Some of the old maps distinguish between “cemetery” and “graveyard.” The use of the word “graveyard” generally indicates a cemetery on the grounds of a church. Now “cemetery” encompasses both public and private burial grounds.
Most of the information included here was recorded during the 1939 Works Progress Administration Cemetery Census. Cleveland County historian, P. Cleveland Gardner, was instrumental in that project for the county. WPA workers in Cleveland County were Forrest Williams and Anson G. Melton. Information below that was recorded during the 1939 WPA census is set in italics.1
Beginning in 1997, W. D. “Bill” Floyd, Dennis Morgan, and others conducted a survey of cemeteries in Cleveland County and some surrounding areas. Floyd published each cemetery census as a separate file and uploaded them to NCGenweb. Some years later, Larry Simpson combined the censuses together into a single PDF document which can be accessed here.
Many graves they added have also been added to Find a Grave, now a subsidiary of Ancestry.com; below is a sampling of those. For a complete list of the 378 cemeteries in Cleveland County, visit Find a Grave.
Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery “This cemetery is located in Cleveland County, NC in No. 4 Township four miles southwest of Kings Mountain, and on a sand clay road leading north and south, the cemetery being on both sides of road. Owned by Bethlehem Baptist Church Approximate number of marked graves: 195 Unmarked graves: 115 Earliest marked grave: Maggie L. Logan, d. Oct. 3, 1844 General condition of cemetery: The best kept cemetery the worker has seen in rural section. Date of survey: Aug. 10, 1939 Workers: Forest Williams and Anson G. Melton Bethlehem Baptist Church was organized on July 16, 1842; rebuilt in 1869; rebuilt 1929. Sunday School enrollment, 410. Rev. C. J. Black was their pastor until about two months [ago], being removed by death. Rev. C. J. Black was a useful man other than his pastoral work, having written several books and pamphlets mostly of an historical nature. Data by Forest Williams, Worker.” Search this cemetery.
Brook’s Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery, updated 1998 by W. D. Floyd. Map. “This cemetery is located northwest of Polkville, NC. Take NC 226 north to about the city limits of Polkville and make a left onto Hollis Rd. Follow Hollis Rd. about three mile and find a dirt road to the right called Brooks Chapel Rd. The cemetery is a few hundred feet out this road and off to the right. I did the audit August 12, 1998 and I started in the southwest corner of the cemetery. There are many of the graves marked only with a fieldstone and many unmarked. This is a pretty well maintained cemetery and should provide some good African-American records.“
Buffalo Baptist Church Cemetery “This cemetery is located in Cleveland County, N.C. in No. 5 Township, 800 yards south of Highway No. 150 between Shelby and Cherryville; about five miles northeast of Shelby. Owner of Cemetery: Buffalo Baptist Church Approximate number of marked graves: 12 Unmarked graves: 67 Earliest marked grave: Margaret Irrenia Ross, d. Oct. 17, 1915 General condition of cemetery: in foul shape Date of survey: Aug. 14, 1939 Workers: Forest Williams and Anson G. Melton.” Search this cemetery.
Capernaum Cemetery “This cemetery is located in No. 5 Township, Cleveland County, NC and about 2 miles south of Waco, N.C. and 10 miles N.E. of Shelby, being ½ mile off the old highway leading from Shelby to Waco, on west side of said road, and adjoining Pete Kendrick’s land. Owner of Cemetery: Capernaum Baptist Church Cemetery. Number of marked graves: 116 Unmarked graves: 45 Earliest marked grave: Jimmy Hord,* d. June 5, 1850 Condition of cemetery: The cemetery is in fine shape and it has some real nice markers. [Date of survey: Not listed] Worker: Forest Williams. Capernaum Baptist Church was established in 1843 according to Logan’s History, and stood near this cemetery. Now the church is located at Waco, N.C. about two miles north of the cemetery. Though the church has been removed to Waco, it is still used for a buying ground. There are two sections in the cemetery-an old and a new. The old part is not so well kept but the new division is in fine shape. There is an arbor here and I understand an annual home-coming service is held at the cemetery.” Search this cemetery.
