Old Mount Zion Cemetery

Vanndale, Cross County, Arkansas

Photographed and Recorded June 12, 2005

By Wayne and Debbie Yates

Located 2 ½ miles southeast of Vanndale

From Highway 1B, Vanndale, follow County Road 365 for ½ mile, turn left on County Road 372

and follow the road for 2.2 miles, turn right onto County Road 367.

Follow 367 for ½ mile. The locked gate to the cemetery will be on the right.

This cemetery contains both white and black burials.

The number following each entry denotes the photo number.

View Mount Zion Tombstone Photos

News Article appearing in East Arkansas New Leader, April 20, 2005

In my Father's house are
many mansions; if it were not so,
I would have told you. I go to
prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place
for you, I will come again, and
receive you unto myself, that
where I am, there ye may be also.
St. John 14: 2-3

Entries in Italics were taken from earlier transcriptions – these graves were not identified in 2005.

???, Member of the St. Luke ????? (broken) #85

?????, Born ???? 1873, Died May 12, ?????, “At Rest” (broken) #89

ALDRIDGE, Ethel, Dec 13, 1903 – Aug 21, 1991, #107

(unreadable, next to Ethel Aldridge) #108

APPLEWHITE, James L., born about 1844 TN (marker not identified 2005)

(J. Applewhite, age 26, dry good merchant, along with his 18 year old wife V. Applewhite were listed on the 1870 census of Wittsburg, Cross County. Also in the household was son, J. S. Applewhite, born Nov 1869.)

APPLEWHITE, Johnnie E. Koin, Jan 9, 1849 – Feb 24, 1867, son of John & Nancy Jane, #42

APPLEWHITE, Shelton,(born Nov 1869) died Aug 19, 1875, Aged 6 years, son of J. L. & Ella, #43

John Applewhite age 49, and wife Nancy Applewhite age 39, were listed on the 1860 census of Poinsett County, Coldwater, along with daughters; Lewezer age 18, Manerva age 13, Emanda age 9, Sallie (Emma) age 6, and Milly age 1, and sons; James age 16, John age 11, Fletcher age 4. Are John and Nancy Applewhite also buried in this cemetery? John and Nancy J. Applewhite were also listed in 1870 and 1880. John Applewhite had died by 1900. His widow, Nancy, born Aug 1821, was living in Searcy Township in 1900, along with her 49 year old daughter, Emma Applewhite who was born Mar 1851. The youngest child, Edgar Applewhite, would have been born 1864.

APPLEWHITE, V. Ella, born about 1852 MS (marker not identified 2005)

BARNES, Ellen Campbell, 1883 – 1923, #177

(unreadable next to Ellen Barnes), #177

BEALE, Edna, Dec 14, 1921 – Apr 16, 2003, “In Loving Memory”, #122

BEALE, Georgia Futrell, Aug 7, 1902 – Feb 17, 1979, Daughter, #98

BEALE, Horace, Oct 23, 1893 – Nov 23, 1968, Pvt. Co. G 816 Pioneer Inf World War I, #123

BEALE, Annie, Nov 15, 1882 – Jul 10, 1933, #125 (unreadable 2005, from earlier survey)

BEALE, Prince, died Feb 14, 1894, #124

BENFORD, Candis (no dates) #178

BENFORD, Oscar, 1840 – 1936, #86

BOND, 1920 – 1933, #175

BROTHERTON, Molly J. Molly Crawford, Oct 15, 1865 – Dec 5, 1895, unmarked, Find-A-Grave Link

BROWN, L. (rock with name only) #96

BROWN, Lucy E., Wife of Dr. R. A. Brown, Feb 15, 18?3 - ?? 13, 1869, #66

BROWN, R. A., 1813 – 1869, Caswell County, North Carolina (stone not identified 2005)

