Bethlehem Cemetery Association
Burial and Other Statistics (as of 12/31/2012)
Looking Southwest
Looking Northeast
Looking North (left), Looking Southeast (right)
Burial Statistics
Description Information Number Percentage
Age 0   15 4.2%
Age 1   5 1.4%
Age 2   4 1.1%
Age 3-19   7 2.0%
Age 20-29   14 3.9%
Age 30-39   28 7.8%
Age 40-49   23 6.4%
Age 50-59   24 6.7%
Age 60-69   51 14.2%
Age 70-79   87 24.4%
Age 80-89   63 17.6%
Age 90-99   25 7.0%
Age 100 +   1 0.3%
Age Unknown   12 3.4%
Burials (Including Cremations)   359 100.0%
Known Memorials - No Burial   8 =====
Burials - Memorials - Cremations and/or Shared Plots                367 =====
Earliest Recorded Burial Sarah Jane McLean Baird 1868 =====
Earliest Recorded Burial Date of Birth David Williamson 1777 =====
Longest Lived Person Interred Johnnie S. Cheek, 102 1894-1996 =====
Most Common Family Names (Included Maiden and Married Names Causes Count Ovelap) Count Percentage
Aldridge   22 6.0%
Gillespie   22 6.0%
Hardison   22 6.0%
McLean   20 5.5%
Tindell   19 5.2%
Crigger   16 4.4%
Lunn   15 4.1%
Dark   13 3.6%
Gallaway (Galloway)   11 3.0%
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Burials by Year
Year # % Year # % Year # % Year # %
1868 1 0.3% 1907 3 0.8% 1946 3 0.8% 1985 0 0.0%
1869 0 0.0% 1908 0 0.0% 1947 3 0.8% 1986 2 0.6%
1870 2 0.6% 1909 4 1.1% 1948 3 0.8% 1987 3 0.8%
1871 1 0.3% 1910 8 2.2% 1949 0 0.0% 1988 1 0.3%
1872 0 0.0% 1911 3 0.8% 1950 4 1.1% 1989 6 1.7%
1873 1 0.3% 1912 3 0.8% 1951 4 1.1% 1990 2 0.6%
1874 0 0.0% 1913 0 0.0% 1952 7 2.0% 1991 6 1.7%
1875 0 0.0% 1914 3 0.8% 1953 3 0.8% 1992 2 0.6%
1876 1 0.3% 1915 2 0.6% 1954 4 1.1% 1993 3 0.8%
1877 0 0.0% 1916 0 0.0% 1955 3 0.8% 1994 1 0.3%
1878 0 0.0% 1917 0 0.0% 1956 2 0.6% 1995 2 0.6%
1879 0 0.0% 1918 5 1.4% 1957 1 0.3% 1996 4 1.1%
1880 0 0.0% 1919 5 1.4% 1958 0 0.0% 1997 4 1.1%
1881 0 0.0% 1920 1 0.3% 1959 2 0.6% 1998 1 0.3%
1882 2 0.6% 1921 4 1.1% 1960 3 0.8% 1999 4 1.1%
1883 1 0.3% 1922 0 0.0% 1961 4 1.1% 2000 5 1.4%
1884 0 0.0% 1923 5 1.4% 1962 2 0.6% 2001 0 0.0%
1885 1 0.3% 1924 2 0.6% 1963 4 1.1% 2002 3 0.8%
1886 0 0.0% 1925 4 1.1% 1964 3 0.8% 2003 5 1.4%
1887 0 0.0% 1926 4 1.1% 1965 5 1.4% 2004 3 0.8%
1888 1 0.3% 1927 0 0.0% 1966 2 0.6% 2005 1 0.3%
1889 2 0.6% 1928 2 0.6% 1967 4 1.1% 2006 1 0.3%
1890 1 0.3% 1929 4 1.1% 1968 3 0.8% 2007 3 0.8%
1891 1 0.3% 1930 3 0.8% 1969 1 0.3% 2008 3 0.8%
1892 1 0.3% 1931 0 0.0% 1970 4 1.1% 2009 4 1.1%
1893 1 0.3% 1932 3 0.8% 1971 5 1.4% 2010 1 0.3%
1894 3 0.8% 1933 4 1.1% 1972 0 0.0% 2011 2 0.6%
1895 2 0.6% 1934 4 1.1% 1973 0 0.0% 2012 3 0.8%
1896 3 0.8% 1935 3 0.8% 1974 4 1.1% 2013    
1897 3 0.8% 1936 3 0.8% 1975 4 1.1% 2014    
1898 4 1.1% 1937 6 1.7% 1976 2 0.6% 2015    
1899 2 0.6% 1938 3 0.8% 1977 1 0.3% 2016    
1900 2 0.6% 1939 3 0.8% 1978 3 0.8% 2017    
1901 5 1.4% 1940 2 0.6% 1979 3 0.8% 2018    
1902 3 0.8% 1941 3 0.8% 1980 2 0.6% 2019    
1903 3 0.8% 1942 3 0.8% 1981 3 0.8% 2020    
1904 3 0.8% 1943 3 0.8% 1982 1 0.3% 2021    
1905 3 0.8% 1944 2 0.6% 1983 1 0.3% Mem 8 2.2%
1906 1 0.3% 1945 3 0.8% 1984 4 1.1% Unkn 13 3.9%
Mem: Memorial Only.      Unkn: Year of death undetermined. Years without a burial: 26. Years with most burials: 1910 - 8, 1952 - 7.
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Bethlehem Cemetery Association Milestones
Date
Activity
May 7, 1868 First documented burial in the Baird Family Cemetery; Sara Jane McLean Baird, October 18, 1818 - March 7, 1868. There were seven subsequent family burials in the Baird Family Cemetery before being deeded to the Bethlehem Cumberland Presbyterian Church August 11, 1884.