* Mr. Williams misread this headstone; this is the grave of Jincy Gardner Hord.
Cleveland Memorial Park This cemetery is located at 1225 College Ave., Shelby, NC. It is actually closer to Boiling Springs, NC. Search this cemetery.
Cook Memorial Gardens (former Faith Baptist Church Cemetery) This cemetery is located near the intersection of Dravo Road and Brick House Road two miles west of Hwy. 18 S., just north of the South Carolina state line. Search this cemetery.
East Side Cemetery This cemetery is located at the corner of Lincoln and Lineberger Streets in Shelby, North Carolina. Search this cemetery.
Elizabeth Baptist Church Cemetery “This cemetery is located in No. 6 Township, Cleveland County, N.C. three miles east of Shelby about ½ mile north of Highway 20, at County Fair Ground; turn left on side road at Cleveland Springs Estates. Approximate number of marked graves: 171 Unmarked graves: 211 Earliest marked grave: Margaret M. Kendrick, Aug. 28, 1885 Condition: Fair. About twice each year it is cleaned off and put in good shape. Date of survey and workers: [No data shown.] The Elizabeth Baptist Church situated about two and one half miles east of Shelby, N.C. was organized in 1883 and named for Mrs. Elizabeth Love Wilson. The church consisted of about forty-five or fifty charter members as follows: Mrs. Elizabeth Love Wilson, Mr. & Mrs. S. A. Wilson, Mrs. Sallie Poston, J. T. Poston, J. O. Poston, D. P. Poston, Miss Dovie Poston, Mr. & Mrs. E. O. Borders, Mrs. Alice White, Mr. & Mrs. Joshua Beasley, Francis McSwain, John Lewis Kendrick, Thomas Lawson Kendrick, Hill Kendrick, L. I. Kendrick, Mr. & Mrs. C. M. Kenrick [per text], Joe Kendrick, Miss Elizabeth Kendrick, Miss Lula Kendrick, Mr. & Mrs. Wm. Roberts, Mrs. Catherine Roberts, Miss J. Anna Allen, Mr. & Mrs. W. T. Allen, L. B. Allen, Mrs. Elizabeth Houser, Mr. & Mrs. Jessie Hord, Mr. & Mrs. David Blanton. The ministers who served the church as pastor are here named in the order in which they served: C. F. Felmet, who aided in the movement to build a church by conducting a revival meeting at a brush arbor about one mile north of the present church, J. M. Bridges, Thomas Dixon, A. C. Irvin, A. H. Simms, G. G. O’Neill, C. W. Payseur, J. W. Suttle, Z. D. Harrill, W.E. Lowe, W. G. Camp, H. E. Waldrop, and the present pastor, B. P. Parks. The first deacons were: “Thomas McSwain, Samuel A. Wilson, Jesse Hord, David Blanton, Philip D. Wilson, William Roberts, D. P. Poston, W. A. Hamrick, the first clerk was John Lewis Kendrick. The present clerk is Chas. W. Spake. This organization is planning to construct a new brick building this year.” “In the early early history of the church, when many Sunday Schools were forced to close during the winter months, the Elizabeth Church was able to maintain an all-the-year Sunday School, and has done so until the present time. In 1933, the membership of the Church was 401.” “Mrs. Elizabeth Love Wilson, who donated the ground on which the Church now stands, had 2 sons and 1 daughter, 15 grand children, 52 great grand children and 43 great, great grandchildren. As members of this church, she was a widow of Thomas Wilson of Wilson Sulphur Springs, now known as Sulphur Springs, and a daughter of Charles Love. She was born March 14, 1800 and died April 23, 1889. She was the mother of 10 children.” Search this cemetery.
Elliott Cemetery This information was provided by W. D. Floyd in his 1998 survey of cemeteries: “This cemetery is located near Polkville, NC which is in Cleveland County. To get to this cemetery from NC226 at Polkville turn west at the traffic light go about a mile and a half until the road starts a pretty hard bend to the left. A dirt or gravel road turns to the right in the middle of this curve. It is Elliott Cemetery road and dead ends at the cemetery. There were some unknown grave marked with field stones. This is a beautiful well kept little cemetery. Just a wonderful place. I done the audit April 30, 1997 and I just wrote down the ones that had readable markers. The entries that DO NOT have a line skipped between them are entries on the same marker like Man & Wife,etc.” Search this cemetery.