CAMPBELL, Alfred Sidney, 1855 – 1941 “Gone But Not Forgotten”, #181

CAMPBELL, Edward C., Oct 10, 1918 – Aug 10, 1926 (same stone with Dora V.) #176

CAMPBELL, Dora V., May 6, 1895 – Oct 12, 1932 (same stone with Edward C.) #176

CAMPBELL, Lula E., 1886 – 1940, #182/183

CAMPBELL, Mary Jane, 1860 – 1923 (double with Alfred Sidney) #180

CAMPBELL, Oida, 1901 – 1917, #179

CAMPBELL or WILL ( unreadable, next to Lula Campbell) #184

CAMPBELL, ??? 21, 1896 - ???? 1897 (homemade, deteriorated) #78

CAMPBELL, ??? Moses (homemade, unreadable) #79

CANTRELL, Joyce Marie, Sep 4, 1955 – Oct 28, 1985, US Army, #128

CANTRELL, Layunia, 1892 – 1942, “Rest In Peace”, #127

CASBEER, Molly L., Jan 20, 1877, Aged 2 months, dau of A. S. and D. (stone unidentified 2005)

COBB, Charles, 1857 – Sep 5, 1863 (stone unidentified 2005)

COBB, Rev. Wilbur F., died Jul 20, 1864, 19 yrs, 10 mos, 25 dys (stone unidentified 2005)

COLDMON, Eliza, died May 1907, “At Rest”, #121

COLLINS, Sallie, Apr 18, 1869 – Aug 16, 1894, “In Memory”, #116

COPELAND, Lula, Feb 4, 1893 – Feb 8, 1988, “She’s Only Gone Home”, #87

COWLE, Mary, Oct 27, 1859 – Jul 28, 1887 (stone unidentified 2005)

COWLE, J. W., 1845 – 1864 (stone unidentified 2005)

CROSS, Gracie, 1868 – 1920, #114

???? (unreadable, next to Gracie Cross) #115

DAVIS, Clarence, ??? of Phil & ??? Davis (deteriorated) #109

(unreadable, next to Clarence Davis) #110

(unreadable, next to Clarence Davis) #111

DOBSON, Charles M., died Aug 29, 1861, age 11, son of J. N. and M. S. (unidentified 2005)

DOBSON, Nancy, died Nov 4, 1860, age 70 (unidentified 2005)

DOBSON, Milton E. (unidentified 2005)

DOUGLAS, James, born 1844, died Nov 2, 1916, #93

DURHAM, Mary F. 1843 – (May 1?)1871, #200

EVANS, Evalyon M. “Mother Dear”, 1904-1973 (double with Joseph) #140

EVANS, Joseph E. “Daddy Joe”, 1887-1972 (double with Evalyon) #139

FIELDER, Lizzie Lee, Dau of M. S. & S. J., Oct 2, 1864 – May 14, 1867 #72

FITZPATRICK, David, Feb 19, 1813 – Mar 11, 1873 “I am the Resurrection and the Life”, #18/19

FITZPATRICK, Pamelia Hargrove, Oct 1, 1820 – Apr 30, 1881, #20

FORD, Mettie Fitzpatrick, Aug 23, 1850 – Apr 12, 1916 #21

FRIERSON, ??rren, (unreadable, next to Mary Corinne) #193

FRIERSON, Mary Corinne, 1868 – Nov 8, 1870, dau of James G. #194

FUTRELL, ???, May ????, Faithful Member of Blooming Rose (near George W.), #100

FUTRELL, ???? (lettering fallen off (near Lizzey Beath) ) #102

FUTRELL, Alfred, Apr 30, 1831 – Dec 14, 1872, Confederate Soldier, #57

FUTRELL, George W., Aug 16, 1872 – Jun 22, 1976, “Father”(age 103) #99

FUTRELL, J. T., Jun 16, 1850 – Feb 17, 1900, “Thy Life was Beauty, Truth, Goodness and Love”, #9

FUTRELL, Jane, Feb 14, 1828 – Jul 20, 1859, #197

FUTRELL, Lizzey Beath, Jun 10, ??67 – Jun 2, 1938?, “At Rest”, #101

FUTRELL, William, died Apr 26, 1934, Ark PVT 162 Depot BNC, #117

GILLILAND, Eliza C., Oct ? 1812 – Jun ? 1871 (same stone with Sammie, “Mother & Brother) #191

