Cemeteries & Graveyards

There are at least 364 graves in Cleveland County that pre-date the establishment of the county; 33 of these are pre-1800. Of these, most are in small family plots or just lone graves. Some of these graves are marked with nothing more than field stones–their location passed down through family Bible records or family lore.

2015, 09-06, visit to Hord cemetery (7)
Largest fieldstone in the James Hord Cemetery off
Robert Cornwell Road just south of Lawndale.

In ____, local historian Ned Cash began locating old family plots scattered around the county. Working with the Cleveland County GIS coordinator, he provided GPS coordinates for scores of these burial sites that are now available to view under the site’s “Layers” tab; check the Planimetrics box labeled “Cemeteries (located by Ned Cash).”

Church Cemeteries

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.

The earliest cemetery burials are found in the county’s earliest church graveyards. Most of the information that follows below was recorded during the 1939 Works Progress Administration Cemetery Census. Cleveland County historian, Paris Cleveland Gardner, was instrumental in that project for the county. WPA workers in Cleveland County were Forest Williams and Anson G. Melton. Information below that was recorded during the 1939 WPA census is set in italics.

Sandy Run Baptist Church Cemetery. This church is the county’s oldest church, having been established in 1772. Date of cemetery survey: March 22, 1939. Remarks:

“This old church cemetery is located in No. 7 Township, Cleveland County, NC in the corporate limits of the town of Mooresville, NC which is about ten miles west of Shelby, NC and on the southwest side of Highway No. 74 and is very near the Sandy Run Baptist Church building on the south side.

Just in front of the Sandy Run Baptist Church, perhaps forty or 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.’ “

  • 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.

Old Shiloh Presbyterian Church Cemetery. The church was established in 1780. Date of cemetery survey: Dec. 1, 1939 by B. E. Weathers and A. G. Melton. Remarks:

“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 NC and SC mark the southern boundary of this ancient cemetery where sleeps a number of heroes of the Revolutionary War and many pioneers of Cleveland County, NC.“

  • Owner of Cemetery: Hon. O. M. Mull
  • Approximate number of marked graves: 103; Before 1914: 103; After 1914: None
  • Unmarked graves: 24 with indications of 30 or 40 more
  • Earliest marked grave: William Patterson, d. Oct. 7, 1780
  • General condition of cemetery: This cemetery has been abandoned by the Presbyterian Church now of Grover, NC. However, a part of it is cleaned off periodically at least.

Mount Harmony Methodist Church Cemetery. The church was established in 1791. Date of cemetery survey: June 12, 1939 by Forest Williams. Remarks:
“This church cemetery is located in Cleveland County, N.C. in Township No. 8, 15 miles north of Shelby on sand-clay road leading to Highway No. 190, on south side of road, 3 miles east of Hollis, N.C., and 5 miles north of Polkville, NC. Miss Susan Lattimore says that according to tradition a number of slaves are buried in this cemetery.

  • Owner of Cemetery: Mt. Harmony M. E. Church
  • Number of marked graves: 66; Before 1914: 51; After 1914: 15
  • Unmarked graves: 175; earliest marked grave: Fanny Willis, d. June 1822
  • Condition: In fair condition.“

Palm Tree Methodist Church Cemetery. The church was established in 1795. Date of cemetery survey: May 9, 1939 by A. G. Melton and Forest Williams. Remarks:

“The Palm Tree M. E. Church South is a rural church situated in No. 9 Township, Cleveland County, NC one mile southwest of Lawndale and nine miles northwest of Shelby on the northwest side of Lawndale-Polkville Highway. The elevation is high and in plain view of the South Mountains. It is surrounded by a grove of twenty-two oaks and seven pines with beautiful shrubbery on either side. Palm Tree Church was first built in 1795; rebuilt in 1844 with a balcony for slaves; rebuilt
1875; rebuilt in 1891 and rebuilt in 1928.“

  • Earliest burial: 1832

El Bethel Methodist Church Cemetery. The church was established in 1812. Date of cemetery survey: May 22, 1939. Remarks:

“Located in Cleveland County, N.C., Township No. 4, 100 yards south of Highway No. 74, about 3 miles west of Kings Mountain and about 11 miles east of Shelby. A sign bearing the name of the church and its date of organization hangs on the south side of the Highway No. 74.

  • Owner of Cemetery: El Bethel M. E. Church South
  • Number of marked graves: 400; Before 1914: 344; After 1914: 56
  • Unmarked graves: 75
  • Earliest marked grave: Jacob Harmon, d. Dec. 2, 1815
  • Condition: In fair condition“

Zion Baptist Church Cemetery. The church was established in 1816. The cemetery was surveyed by Forest Williams and Anson G. melton. Remarks:

“This cemetery is located in No. 6 Township, Cleveland County, N.C. about five miles north of Shelby, NC 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.

NOTE: Under data April 5th, 1814, Willis Weathers executed a deed for three acres to Samuel Bailey, William Covington, and Mark Dedmon, commissioners of the Ana Baptist Church or society at Zion, which deed is registered in Book 3rd, No. 23, in office of Register of Deeds of Cleveland County. This deed was found by me July 8, 1938, and delivered to Editor Lee B. Weathers of Shelby to be preserved, since he is a great-great grandson of said Willis Weathers, a Rev. War Soldier.
Data by P. Cleveland Gardner.

  • Approximate number of marked graves: 214; Earliest marked grave: Samuel McEntire, d. Nov. 10, 1822
  • Unmarked graves: 50
  • The cemetery shows good attention with a small percentage of unmarked graves than we have hitherto found. We have found the following data on the cornerstone of the Zion Baptist Church:

    ‘Zion Baptist Church organized in 1816.
    Rebuilt 1856.
    Rebuilt 1883
    Rebuilt 1927′ “

Kadesh United Methodist Church Cemetery. The church was established in 1833. Date of cemetery survey: May 10, 1939. Remarks:

“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. 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.”