Ellis Chapel Baptist Cemetery, 1939 WPA Cemetery Census.
Ellis Chapel Baptist Cemetery, updated 2001 by W. D. Floyd. Map.
Eskridge Grove Baptist Church Cemetery, 1939 WPA Cemetery Census. Map.
Friendship United Methodist/Baptist Church Cemetery “This church cemetery is located in Cleveland County in No. 9 Township in the town of Fallston, N.C. 150 yards west of Highway No. 18 leading from Shelby to Morganton. Owner of Cemetery: Friendship Methodist P. Church Friendship M. P. Church was organized about 1840; rebuilt 1875; remodeled 1888; remodeled 1905 and rebuilt 1835. Approximate number of marked graves: 150 Unmarked graves; 145 Earliest marked grave: Robert L. Lackey, Sr., d. March 15, 1840 General condition of cemetery; The cemetery is in good condition. Date of survey: June 21, 1939 Workers: Forest Williams and Anson G. Melton.” Search this cemetery.
Green Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery, 1939 WPA Cemetery Census
Green Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery, updated 1998 by W. D. Floyd. Map.
Hord Cemetery “This cemetery is located in No. 9 Township, Cleveland County, NC situated on a knoll and being of a triangular shape; about a mile and a half west of the Lawndale-Shelby Road, and about four miles south of Lawndale 300 yards northwest of the old ___ Hord home place on the south side of the north prong of Harris Creek. Owner of Cemetery: Will Cornwell. Approximate number of marked graves: None Before 1914: None After 1914: None Number of unmarked graves: 23 Condition of cemetery: Abandoned and grown up in broom sedge, shrubbery and stone. Date of survey: March 15, 1939 Workers: A. G. Melton and Forest B. Williams. We found four rows of graves in this cemetery as follows: 12 in first row-unmarked 5 in second row-unmarked 3 in third row-unmarked 3 in fourth row-unmarked.
Paula Hord Dedmon visited the Hord family plot in 2015 and 2016. The fieldstone in the photo below was the largest of several found.
In 2021, a transcript of a letter from Richard T. Hord to his son Albert Thompson Hord revealed the identity of other family members buried here. Susannah Hord Cabaniss and some of her children are believed to be buried here as well.
Ivey Hill Methodist Church Cemetery, 1939 WPA Cemetery Census
Kadesh United Methodist Church Cemetery “This large church cemetery is located in Cleveland County, N.C. in No. 9 Township about 14 miles north of Shelby and about 2 miles east of Belwood, also a quarter of a mile east of Highway No. 18 between Shelby and Morganton. Owner of Cemetery: Kadesh M. E. Church, South Number of marked graves: 203 Before 1914: 153 After 1914: 50 Unmarked graves: 75 Earliest marked grave: Margaret Lackey, d. Dec. 2, 1826 Condition: In very good shape. Date of survey: May 10, 1939 Workers: Not listed Kadesh M. E. Church South was founded August 11, 1833; rebuilt 1871; rebuilt 1935. The present building is of brick. Mr. Geo. Hoyle informs us that Gilbreth Dickson gave site about 1832. Rev. Clem Goforth is the present pastor and resides at Fallston, N.C.” Search this cemetery.
Long Branch Baptist Church Cemetery, 1939 WPA Cemetery Census. Map.
Mountain Rest Cemetery This cemetery is located at 111 S. Dilling Street, Kings Mountain, NC. Search this cemetery.
Mull’s Memorial Baptist Church Cemetery This cemetery is located 3299 Fallston Road, Shelby, NC. Search this cemetery.
New Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery This cemetery is located at 112 New Bethel Church Road, Lawndale, NC. Search this cemetery.