GILLILAND, Sammie, Dec 4, 1854 – Jun ?? 1871 (same stone with Eliza C., “Mother & Brother) # 191

GRIFFIN, G. W., Jul 4, 1838 – Oct 13, 1900, Confederate Soldier, #11/14

GRIFFIN, Laurah B./G., Nov 23, 1878- Aug 31, 1886, dau of George W. & Mary E., #12

HARE, David Lucieus, Son of John A. & Mary B., Nov 8, 1836 – Aug 16, 1858, Age 21 yrs, #55

HARE, Rev. John A. (stone not identified 2005)

HARE, Mary B., May 22, 1821 – Jan 23, 1900, dau of Dabney and Elizabeth Ware, Age 79?, 2 mos.

(wife of Rev. John A. Hare) #52

HARE, Olivia B. Turberville, Wife of Thomas P. Hare, Nov 6, 1830 – Aug 24, 1920

Born in Lynchburg, VA #46

HARE, Rev. Thomas P., Dec 4, 1827 – Feb 23, 1883, son of Jacob & Emma Wheeler Hare

Served in ?? (unreadable), #47

HARE, ?????, Son of ???? Hare, May 16, 1854 – Oct 15, 1857, Age 3 yrs, 4 mos, #54

HARE, Willie Crump, #56,

HARE, Wm. W., died 1858 (stone not identified 2005)

In 1860, Thomas Hare was living next to John Applewhite in Poinsett County, Coldwater. He was age 64 with a 62 year old wife, Eliza. Two daughters were listed in the household; Indiana age 29, and Delilah age 20. Next door was 25 year old Starkey Hare with a 24 year old wife Edith.

HARRIS, James S. M., son of ??? & Amanda, born ??? 1874, died ????, #90

HARRIS, Marcus, died Mar 14, 1921, Faithful Member of Blooming Rose Circle #42, #91

HARRIS, Sallie, died Sep 11?, 1921, Faithful Member of Blooming Rose Circle #42, #92

HARVEY, John H., Jul 15, 1849 – Mar 21, 1873, son of T. R. & Lucinda, Age 23 yrs, 8 mos, 6 dys, #6

HAZLEWOOD, John A., born May 4, ????, died Sep 30, 188?, #2/3/4

HEAD, Charlie F., Infant Son of L. T. & Mollie Head, Died Apr 28, 1877, Age 2 months, #15

HEAD, L. T., (May 11) 1853 – 1885, #17

HEAD, Mollie, May 2, 1859 – July 26, 1885, #16

HINTON, Emma Elizabeth, May 4, 1850, dau of James and Mary M., #69

HINTON, John Wesley, 1847 – 1866, Son of Sam & Mary, Fayette Co., Tenn., #70

HINTON, Samuel M., 1816 – 1866, #71

JONES, Ella (homemade marker, no dates) #153

JONES, Eunes? (homemade marker, no dates) #154

JONES, George A., Jan 4, 1862 – Dec 22, 1877, son of T. P. & M. A. Jones, #7

JONES, Jimmie, 1892 – 1994, PFC US Army World War I, #113

JONES, Margaret A., Mar 24, 1838 – Feb 27, 1880, wife of T. P. Jones, #8

JONES, Mary, born Jan ??, 1893, died Apr 23, ????, #5

JONES, Tommy Lee, Jul 15, 1917 – Jul 30, 1994, #120

JONES?? (Woodard funeral home marker, unreadable, next to Eunes?) #155

KING, Lola H., May 9, 1968, “At Rest”, #88

LEGG, George N., Apr 26, 1812 – Feb 25, 1868, #28

LEGG, Lura Ann, Dau of G. N. & S. P. Legg, Born ??? 26, 18??, #29

LEGG, Richard Thomas, Mar 17, 1846 – Sep 5, 1876, #49

MANLEY, Rev. J. A., Feb 11, 1806 – Feb 14, 1875, #198

???? died May 1?, 18? (broken, next to J A Manley) #199

MARSH, Essie B., died Jun 2, 1967, age 57, #165

MAY, William C., Dec 24, 1837 – ???, 1866, #23

McCLARAN, Mourning, Aug 23, 1797 – May 23, 1881, #32

McCLARAN, Sallie Willie, 1855 – 1857, dau of B. D. and E. J. (not identified 2005)