Zoar Baptist Church Cemetery. The church was established in 1837. Date of survey: March 21, 1939 by Forest Williams and Anson G. Melton. Remarks:

“The Zoar Baptist Church Cemetery is located in No. 6 Township, Cleveland County, NC about three miles south of Shelby on Highway No. 18 about 100 yards south of Cranes Filling Station, and on west side of said Highway No. 18.“

  • Owner of Cemetery: Zoar Baptist Church
  • Approximate number of marked graves: 250; Before 1914: 187; After 1914: 63
  • Unmarked graves: 150; Earliest marked grave: Margaret A. McBrayer, d. Nov. 23, 1813
  • Condition: The graves are very irregular, not in systematic row. However a regular sexton is in charge of the cemetery and it is kept clean. The sexton’s name is Mr. Fate Warren, age 79 years, and lives about ½ mile south of this church on Highway No. 18.

Capernaum Baptist Church Cemetery. The church was established in 1842. The congregation built a new church in Waco in 1887. The relocation provided better access to the railroad. The congregation also decided to rename the church Waco Baptist Church. Date of cemetery surveyed by Forest Williams. Remarks:

“This cemetery is located in No. 5 Township, Cleveland County and about 2 miles south of Waco 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.

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 burying 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.”

  • Owner of Cemetery: Capernaum Baptist Church Cemetery
  • Number of marked graves: 116; Earliest marked grave: Jimmy (sic; ‘Jincy’) Hord, d. June 5, 1850
  • Unmarked graves: 45
  • Condition of cemetery: The cemetery is in fine shape and it has some real nice markers.“

Scores of other cemeteries are described as those listed above at the NC GenWeb site for Cleveland County Cemeteries.

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.

Municipal Cemeteries

County Home Cemetery. At one time there was a cemetery for people who died while under the care of the county home on South Post Road in Shelby. The county set aside land on the Cleveland County Fairgrounds property for a cemetery for these folks. In 1994, the remains of those buried at the old cemetery were moved and reinterred at Cleveland Memorial Park.

Eastside Cemetery was established around 1892 to serve the African American community. In those days it was known as Sunrise Cemetery as well as Freemon (or Freedman–a reference to those formerly enslaved?) Cemetery. It is located at the corner of Lineberger and Lincoln Streets in Shelby.

In 1935, human remains were unearthed at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds. It is unknown whether the burial grounds had a name. The article states that the remains were reinterred, but fails to mention the location of the new burial site. One possible location would have been the old County Home Cemetery, just a few hundred yards east of the grandstand area. Another possibility was Eastside Cemetery.

Also lost to history are the names of those buried there. Speculation is that these were the graves of former slaves. The landowner in those days was William Roberts. Roberts held the largest number of slaves in the county; 44 were listed in the 1860 US Census Slave Schedule.

Mountain Rest Cemetery was established in 1874. This cemetery is located at 111 South Dilling Street in Kings Mountain.

Sunset Cemetery was established in 1841. This cemetery is located at 412 West Sumter Street in Shelby behind the Episcopal Church of The Redeemer. It is the burial site of two former NC governors, Gov. O. Max Gardner and his brother-in-law, Gov. Clyde R. Hoey. W. J. Cash, author of The Mind of the South, and the legendary country singer/song writer, Don Gibson are buried there as well.

2009, 10-25, Day Trippin' (48)
Entrance gate at Sunset Cemetery in Shelby; October 2009.
Floyd map
Map of Sunset Cemetery in Shelby; provided by William Dacus Floyd about 1997.

Joe DePriest along with June Hadden Hobbs and photographer Hal Bryant wrote a book about Sunset Cemetery in 2021. It is still available at Amazon.

Webb Memorial Lawns was established in the 1940s to serve the African American community. It is located on Eaves Road in Shelby about one mile south of Holly Oak Park.

Privately Managed Cemeteries

Cleveland Memorial Park was established in 1950. This cemetery is located at 1225 College Avenue in Shelby. It is actually closer to Boiling Springs than Shelby.

Rose Hill Memorial Park. This cemetery is located on Stagecoach Road between Fallston and Lawndale.

Online Cemetery Databases

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, Dennis Morgan, and others of Cleveland County in the 1990s.

Find a Grave, now a subsidiary of Ancestry.com, was created in 1995 by Jim Tipton of Salt Lake City, Utah. What began as a hobby of visiting the burial sites of famous celebrities, became a commercial entity in 1998.

The late Elizabeth Olmstead, of Kings Mountain, became a member a year later. In her 21 years serving as a Find a Grave volunteer, she amassed an incredible record of documenting the graves of Cleveland County, as well as some cemeteries in neighboring counties. Her stats are shown below.

Another feature of Find a Grave is the ability to create “virtual cemeteries.” These are collections of graves based upon a commonality shared among the people interred. Judith Parker-Proctor is another Find a Grave volunteer who has created several of these in the course of her research in genealogy and local history. Here are a few:

Paula Hord Dedmon has also created virtual cemeteries:

For a complete list of the 378 cemeteries in Cleveland County, visit Search Cemeteries at Find a Grave.

About Headstones

Many of the old headstones recorded a person’s date of death, but not their date of birth. Instead the person’s age in years, months, and days were recorded. “Tombstone Birthday Calculator” at Ancestor Search is a useful online tool to calculate date of birth from that information.

Memorials.com has a useful section on the symbolism of various motifs found on headstones across the country.