New Prospect Baptist Church Cemetery “This cemetery is located in Cleveland County, NC, Township No. 5 on the road leading from Shelby to Lincolnton, about 200 years north of Buffalo Creek and is about eight miles northeast of Shelby. Owner of Cemetery: New Prospect Baptist Church. Approximate number of marked graves: 245 Before 1914: 195 After 1914: 50 Unmarked graves: 125 Earliest marked grave: Samuel Conner, d. 1793 Condition: The cemetery shows care and attention with very nice and interesting markers. But inasmuch as it is on a hillside it is corroding and is in a rather rough place. Date of survey: April 21, 1939 [Workers: [See end of 2nd paragraph] New Prospect Baptist Church is a rural church, built of red brick, about 35 x 50 feet, and almost in a stone’s throw of main Buffalo Creek. It was constituted on Oct. 6, 1854, resulting “chiefly from the labors of Elders T. Dixon, W. Hill and J. Suttle.” The first pastor was Rev. Tom Dixon who was the father of Rev. Clarence Dixon, one time the pastor of the Spurgeon Tabernacle, London England; also the father of Thomas Dixon, celebrated author, lecturer, playwright, and now clerk of Federal Court in a North Carolina District; also the father off the well-known Dr. Delia Dixon Carroll. Furthermore, the first deacons were: J. C. Hoyle, J. L. Dixon Carroll, J. L. Ledfore [Ledford ?], Andrew Beam, V. H. Elliott and J. F. Wilson. See: page 595, Sketches of Broad River and King’s Mountain Associations, by John R. Logan. This church has a large and very interesting cemetery, containing approximately 370 graves. It is here where the body of the venerable Rev. Tom Dixon lies, also his wife, Amanda E. Dixon. This marker stands almost directly in front of the church. Another marker stands of interest is that of the Revolutionist, Samuel Conner who died in 1793, aged 80 years. But the tallest marker is the one of John Teeter Beam who was born in Hamburg, Germany, 1732, which was 227 years after the death of Martin Luther, the Great Reformer. I mention this because of the fact that on this site where the body of John Teeter Beam now lies he had erected a Lutheran Church, which building was used by other denominations, but there being but few German settlers (Lutherans) in said community the said Lutheran Church was finally abandoned or gave way to those settlers of the Baptist faith who were most numbers. Hence, the organization of New Prospect Baptist Church in 1854. Workers: Anson G. Melton & Forest Williams. “Sketches of the Life of J. T. Beam and His Fifteen Children,” by A. R. Beam, a pamphlet containing forty-six pages, published in 1898, states on page 8: “In the year 1801, he (J. T. Beam) built a small house of worship on the hill where now stands New Prospect Church. This he erected for his own denomination-Lutheran-but as he was not prejudiced, he always opened it to other denominations.” On page 9, the same writer further states: “John T. (J. T.) Beam was pious, good man, and faithful Christian life, and was an elder of the Lutheran church at the time of his death.” Fur further data on the life of said John T. (J. T.) Beam, the reader is referred to the above named “Sketches” and, also, to data given in inscriptions on large monument erected to him which is also copied and included herein. Data by P. Cleveland Gardner, County Historian and great, great, great grandson of J. T. (John T.) Beam.” This cemetery is located at 1960 New Prospect Ch. Rd, Shelby, NC Search this cemetery.
Oak View Baptist Church Cemetery This cemetery is located at 1517 York Rd., Kings Mountain, NC. Search this cemetery.
Patterson Grove Baptist Church Cemetery This cemetery is located 301 Oak Grove Rd., Kings Mountain, NC, 28086. Search this cemetery.
Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery “This church cemetery is located in No. 9 Township, Cleveland County, N.C. eight miles north of Shelby on Highway No. 18 leading from Shelby to Morganton of the east side of the road and three miles south of Fallston, and is known as the Beams Mill community. Owner of Cemetery: Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Pleasant Grove Baptist Church was organized October 11, 1867; remodeled in 1908; rebuilt in 1936. The church is built of brick and in the shape of a cross with modest columns in front. Withal it is a very beautiful rural church. It is located in a prosperous community with evidence of spiritual culture. The present pastor is the beloved Rev. D. G. Washburn who resides near the Washburn Switch in this county. Approximate number of marked graves: 212 Before 1914: 142 After 1914: 70 Number of unmarked graves: 110 Earliest marked grave: Jane Wright, d. June 1, 1878 Condition: The cemetery is in good condition containing many modern markers. Date of survey: Not cited as well as who did the survey.” Search this cemetery.