McCLARAN, ???, died Jun 11, 1853, age 32 yrs, 5 mos, 7 dys, #33

McDANIEL, Chester, Mar 10, 1947 – Sep 18, 1968

Louisiana CPL, Co. D, 8 Inf, 4 Inf. Div., Vietnam, BSM, PH, #159

McFERRIN, Jane C., Sep 28, 1786 – 1876, Washington County, VA (not identified 2005)

McKIE, W. P., Oct 12, 1847 – Nov 8, 1882, Confederate Soldier, #74

(his wife, Cora Hare McKie, buried Vanndale Cemetery)

MILLER, Dovie H., Aug 12, 1884 – May 16, 1983, #97

MILLER, Rev. Frederick, Mar 31, 1805 – Feb 5, 1862, #201

MILLER, Piety, 1805 – 1862 (double with Frederick) #201

MILLER, Timothy, 1913 – 1979, TEC US Army World War II, #95

MILLER, William D., 1881 – 1954, #94

MOTLEY???, died Apr 30, 1906, age 72, #112

MURRAY, Rev. Johnnie, died Jul 25, 1965, age 75 (not identified 2005)

NEWBORNE?, (funeral home marker, unreadable) #130

NEWBORNE, David, Sep 15, 1857 – Jun 21, 1941, #131

NEWBORNE, David Sylvester, May 16, 1910 – Dec ????, #138/163

NEWBORNE, Ever Lee, Oct 22, 1914 – Apr 22, 1999, “A Loving Mother”, #174

NEWBORNE, Frank, Mar 29, 1880 – Sep 17, 1966 (double with Mattie) #134/172

NEWBORNE, Irene, died Jan 13, 1966, age 71, #166

(unreadable, next to Irene Newborne, May 11, 19??) #167

NEWBORNE, Mattie, Jan 1, 1880 – Jun 1, 1958 (double with Frank) #135/171

NEWBORNE, Obon??, born Feb ????, died Aug ????, #168

(unreadable funeral home marker next to Obon? Newborne) #169

NEWBORNE, Ulysses, Mar 3, 1893 – Apr 30, 1970, #129

NEWBORNE, William, Jul 8, 1911 – Aug 10. 1960 or 1966, #136/170

(unreadable funeral home marker, next to William Newborne) #137

???, 1858 – 1932 ( next to Newborne graves) #132

PARKER, S. B., Oct 30, 1856 – Dec 18, 1904 (grave not identified 2005)

REID, Lydia H., #61/64

REID, Robert, 1835 – 1872, Confederate Soldier, #62/63

RIVERS, Robert E., Jul 4, 1840 – Apr 12, 1873, “My Husbands Grave” (Mason) #195

(R. E. Rivers was listed on the 1870 census of Cross County, a grocery dealer living in Wittsburg.

He was age 30, born in TN. He was not listed with a wife so must have married between 1870-1873)

ROCK, Annabelle Akins, died Jul 20, 1952, age 56 (not identified 2005)

ROCK, Evelyn, died Feb 25, 1944, age 62 (not identified 2005)

ROLFE, monument erected by their great-great-grandson Thomas A. Baker Jr., 1991, #38-40

ROLFE, Alexander V., Husband, Dec 29, 1832 – Apr 17, 1874, Mecklenburg Co., VA, #40

ROLFE, Martha Dormer McClaran, Wife, Aug 27, 1835 – Dec 2, 1860, Fayette Co., TN, #38

ROLFE, Willie Samuel, 1854 – 1863 (child of Alexander & Martha Rolfe) #39

ROLFE, Earnest Franklin, 1857 – 1870 (child of Alexander & Martha Rolfe) #39

ROLFE, Dormer Adrienne, 1860 – 1914 (child of Alexander & Martha Rolfe) #39

ROSE, Lucy Antoinette, Mar 18, 1877 – Aug 29, 1961 (dates from great grandson, Melvin Young) #82

SIMMONS, Victoria E., Apr 16, 1870 – Aug 30, 1873, Consort of John M. Simmons (not identified 2005)