August 11, 1884 James W. Baird deeded the Baird Family Cemetery to Elders Wm. L. Mallard, John Porter, Samuel McLean, Jesse Cheek, and James W. Baird, of the Bethlehem Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The Cemetery became known as the Bethlehem Cemetery. James W. Baird subsequently died August 26, 1885 at the age of 73 and is buried in the cemetery along side his wife Sarah Jane McLean Baird.
August 11, 1884 - August 07, 1975 For 91 years the maintenance and care of the Bethlehem Cemetery was the domain of the Elders of the Bethlehem Cumberland Presbyterian Church. While under the care of the Bethlehem Cumberland Presbyterian Church there were a total of 276 burials. For many, many years Bascom Hendrix was the Elder primarily responsible for the overseeing of the cemetery.
August 02, 1975 Declaration of Trust created for the purpose of maintenance and care of the Bethlehem Cemetery. Document was prepared by Attorney Knox Bigham of Lewisburg Tennessee.
August 04, 1975 A Private Trust Fund was established at Peoples and Union Bank in Lewisburg Tennessee for the Bethlehem Cemetery.
August 07, 1975 Bethlehem Cumberland Presbyterian Church Elders, Eugene A. Sharp, Paul Shires and L. R. Cheatham, conveyed the Bethlehem Cemetery to Trustees Eugene A. Sharp, Wilburn Thomas Tindell, Jr., Ralph Whitesell, L. A. (Bub) Gillespie, Jr. and James H. Wiles.
August 16, 1975 First Called Meeting of the Bethlehem Cemetery Trustees. The officers elected were; Ralph Whitesell, Chairman, Eugene A. Sharp, Vice Chairman, Wilburn Thomas Tindell Jr., Secretary, Lyndon Harris, Treasurer. Eugene A. Sharp and Wilburn Thomas Tindell were appointed to attend to any day to day business as may occur.
August 19, 1975 Trustee Wilburn Thomas (Jake) Tindell, Jr. died.
August 28, 1975 Frances Tindell appointed as trustee to replace Wilburn Thomas Tindell.
May 20, 1978 First Treasurer's Report; the General Fund held $463.80 and the Trust Fund held $3,725.30.
August 20, 1978 Trustee James Herbert (Honey) Wiles died.
September 05, 1978 Joe Wiles named as Trustee to replace his father, James Wiles.
May 16, 1980 A $500 donation by Miss Pauline McLean will go into the General Fd savings account.
May 17, 1981 Cemetery discontinued inviting a speaker for the Annual 4th Sunday in May Decoration Day.
August 10, 1981 Plat of the cemetery was presented. New fencing will be placed around the cemetery to include all land belonging to the cemetery and discussions began with Turner family for additional land for the cemetery.
May 20, 1982 Cemetery agreed to pay the Turner Family for additional land and right of way for the cemetery.
July 07, 1982 Marshall County Highway Dept. placed a culvert at the new entrance into the cemetery and also removed the excess dirt at the rear of the cemetry that resulted in unused dirt from burials.
August 12, 1984 Trustee Eugene A. (Gene) Sharp died.
March 03, 1985 J. W. Austin named as trustee to replace Eugene A. Sharp.
March 03, 1985 Trustees decided should a 'new' family wish to purchase a lot in the cemetery a charge of $100 will be charged for each plot ('New' is interpreted here as meaning a family with no previous family burials in the cemetery or having no previous connection to the Bethlehem Community).