Philadelphia Methodist Church Cemetery, 1939 WPA Cemetery Census
Philadelphia Methodist Church Cemetery, updated 2001 by W. D. Floyd. Map.
Philadelphia United Methodist Church Cemetery “This church cemetery is located in Cleveland County, N.C. in No. 9 Township two miles west of Fallston on Route 2 on a country road a half mile south of Highway No. 180 and twelve miles of Shelby, N.C. The cemetery consists of about one acre and thickly filled. Philadelphia Methodist Church (Colored) organized in a log church in 1866. Frame building. Second building painted white; dimensions 35 by 40 feet; one Sunday School room; heated by stove; lighted with carbide lights. Present building erected in 1906. Two old maids, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Rebecca Gardner gave the land for the cemetery. Church owns one and a half acres of land. Data by A. G. Melton and Forest Williams. (Said Rebecca Gardner and Elizabeth Gardner were daughters of Thomas W. Gardner and wife, Ollie Martin Gardner, pioneer settlers of Tryon and Rutherford Counties. Data by P. Cleveland Gardner.) Owner of Cemetery: Philadelphia Methodist Church (Colored) Approximate number of marked graves; 21 Unmarked graves: 321 Earliest marked grave: Cisily Lattimore, d, June 24, 1874 General condition of cemetery: In fair condition. Date of survey: July 31, 1939 Workers: Forest Williams and Anson G. Melton.” Search this cemetery.
Rose Hill Memorial Park. This cemetery is located on Stagecoach Road between Fallston and Lawndale, NC. Search this cemetery.
Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church Cemetery This cemetery is located at 2622 New Prospect Ch. Rd. near Waco, NC. Search this cemetery.
Sandy Run Baptist Church Cemetery “This old church cemetery is located in No. 7 Township, Cleveland County, N.C. in the corporate limits of the town of Mooresville, N.C. which is about ten miles west of Shelby, N.C. and on the southwest side of Highway No. 74 and is very near the Sandy Run Baptist Church building on the south side. Owner of Cemetery: Sandy Run Baptist Church Number of marked graves: 225 Unmarked graves: 175 Earliest marked grave: Elizabeth Jones, d. Sept. 2, 1818 Condition: The cemetery is kept clean, although some section of graves are very irregular, and, too, being on a sloping hillside erosion is underway. Date of survey: March 22, 1939 Just in front of the Sandy Run Baptist Church, perhaps forty of fifty feet from the church there stands an impressive monument in marble, some eight or ten feet high, in honor of the Rev. Drury Dobbins and his wife, Hannah Dobbins-on which are found the following inscriptions: “Rev. Drury Dobbins, A. member of the Baptist Church for 50 years, pastor of Sandy Run Church for 44 years, founder of the Baptist cause throughout this County, and one of the greatest men of his age. Died May 19, 1847. Aged 72 years. His body lies in the family graveyard.” “Hannah Dobbins, his wife, died Jan. 3, 1848. Aged about 80 years. Her body sleeps besides his.” This marker referred to above is the more conspicuous because it is directly in front of the church building and is not in the regular cemetery. Furthermore, it is of interest to note that this church, Sandy Run Baptist Church, was organized in 1772. See: Sketches of Broad River and Sandy Run Associations, page 599. Hon. P. Cleveland Gardner, Cleveland County Historian, says that this is the oldest church in Western North Carolina.” Search this cemetery.
Shiloh AME Zion Church Cemetery, 1939 WPA Cemetery Census. Map.
Shiloh Presbyterian Church Cemetery. This cemetery is located along Elm Road just south of I-85 near Grover, NC. In 1939, WPA Cemetery Census workers, B. E. Weathers and A. G. Melton visited the cemetery to record the burials. They provided the following brief history as known at the time:
Shoal Creek Cemetery, 1939 WPA Cemetery Census
Shoal Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, 1939 WPA Cemetery Census. Map.
St. Paul’s Baptist Church Cemetery, 1939 WPA Cemetery Census. Map.