(John Simmons, husband of Victoria Simmons, buried in Vanndale Cemetery)

SPENCER, George W., Jul 8, 1881 – Sep 9, 1919 #81

SPENCER, Mary E., Jun 1, 1898 – Jun 7, 1925 #80

SPENCER, Moses Leander, Oct 30, 1927 – Dec 22, 1927 (not identified 2005)

STAFFORD, Alma Jean, Mar 29, 1938 – Feb 28, 1980, #145

STAFFORD, Connie, 1905 – 1953, #149

STAFFORD, Earnest, died Aug 5, 1968, age 58, #151/152

STAFFORD, Joe S. (homemade maker, no dates) #147

STAFFORD, Lena, 1914 – 1986, #143

STAFFORD, Oddie Nuke, Jan 17, 1928 – Aug 14, 2000, #141

STAFFORD, Raymond, Mar 15, 1913 – Jan 11, 1994, age 80 (Woodard Funeral Services) #144

STAFFORD, Rose (homemade marker, no dates) #148/160

(unreadable, near Rose Stafford) #161

(rock, unreadable, near Stafford) #162

STAFFORD, Walter, 1900 – 1960, #150

TAYLOR, Annie Futrell, died Sep 28, 1962, age 93 (not identified)

TAYLOR, Clara Woodard, Aug 7, 1911 – Feb 24, 1999, #103

TOLIVER, Floyd, 1934 – 1992 (Woodard Funeral Services) #156

TOLIVER, Ocie Lee, Jul 31, 1938 – Oct 14, 1995 (Woodard Funeral Services) #157

TOLIVER, Wade, (Apr 7, 1886), died Feb ?, 1968, age 77 (Funeral Home marker) #158

VANN, Betty, Apr 17, 1938 – Apr 13, 1999, “Mother”, #146

WARE, Dabney, Dec 1, 1787 – Sep 16, 1846, “In Memory Of” #50

WARE, ????, Son of Dabney & Elizabeth V. Ware, Dec 9?, 1836 – Feb 16, 185? #51

WARREN, Edna, died Nov 28, 1917, Faithful Member of Blooming Rose Circle 517, #118

WARREN, Mr. Herbert L., Dec 16, 1936 – Mar 31, 1989, age 52

(M. J. Edwards & Sons Funeral Home, Memphis TN) #142

WARREN, Martha J., Wife of N S Warren, ??? 1831 – Oct ??, 1865, #190

WARREN, Nathaniel S., 1823 – Sep 1, 1868, #189

WARREN, Ruby, died Jul 20, 1930, Blooming Rose Circle 42, #119

WASHINGTON, Stephen, Jul 28, 1794 – Aug 14, 1866, South Hampton, VA, #58/59

WHITEHEAD, Curtis Lee, Nov 21, 1950 – Dec 26, 2006

(Son of Fred Banks Whitehead and Eva Hallmark Whitehead Kelley. Survivors include his wife, Wilma Ivy Whitehead; daughter, Karen; brother, James; four sisters, Oneida, Jeannette, Dorothy and Shirley.)

WILLIAMS, Lillie, Jan 28, 1898 – May 23, 1975, “Rest In Peace”, #133/173

WILLIS, Jimmie M., 1864 – Jul 4, 1868, son of N. J. and N. B. (not identified)

WOODS, J. B., died Dec 2, 1935, age 12, son of Mr. And Mrs. J. W. Woods (not identified)

WYATT, Annie Lee, Jun 17, 1926 (one date only) #104

WYATT, Thomas E, 1907 – 1980, #105/106

From Cross County Historical Society: “Probably buried here”

POPE, Madison, Jan 22, 1820 – May 30, 1862

McCLARAN, Burley Duke, May 10, 1820 – Mar 8, 1875

TUBERVILLE, Dr. C. O., died Aug 1879, age 37, Confederate Soldier

This cemetery was originally surveyed by Thomas A. Baker in 1969, later by Howard Lehman, and again in 1983 by Robby Harris and Clyde Carter. Many of the markers are broken and deteriorated.

