Black Cemetery

Black Cemetery is a unique place. It has a variety of trees planted, some that are now leaning into the gravesite. It is as if they are there to give respect to those now resting there. Within Chesapeake, Ohio on Greasy Ridge Road, these are the inscriptions read by Martha J. Martin in the early 1990s. There are many gravestones that have lovely sentiments such as “gone so soon” and other such phrases. We noticed hand-crafted stones lovingly made by family members.

Back when we read about this cemetery, we never imagined so many people looking for their relative’s resting place. Long before digital cameras and fancy computers, we went to places like this to preserve history for those not in our area. We look forward to what the future generations will come up with to aid in people’s desire to connect to their roots.

If you get a chance to visit and pay your respects, you won’t be disappointed. Black Cemetery is a beautiful resting place located within Lawrence County Ohio’s Union Township. In the distance, you can also see Mount Hope Baptist Church. It is close to the intersection of Greasy Ridge and Bent Creek Roads. For an exact location, you can find the GPS coordinates at this site in addition to many photos of individual tombstones.

Many thanks to our friend, Carl Murdock. He once again has provided us with photos to use to share with you all. We couldn’t provide so many lovely stories and sources without people like him.

Black Cemetery Inscriptions

Black Cemetery Union Twp.
read by Martha J. (Kounse) Martin
OSSW=On same Stone With
w/o=wife of
d/o=daughter of
s/o=son of

ADKINS Della 1908 – 1949 homemade stone
ADKINS Jacob 1859 Mildred ADKINS father-in-law; nee ELLIS
ADKINS Lucinda 1869 – 1924 w/o Jacob; mother-in-law of Mildred ADKINS
ADKINS Mildred 1909 OSSW Russell ADKINS
ADKINS Russell 1901 – 1977
BLACK Amanda 1833 – 1909 76yrs; w/o Wm. S. BLACK
BLACK Blanche E. 1890 – 1921 mother
BLACK Harless 1904 – 1938
BLACK James E. 1873 – 1962 father “gone home”
BLACK John A. 10 Aug 1869 – 28 Jun 1893
BLACK Roy 1903 – 1930
BLACK Sarah B. 1864 – 19– w/o Wm. L. BLACK
BLACK Wm. L. 1856 – 1938
BLACK Wm. S. 1828 – 1909 81 yrs
BLAIR Carol 1 Jan 1961 one date; OOSW Carolyn BLAIR
BLAIR Carolyn 1 Jan 1961 one date; OOSW Carol BLAIR
BLAKE Blanche Ellis 1903 – 1926 sister of Woodrow ELLIS; her husband buried in WV
BRAMMER Iva G. 1891 – 1963
BRAMMER Jesse W. 1889 – 1962
CHANDLER Harrison 1904 – 1969
DAY Melodie Dawn 1968 – 1968
ELLIS Ace 1869 – 1948
ELLIS Benjamin F. 1895 – 1982 Pfc US Army WWI
ELLIS Benjamin F. 1 May 1895 one date; OSSW Violet V. ELLIS & Fern W. ELLIS
ELLIS Earl A., Jr. 1920 – 1920
ELLIS Elizabeth 14 Feb 1825 – 28 May 1811 w/o Harrison ELLIS
ELLIS Eugenia 1857 – 1925
ELLIS Fern W. 12 Feb 1915 one date
ELLIS Harrison 14 Aug 1823 – 23 Jun 1901
ELLIS Hattie M. 1884 1918 w/o Girard ELLIS
ELLIS Infant sons of Ellsworth & Mary E. ELLIS; brothers of Woodrow
ELLIS James Israel 185 – 1918
ELLIS Jerry 1945 1945 infant s/o Woodrow ELLIS; unmarked
ELLIS Kathy infant granddaughter of Woodrow ELLIS; unmarked; d/o Thomas
ELLIS Louellen 1868 – 1914
ELLIS Perry 12 Jan 1929 OH Pvt 158 Depot Brig; one date
ELLIS Phyllis Ann 28 May 1952 – 2 Nov 1954
ELLIS Violet V. 23 Jan 1904 – 26 Feb 1944
ELLIS Wm. 1851 – 19–
ELMORE Maude Wilks 25 Sept 1890 – 27 Aug 1968 mother
FERRIS Paul 30 May 1917 – 28 May 1974
FOGG Georgia Ellis 22 Feb 1900 – 15 Feb 1958
HAMLIN James E. 1938 – 1993
HAMLIN James E. 6 Feb 1938 – 28 Dec 1993 US Air Force
HAMLIN Jasper 1875 – 1957
HAMLIN Lloyd 9 May 1923 – 9 May 1923 small homemade house over grave
HAMLIN Minard 1913 – 1991
HAMLIN Nellie 1893 – 1978
HOWELL Kathy J. 1956 one date
HUNT Billy Joe 1939 – 1952
HUNT Billy Joe 1940 – 1952 Schneider Funeral Home marker
HUNT Conley, Jr. 15 Jun 1945 – 21 Oct 1962 gone so soon”
JOHNSON Bernice F. 19 Feb 1937 – 1937
LESTER Tempa E. 1905 – 1975
LILLY George W. 1867 – 1956
LILLY Nancy J. 1887 – 1957
LILLY Ruth A. 1946 – 1959
McCOY Ester Lucille 1935 – 1986
PARNELL Robert Scott 6 Dec 1970 – 7 Dec 1970
RILEY-PRINCE Ellis T. 1892 – 1931
RILEY-PRINCE Jack Justice 1905 – 1958
RILEY-PRINCE Laura B. 1901 – 1975
SAFORD Mamie Adkins 1895 – 1942
SMOOT Shelva Jean 15 July 1938 – 7 Feb 1941 gone so soon”
TAITT Matilda A. 1838 – 1912
UNMARKED
UNMARKED
UNMARKED sunken in; next to Billy Joe HUNT, next to the road
WILKES Roscoe 1894 – 1968