May 04, 1985 Cemetery received a $2,500 check from the Columbia Presbytery. This was half of the $5,000 originally given by Vance Gallaway to the Bethlehem Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and maintained in a seperate fund by the Church, for use in maintaining the Cemetery. (Only after much pressure from former Church members did the Presbytery donate even that amount, keeping the other half for itself, Yea!)
February 06, 1986 Trustee Lyndon Harris died.
May 04, 1990 Martha Cathey honored, noting for giving generously of her time to the cemetery.
June 01, 1990 Contract issued to re-map/re-plat the complete cemetery property and install 18" 4" square concrete posts into the ground centered on each 20'x20' plat (8 ea. 5'x10' graves).
May 18, 1991 Trustee Ralph Whitesell died.
May 25, 1991 John Henry Gillespie IV appointed as trustee to replace Ralph Whitesell.
February 17, 1991 A charge for a selected grave plot and/or burial set at $100 henceforth.
February 17, 1992 Cemetery was the recipient of $1,000 from the Estate of Ralph Whitsell.
July 11, 1996 John Henry Gillespie named Chairman of the Trustees.
June 11, 1997 Marion Martin appointed as a Trustee.
July 30, 1997 Trustee Marion Martin died.
September 20, 2000 Cemetery was the recipient of $5,000 from the Estate of Martha Frances Liggett. Money to be placed in a CD for future use as needed
May 24, 2003 Wayne Sharp appointed as a Trustee.
June 10, 2005 Lottie Potts Alsup's body (6/7/11 - 12/3/98) was removed to Mississippi by family members.
October 25, 2007 The charge for a selected grave plot and/or burial increased to $200.
July 03, 2008 Trustee Jay Austin died.
April 07, 2009 Jackie Cathey appointed as a Trustee to replace Jay Austin.
May 22, 2009 The practice of grandfathering in grave plots selected before the practice of charging for a grave plot and/or burial was discontinued. From henceforth no matter when the grave site was selected the current charge must be paid when a burial in that plot is made.
April 28, 2011 Trees in the Cemetery underwent damage recently during several severe wind storms. A bid by County Wide Tree Service for the removal of damaged trees was accepted. It was agreed that another weakened tree would be taken down at a later date as convenient to Mr. Pickett at a per tree price equal to the original bid (this was completed later in the same year).
May 30, 2011 John Henry Gillespie IV, Chairman of the Trustees died.
May 05, 2012 Ruby Harris Thomas appointed as a Trustee to replace John Henry Gillespie IV.
May 26, 2012 Cemetery was the recipient of $1,000 from the Estate of John Henry Gillespie, IV.
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Bethlehem Cemetery Association Founding Trustees and Their Successors
Wilburn Thomas Tindell, Jr. *
          Frances Tindell (Replaced Wilburn Thomas Tindell, Jr.)
 
Eugene A. (Gene) Sharp *
          J. W. Austin (Replaced Gene Sharp)
          Jackie Cheek Cathey (Replaced J. W. Austin)
 
James H. Wiles *
          Joe Wiles (Replaced James Wiles)
          Tommy Tindell (Replaced Joe Wiles)
 
Ralph Whitesell *
          John Henry Gillespie IV (Replaced Ralph Whitesell)
          Ruby Harris Thomas (Replaced John H. Gillespie)
 
L. A. (Bub) Gillespie, Jr. *
          Lyndon Harris (Replaced L. A. Gillespie)
          Marion Martin (Replaced Lyndon Harris)
          Wayne Sharp (Replaced Marion Martin)
 
* Founding Trustees
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