“Shiloh Cemetery on the present farm of Hon. O. M. Mull, No. 4 Township, Cleveland County, N.C., ¾ mile east of Grover, N.C. Hon. P. Cleveland Gardner says that according to a publication entitled, “Carolina Churches,” Vol. 1, page 2, edited by Rev. H. L. Reaves, Presbyterian Minister, Grover, N.C., dated April 1938, Shiloh Presbyterian Church was organized in 1780, called Calvary. How, in his history, page 522, gives a sketch of this church. After construction of the Southern Ry., and the establishment of the town site of Whitaker (now Grover), the site of the old Shiloh Church was sold to a Negro congregation which still retains the site and the name Shiloh, and a new site was purchased in the town of Whitaker, now Grover. This new church was dedicated Aug. 15, 1884. The State Line of N.C. and S.C. mark the southern boundary of this ancient cemetery where sleeps a number of heroes of the Revolutionary War and many pioneers of Cleveland County, N.C.”
Shiloh is the oldest in Cleveland County and is listed as an historic site on the National Register of Historic Places. Revolutionary war hero William Patterson is buried there. Search this cemetery.
Sunset Cemetery This cemetery is located at 412 W. Sumter St., Shelby, NC; it is behind the Episcopal Church of The Redeemer. It is the burial site of Gov. O. Max Gardner, Gov. Clyde R. Hoey, the legendary country singer/song writer, Don Gibson, as well as numerous members of the Hord family. Search this cemetery.
T. W. Gardner Cemetery “This small family cemetery is located in No. 9 Township, Cleveland County, NC on the east side of First Broad River and on top of a ridge between said river and Magness Creek, a quarter of a mile east of the old homestead of the late Richard T. Hord, now owned by his son, Geo. C. Hord; about nine miles northwest of Shelby, and on the west side of the road leading from Double Shoals to Lawndale and between the old homesteads of Ham Williams and Richard T. Hord. Owner of Cemetery: Geo. C. Hord.
Geo. C. Hord, age 71, son of Richard T. Hord, owner of said property, gives the following information as to the Hord family: “Two unmarked graves are those of his half-sister, Emily Hord Williams who was the third wife of Audley Williams; and Harriett Hord Williams was the second wife of Audley Williams. Also, James Hord, uncle of Geo. C. Hord and brother of Richard T. Hoard, was buried here.” The following data by P. Cleveland Gardner, great-great grandson of Thomas W. Gardner: “Thomas W. Gardner was married to Miss Olive Gardner; date of his birth is not exactly known but was probably during the Revolutionary War. He died in 1844; his wife, Olive Martin, was born in 1780, died July 29, 1856. Tradition is that they were married on Catawba River between counties of Lincoln and Rowan. “They settled about three-quarters of a mile Southeast of said graveyard, on Southeast side of Magness Creek, where they reared a family of twelve children consisting of six sons and six daughters, as follows: “Jerry Gardner, b. Nov. 17, 1793; [Handwritten in – Jeremiah] “Martin Gardner, b. Nov. 17, 1793; “Leanna Gardner, b. 1795; Lewis Gardner, b. 1800; “William Gardner, b. 1801, d. Sept. 12, 1847; (He was grandfather of Governor O. Max Gardner.) “Elizabeth Gardner, d. Sept. 11, 1906 “Rebecca Gardner, b. 1805; “Jane Gardner, b. 18___ ; “Easter Gardner, b. 18 ____ ‘ “Carrie Gardner, b. 1810 (was second wife of Col. Pascal T. Grigg); “Davie Gardner, b. 1815, d. Sept. 11, 1906 (Princess County, Miss.); “James L. Gardner, b. 1816, d. July 31, 1862 (Peace Hospital, Raleigh,N.C.); “Thomas W. Gardner and wife Olive Martin Gardner are buried in this graveyard. He was a large landowner at one time, his land extended from the old London Mineral Springs to near New Bethel Baptist Church, on East side of the river between Double Shoals and Lawndale. The old Lincoln-Rutherford Sate Coach Road ran just North of his home and through his farm. A large ledge of rock on East side of the river below Lawndale is still pointed out as the ‘Gardner Rock House’.” Search this cemetery.
