.Gwyn                         1906-1906
McDonald, Fay                                 17 Apr 1900- 17 Apr 1900
McDonald, F.                                    1904 - 1906
McDonald, Florence May                23 Apr 1904 - 9 Jul 1905

McGinnis, J.G.                                 4 Dec 1834 - 3 Aug 1896
McGinnis, Sarah F.                          24 Feb 1843- 9 Jan 1901

Norman, Alfred                               11 Jan 1917 - 13 May 1997
Norman, Charlie E.      26 May 1929 - 8 Apr 1961, TEXAS PVT 3543 BASE UNIT AAF WWII
Norman, Evelyn                              14 Sep 1923 - 15 Jun 2000

Norman, Joel T.                             15 Apr 1887 - 14 Aug 1959 
Norman, Lenda E.                          1 Oct 1894 - 6 Jun 1983
Norman, Wiley                               3 Oct 1910 - 5 Nov 1910
Norman, Willie E.                           29 Feb 1908 - 8 Jul 1909, Son of J.J. & M.C. Norman

Owen, Ronald E.                             12 Jun 1957 - 11 Mar 1998

Pierce, Charles R.                           1932-2000
Pierce, George B.      8 Sep 1890-10 Nov 1954, PVT 36 CO 65 DEPOT BRIG WWI PH
Pierce, Jno H.                                  1858 - 1934
Pierce, Nora                                    1868-1927
Pierce, Patricia L.                            1935 - 2001

Pyles, Raymond I       1 Sep 1925-12 Jul 2000, son of Wm. & Carrie Parker Pyles, Husb. of Evelyn Blassingame Pyles

Ragle, Buddie                                 27 Aug 1900-14 Nov 1900, Son of W.T. & M.M. Ragle
Ragle, Willie                                   25 Aug 1894 - 25 Aug 1894, Son of W.T. & M.M. Ragle

Raulston, Emma Hughes               9 Jun 1868 - 5 Oct 1908

Reeves, M.B.                                 1865 - 1906
Reeves, O.T.                                  1846 - 1909

Roberts, Inez Kate       18 Feb 1893 - 26 May 1894, son of T.W. & Z.V. Roberts

Rushing, Berry Wilson                  29 Aug 1857 - 2 Aug 1938
Rushing, Josephine A.                  1836 -19 Jan 1915
Rushing, M.C.                               29 Oct 1834 - 16 Jun 1903
Rushing, Mary E.                         30 Jul 1861 - 2 Apr 1907, Wife of B.W. Rushing

Sewell, Delila Mae                       1869 - 1948
Sewell, W.B.                                  1870 - 1936

Simmons, Charles R.       4 Apr 1897 - 16 Jan 1814, Husb. of Mariah C. Simmons, Corp. Co. L 28th Inf.
Simmons, Mariah C.                      15 Aug 1871 - 20 Feb 1903, Wife of Charles Simmons

Sloan, Algie C.                                4 Apr 1897 - 16 Jan 1814, Son of J.G. & Laura Sloan
Sloan, Mrs. Helen Burris               1913 - 1938
Sloan-Infant Dau. of J.G. & Laura Sloan 23 May 1901 - 14 Jun 1901
Sloan, William Thomas                   5 Jan 1901 - 5 Mar 1962

Smith, Buster Daniel    26 Nov 1912-10 Oct 1984, US ARMY WWII, Buried in Restland Cemetery, Dallas, Tx.
Smith, Charles                                 28 Jan 1852 - 9 Sep 1914
Smith, Emma Alexander                 15 May 1876 - 18 Apr 1916, Wife of D.A. Smith
Smith, Euna L.                                 7 Jun 1919 - 14 Jan 2005
Smith, Lon C.                                    20 Aug 1881-14 Apr 1951
Smith, Nancy Ann                            27 Jan 1747 - 27 Dec 1912
Smith, Nova G.                                 1 Jan 1912-15 Sep 1964
Smith, Oma Doris                             18 Jul 1892 - 2 Sep 1985
Smith, Oscar Herold                        24 Nov 1915 - 27 Dec 1912, Son of O.A. & Emma Smith
Smith, Una      Buried next to her parents Lon & Oma Smith and siblings, Nova Smith and Dorthy Smith Howard.

Sweat, May                                       16 Aug 1894-9 Aug 1888, Dau. of J.A. & E.J. Sweat

Teel, Asa H.                                      17 Jul 1832 - 7 Jul 1904
Teel, Corrie O.                                 13 Aug 1868 - 19 Jun 1931
Teel, G.A.                                          25 Mar 1850 - 5 Jun 1892
Teel, J. Martin                                  25 Jun 1859 - 26 Jun 1906
Teel, Jeffey L.                                   2 Dec 1895 - 30 Dec 1895, Son of J.M. & C.O. Teel

Warden, Ruthie E.                           2 Jul 1842-17 Jul 1914, Wife of John Warden

Wendell, Frances                           18 Jan 1927 - 19 Jul 1973
Wendell, Laura E.                          31 Jul 1870 - 6 Jul 1971
Wendell, Lillian T.                           1887 -1980 
Wendell, Loyal L.                            1889 - 1982, Son of W.T. Wendell
Wendell, William T.                        1 Sep 1917 - 11 Aug 1939

Williams, Adaline                            5 Sep 1832 - 8 Mar 1910
Williams, James Preston                3 Jul 1914 - 3 Apr 1997
Williams, John D.                            1839-1925
Williams, Laura B.                          1862-1942

Wilson, Nannie A.                            1875 - 1932
Wilson, Zebadee B.                          1874 - 1952

Windell, J. Cecil                               3 Dec 1898 - 15 Dec 1916
Windell, W.T.                                   21 Feb 1862 - 12 Jul 1915

Worden, Gideon                               1860 - 1939

Wright, Fred K.                                16 Sep 1899 - 18 May 1906, Son of W.F. & L.E. Wright
Wright, Infant Dau.                          B&D 2 Sep 1898, Dau. of W.F. & L.E. Wright

Yates, Annaliza                               5 Apr 1863 - 27 Sep 1910