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First United Methodist Cemetery

In 1835 a land grant of three acres from the State of North Carolina provided space for the current cemetery. Throughout the cemetery there are many unmarked graves as evident by the numerous empty areas. In 1989 Harold H. Cude’s survey estimated the capacity for the cemetery was over 400 graves. There are 234 known individuals buried here. Many of the pioneer families and most prominent citizens of Macon County were buried in the cemetery until the establishment of Woodlawn Cemetery located at the west edge of Franklin. Sixteen known graves were moved from this cemetery to Woodlawn Cemetery, First Presbyterian Cemetery, and cemeteries in Jackson County and New Hampshire. The last burial in this cemetery was in 1996. Stone carvers included D.A. Walker, W.T. White, E.B. White, R.D. White, and Baum. Over the years there have been several surveys done of the cemetery to include those by: Horace J. Hurst (1939-1940), Frances Swift (1986), Harold H. Cude (1989), and Larry and Bill Crawford (2011.)

The church cemetery committee completed a survey in 2020 comparing each name with birth, marriage and death records from all the previous surveys.  The result is a listing of the individuals who are buried here along with the assigned row, birth and death dates, and additional comments.  
The church cemetery committee used the grid which H. H. Cude used in his survey.  The graves are fairly well laid out in rows with only a few rows which are slightly out of line.  The rows were assigned numbers from 1 – 15 with Row 1 being along the west boundary and Row 15 the nearest to the east boundary of the cemetery.  The monuments in each row were numbered from south to north, with the result that the listing starts with Addie London (1861-1921) as Row 1-1.  

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Unmarked Ground

 

Here in this sacred burial ground

Where stones engraved for remembrance abound,

Lie also those, in unmarked ground.

 

In a quiet corner, near the trees

In sunshine, rain and summer breeze

Are the silent graves of forgotten souls

Who once had lives, and dreams, and goals.

 

Many lives were hard - filled with pain and toil,

Their bodies found rest beneath this soil.

Their spirits found freedom, joy and peace,

Once death brought their earthly release.

 

The grass covered knoll lies still and bare,

Yet testifies to the souls laid there.

Perhaps a stone or wooden cross

Once marked the spot, but now is lost.

 

Mourned at their death by a family, a friend -

Now their place of rest we must attend,

And show respect to each name-lost soul;

And honor the ground where their story is told.

 

Here in this sacred burial ground

Where stones engraved for remembrance abound,

We remember those who lie in unmarked ground.

Unknown Author

If you are not finding the grave/niche you are looking for, try:

Find A Grave.

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