Samuel Thompson Cemetery. From the Find a Grave entry,
“This cemetery was listed in the 1939 WPA Cemetery Census with the following description: ‘This small family cemetery is situated in No. 9 Township, Cleveland County, N.C. a quarter of a mile northwest of Double Shoals village, and being about 55 yards east of the Spangler residence and about midway between First Broad River and residence of C. R. Spangler on highway. Owner of Cemetery: C. Reubin Spangler. Earliest marked grave: Samuel Thompson, d. April 28, 1847.” Search this cemetery.
Trinity Baptist Church Cemetery “This cemetery is located in Cleveland County Township No. 2 about 12 miles southwest of Shelby, N.C., and about 3 miles west of Boiling Springs on cross county road leading from Boiling Springs to Henrietta, N.C. near the Gordon Bostic old home place Owner of Cemetery: Trinity Baptist Church Number of marked graves 34 Before 1914: None After 1914: 34 Unmarked graves: 38 Earliest marked grave: Cynthia Green, d. Mar. 7, 1915 Condition: The cemetery is in good condition Date of survey June 8, 1939 According to an oral report by Mr. E. B. Lovelace, member of Trinity Church, the church was organized in a nearby schoolhouse in the year of 1912, while the church edifice was not built until the next year-1913. It is a frame building painted white. The first building was about 20 x 45 ft. There has been built at the rear of the church a Sunday School Annex about 36 x 50 ft., consisting of ten Sunday School rooms. The annex is 2 stories high. Trinity Baptist Church stands in the southwestern part of Cleveland County about 3 miles west of Boiling Springs on sand-clay road leading from Boiling Springs to Henrietta, being about 12 miles southwest of Shelby, N.C. Mr. E. B. Lovelace also reports that the first pastor was Rev. Mon. Bridges. It was organized, however, by Rev. Jim Lowery. The first deacons were: R. V. Green, B. B. Harris, M. M. Beason, P. E. Harrill and Mose Queen. First Church clerk was R. V. Green. Susan School Superintendent, present incumbent, Mr. Sam Jenkins. The present pastor is the Rev. C. W. Walker of Forest City, N.C. The church has preaching two Sundays a month. Sunday School enrollment is 180, while there are about 225 members of the Church. — Anson G. Melton.” Search this cemetery.
Vestibule Methodist Church Cemetery, 1939 WPA Cemetery Census. Map.
Vestibule Baptist Church Cemetery, updated 2001 by W. D. Floyd.
Washington Baptist Church Cemetery, 1939 WPA Cemetery Census. Map.
Webb Memorial Lawns, Eaves Rd. Shelby, NC 28152. Map.
Union Baptist Church Cemetery This cemetery is located on Hwy. 226 just south of Polkville, NC. Search this cemetery.
Young’s Chapel AME Zion Church, updated 2001 by W. D. Floyd. Map.
Zion Baptist Church Cemetery “This church cemetery is located in No. 6 Township, Cleveland County, N.C. about five miles north of Shelby, N.C. and near the place where the first Court of Cleveland County was held. The cemetery is situated near the Zion Baptist Church, a brick structure. The community is well known and there is no further need of description. Approximate number of marked graves: 214 Unmarked graves: 50. Earliest marked grave: Samuel McEntire, d. Nov. 10, 1822. Date of survey: [Not cited] Workers: Forest Williams and Anson G. Melton.” Search this cemetery.
About Headstones
Gravestone Birthday Calculator
Interpreting Cemeteries and Gravestones
Cemetery Indexes
Cleveland County Cemetery Index This link includes cemetery censuses taken in 1939 as part of the Works Progress Administration jobs creation program, as well as censuses taken by W. D. Floyd and others of Cleveland County in the 1990s.
Works Progress Administration, Cemetery Census (1939), Records of Cleveland County, North Carolina; transcript by Ann Propst and Derick Hartshorn, 2008; retrieved from http://www.ncgenweb.us/cleveland/ClevelandIndex.htm
Below is a sample transcript.
Cleveland County History 