The following burials were included in the documentation from the Cross County Historical Society and was submitted by the late Miss Helen Brawner, to be included if a cemetery of Cross County was ever published:

“My great-grandfather, Jenkins Newsom, was born in North Carolina in 1808. He moved to Tennessee and there met Eliza A. E. Bond, born in Winston-Salem, N. C. 1805. They married in 1850 and moved to what was to become Cross County in 1853. They had one child, my grandfather, W. H. Newsom. Jenkins died in 1887, Eliza in 1877 or 78. They are buried in old Mt. Zion Cemetery.”

Jenkins Newsom, born 1808 North Carolina, died 1887

Eliza A. E. Bond Newsom, wife of Jenkins, born 1805 Winston-Salem, NC, died 1877/78

From the Cross County Historical Society documentation:

In an article in the Wynne Daily Star-Progress dated December 24, 1936, Col. Killough Stacy, the son of G. W. and Eva Beadle Stacy, also remembers Mt. Zion Cemetery: “Then we sat down, yea we wept, when we remembered Zion:. “When very small I went to a burying at Mt. Zion. John W. Killough pointed out a grave in which the person interred had his head to the north and his feet to the south. The person buried there was a Confederate Soldier and so requested it that he might rise at the Resurrection facing the south. A few yards from this grave was my grandmother’s final resting place, Evangeline Wilson Beadle. Her father and three of her brothers were Confederate Soldiers.”

Beadle, Evangeline Wilson, (dates unknown)

Killough Stacy died at the age of 64 March 7, 1955 and is buried in the National Cemetery at Arlington, Virginia. His father and mother are buried in Vanndale Cemetery.

The following information was taken from “Cemetery Records of Cross County, Arkansas” compiled by the Cross County Historical Society, 1984 – From “Old Mt. Zion” by Jewell Sigman Hare

Old Mt. Zion Church was organized in 1848. It was located two miles east of Vanndale. IN 1850 Col. David C. Cross gave 30 acres and building was erected. In 1885 the church was moved to Vanndale.

In 1934 the sons of daughters of the pioneers who established the church and cemetery organized a cemetery association. H. L. Lessenberry was the first president and Mrs. Hare the secretary. They met once a year the next several years, the last meeting in 1940. On August 8, 1940 a marker was placed marking the site of the old church. The last two members of the church were there, Mrs. Grace Hare Sneed and Mrs. Nannie Miller Legg.

In 1963, through the combined efforts of the historical commission of the North Arkansas Conference and a committee composed of Ben Horne, Luther Sigman and Thomas Baker of the Forrest City District Men’s Fellowship placed a Georgia granite stone on the same site commemorating the church and birthplace of the White River Conference organized there in 1870.

Monuments with the following inscriptions have been erected in the cemetery

In Memoriam:

The White River Conference was formed on this site in 1870. Bishop John C. Keenan merged

with the North Arkansas Conference – 1914

History of Old Mt. Zion Church and Cemetery

1860-40 Burials made here prior to the organization of the church

1847 A month long religious campground meeting was held with over 5,000 in attendance

1848 Col. David Cross gave 18 aces for formation of a church and cemetery, and Mt. Zion Methodist Episcopal Church, South was organized.

1850 A church building 30 X 48 feet with 4 white columns in front was erected on this site.

1870 The White River Conference was organized with Bishop Keener and 20 preachers and many lay delegates attending.

1885 The church membership moved to the present site of the Vanndale United Methodist Church.

1934-40 Mt. Zion Cemetery Association was formed and held annual meetings.

1963 Monument placed in cemetery by the Methodist Historical Commission.

1985 Efforts were made to reclaim the cemetery.

1989 Over 400 unmarked graves were found and marked.

1990 Markers placed on graves of Methodist Ministers and Confederate Veterans.

1990 The first church service held here in 50 years was on Easter Sunday.

1992 This chapel was completed and dedicated Sept. 1992

Appreciation is extended to all who helped on this project, especially the following trustees; Ben Horne, Luther Sigman, Thomas Baker, and assisted by Haden Cockrill, Afton Bradshaw, and Bob Ford.

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Last Updated Wednesday, July 16, 2008