There are other local cemeteries around Powder Springs that are not located within the town proper of the city. Some of the early families settled close to town but chose to bury their loved ones at home in their own family cemeteries. These are private cemeteries and may be currently open only to family burials.
All those buried here have left our community a better place just by choosing to settle, live and raise their families here.
In the cemeteries below are just some of the ones buried there. They represent the various families who lived here and helped settle the community and continue to call this community home.
There are also many Veterans buried in these cemeteries who served their country in war time and peace time. These are only a few of those who served. We honor all of the Veterans and say “Thank You” no matter when, where or how they served.
These are three of those cemeteries. Duke Cemetery (or the Duke Family Burying Ground); Croker – Elliott Cemetery and Morris Cemetery (or the Morris Family Burying Ground).
Part II will cover the other three cemeteries. Sorrells Family Cemetery; Bookout – Meadows Cemetery (or the Meadows Cemetery) and the Bullard Cemetery.
1862
The cemetery is a very small family cemetery that is located on the side of the road near the intersection of Hill Road and Hiram Lithia Springs Road. There are headstones and a few very old wooden markers. Six graves are marked. Occasionally flowers are placed on these graves.
The earliest is that of William H. Duke 1833 – Aug 19, 1862. He was a Confederate Soldier, serving as a Private in Co I, 2nd Regiment, GA Cavalry, CSA. His wife, Jane, is also said to be buried here but her grave does not appear to be marked.
Alfred Gaberial Duke (1846-1930) Served with his six brothers as Confederate Soldiers in the Civil War. Private in McClesky’s CO, Wheelers Regiment Infantry, CO G, 1st GA Cavalry, 1864 1865. Married to Martha Elizabeth Hill Duke with whom he had twelve children. Alfred died at the Confederate Soldiers Home of GA in Atlanta on Nov 20, 1930.
Martha Elizabeth Hill Duke (1850-1920) Wife of Alfred Gaberial Duke.
Bennie (or Lennie) Duke (1877-1890) Son of Isaac Newton Duke (1843-1914) and Martha Elizabeth Bradbury Duke (1859-1946).
Isaac Newton Duke (1843-1914) Brother of Alfred Gaberial Duke.
Martha Elizabeth Bradbury Duke (1859-1946) Wife of Isaac Newton Duke.
1887
The Croker-Elliott Cemetery is located at 3601 – 3751 Morris Road which is at the corner of Hiram Lithia Springs Road and Morris Road. This is a small family cemetery with about fifty graves. It is still open for burials today.
The earliest burial was that of Jessie Ann Croker Sept 16, 1886 to Mary 25, 1887. She was only eight months old. Parents were: John Belton Croker (1865-1940) and Mary Lousinie Elliott Croker (1867-1945).
The second earliest burial was that of William Hearburn Elliott Aug 11, 1827 to Nov 8, 1895. Husband of Frances Adeline Tiller Elliott (1836-1913).
Jack Boyce Austin (1935-2008) Veteran A2C US Air Force, Korea.
Louis Felton Davis (1934-1997) Veteran SFC US Army, Vietnam. Received The Bronze Medal.
Jessie Allen Morris (1886-1936) Father was William M. Morris (1845-1933) who was a Confederate Soldier, CO F. 40th GA Inf, CSA. Husband of Minnie May Guess Morris (1888-1910 and Nora Elliott Morris (1894-1976).
William Claud “Bill” Shead (1932-2019) Served in the US Army. Truck driver for many years and retired from Owens Corning.
Bonnie Croker Hogue (1931-2019) Retired from Cobb County Board of Education where she worked in the lunchroom and as a bus monitor. Wife of Broadus E. Hogue (1925-1985), local businessman. She helped her husband run a business in Powder Springs for many years which included a grocery store, service station, sold bait and a produce stand.
Jimmy H. Morris (1931-1972). AL PFC USA – Korea
Virgil Strong Elliott (1876-1955)
1846
The Morris Cemetery is located on Hiram Lithia Springs Road between Defoor’s Farms Drive (Subdivision) and Morris Road, just past the Praise Tabernacle Church and Praise Academy. Morris Cemetery is a private cemetery with 190 plus graves. It may also be referred to as “Morris Family Burying Ground” and is still open for burials today.
The earliest burial is that of Seborn Morris, September 7, 1846 to September 14, 1846, only 7 days old. He is the infant son of Seborn J. Morris (1814-1884) and Nancy G. Cothran Morris (1814-1874).
There are several unmarked infant graves between some of the adult graves. These may be the infant children of those adults.
There is an unmarked grave that has been identified, by the custodian of the cemetery, as that of Vermel (or Vermelle) L. (Louise) Rice, August 30, 1912 to November 29, 1990 and her husband James Lewis Rice October 25,1914 to June 8, 2002. They are buried in graves without headstones between Weona Rice (December 3, 1934) and Edgar N. “Tootsie” Begley (1902 1960).
Rev. Robert Leroy Eidson April 26, 1906 to October 12, 1972.
George F. Hilton (1945-1981) He was Captain of the Cobb County Fire Department for many years.
Joseph Henry Tidwell III (1949-2021) Over many years, he served as Pastor of Lighthouse Baptist Church and Welcome Baptist church.
Sarah Holland Porter (1904-1970) Wife of Earl Porter, Sr, and mother of Elton, Richard (Sissy), and Earl, Jr (Bug). The Porter’s were prominent businessmen in Powder Springs for many years, running Porter’s Garage, Gas Station. Their families were some of the earlier settlers in the area.
James Sylvester “Verster” Smith (1886-1971) Husband of Josephine Carson Smith (1905-2000). He was the son of James J. Smith who was a Baptist Minister and the grandson of Mary Ann Shook Smith who was the first person buried in Burningtown Baptist Church Cemetery, NC in June of 1890.
Honoring Veterans:
Wayne Floyd Bivens (1920-2007) US Army World War II.
John Ambrey Martin (1912-1964) GA PFC US Army, WWII.
Harold Benjamin Morris (1921-1990) PFFC US Army WWII. Brother of Hubert Wilson Morris (1919-1986).
Hubert Wilson Morris (1919-1986) US Army, World War II.
Corp. Lucious Daniel Morris (1890-1963) CPL Co F 67 Infantry, World War One.
S. Lamar Spain (1948-1979) SP5 US Army, Vietnam.
William Lewis “Buddy” Strickland (1942-2001) SGT US Army, Vietnam. While in service he received several medals. National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Air Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm and Bronze Medal and the Army AUS Infantry.
Note: Some information came from a listing compiled by James Robert “Bobby” Eidson as of February 14, 1997, as well as other resources. Bobby Eidson’s list is on file at the Museum.