New Zion Baptist Church Cemetery
1164 CR 164 –
Longbranch TX 75669
Cemetery located
behind the church building
Access road is to
the right of the church
Surveyed
09-28-2002
By Marylee W.
Knight and Barbara J. Bonner
Anderson, Ben “Bennie”
Born: 10-15-1893
Died: 10-06-1975
Spouse: Maderia Anderson (double stone)
Other: “From the Chess Family”
Anderson, Edward
Born: 01-25-1925
Died: 05-20-1977
Other: “A Loving Fate”
Anderson, Maderia
Born: 09-09-1894
Died: 05-07-1977
Spouse: Ben “Bennie” Anderson (double stone)
Other: “From the Chess Family”
Ballard, Harriett
Born: Dec 17, 1900
Died: 07-21-1963
Misc: Initials on the footstone are “C.B.”
Ballard, James
Born: 11-17-1888
Died: 10-17-1943
Father: James Ballard
Mother: Susan Bell
Ballard, Lula
Born: 1875
Died: 1942
Other: “In Memory of”
Ballard, Luther
Broken funeral home marker with no other information
Ballard, Susan (Bell)
Born: 07-13-1866 in TN and both her parents were born in TN
Died: 01-05-1955
Other: “Mother” “In Loving Memory”
Father: ___________ Bell
Mother:
Spouse: James “Jim” Ballard, married 11-16-1882 in Panola Co TX (per Census James was b Dec 1860 in TX, his father Jerry Ballard was b in AL and his mother b in TN and d between 1854 and 1858 in TX)
Children: Henry b Jul 1885, James b Nov 1887, Lucindy b Dec 1889, Ida b Jan 1892 (mar Alvie Hooper), S.D. (son) b Jan 1894, Clevie (daughter) b Jul 1896, Fred O. b Oct 1898,
Unknown child who was deceased before the 1900 Census (possibly the 1st child born of the marriage)
Biggers, James
Born: 1871
Died: 1942
Other: “At Rest”
Carter, Estella
Born: 07-11-1893
Died: 06-27- ? (either 1957 or 1959)
Other: “Heroine of Jericho”
Collins, Thelma Lee
Born: 07-05-1924
Died: 12-11-1997
Other: “Have Faith in God”
Misc: Tombstone plus marker from Southern Funeral Home
Edwards, Josephine
Born: 05-02-1857
Died: 11-16-1933
Misc. Headstone broken
Fite, Charley
Born 04-06-1932
Died: 05-17-1956
Other: “He carries the Lamb in His bosom”
Mother: Irene Fite – Dunn
Misc. Raised by Frank & Mary Hooper
Fite, Flaudell
Born: 10-12-1928
Died: 08-23-1956
Other: “Sleep in Jesus”
Mother: Irene Fite - Dunn
Misc. Raised by Frank & Mary Hooper
Fletcher, Avoura
Born: 01-19-1916
Died: 01-18-1939
Fletcher, George W.
Born: 1902
Died: 1986
Misc: Lone grave at front of cemetery
Gathings, Velma Jackson
Born: 01-20-1931
Died: 08-20-1954
Misc: Picture of Velma on headstone
Greer, Adline
Born: 03-09-1869
Died: 05-29-1924
Other: “Bloom of Center Chamber #903 Center TX”
Hooper, Carnell
Born: 04-10-1924
Died: 10-18-1985
Other: Foot marker “Brother”
Father: Chester Hooper
Misc: Double concrete slab covering this grave and that of Raythell Hooper
Hooper, Frank
Born: 03-01-1882
Died: (no date)
Other: “Mason”
Spouse: Mary E. Smith, married 12-24-1905 in Panola Co
Hooper, Mary E.
Born: 09-09-1883
Died: 08-26-1964
Other: “Heroine of Jericho”
Spouse: Frank Hooper, married 12-24-1905 in Panola Co
Hooper, Raythell
Born: 01-25-1927
Died: 10-17-1985
Other: Foot marker “Brother”
Father: Chester Hooper
Misc: Double concrete slab covering this grave and that of Carnell Hooper
Lee, Virnis Smiley
Born: 05-04-1936
Died: 05-08-1936
Other: “Baby”
Lewis, Hilbert
Born: 1917
Died: 1945
Other: “At Rest”
Lewis, Lula
Born: 1881
Died: 06-12-1935
Other: “Gone but not forgotten”
Misc: Concrete blocks outline the grave
Lewis, Minnie Alice
Born: 04-31-1889
Died: 08-23-1969
Other: “Loving Mother”
Lewis, William
Born: 05-15-1898
Died: 09-07-1946
Other: “Mason” “Dear husband I miss you”
Misc: Concrete blocks outline grave
Madkin, Solomon
Born: 02-16-1852 (** Oldest date of birth of the marked graves**)
Died: 01-29-1924
Spouse: Clarissy ______ b Jun 1859 in TX – mar abt 1876
Other: “At Rest”
Misc: Madkin Creek named for Solomon Madkin.. On the 1880 Census, Solomon stated that he was born in LA, but that he didn’t know where his parents were born. On that census Solomon and his wife, Clarisy, had only two children: a son Rece, born in 1876, and a daughter Everline, born in 1878. On the 1900 Census, Solomon and Clarisy had their six younger children living with them.
This was apparently all of their children as the census states that Clarisy had given birth to eight children and all eight were still living. Clarisy was born in Jun 1859 in TX. The six younger children were a son Reuben, born May 1881; a daughter Ida, born Aug 1883; a daughter Cora, born Aug 1885; a daughter Louise, born Sep 1887; a son Jodie, born Sep 1889; and a daughter Emma, born Oct 1891.
McDaniel, Clinton
Born: 02-22-1907
Died: 12-14-1976
Other: “Pvt US Army WW II
Spouse: Parthena Holt (double tombstone)
McDaniel, Parthena Holt
Born: 01-17-1907
Died: 02-26-1988
Spouse: Clinton McDaniel (double tombstone)
McDaniel, Susan
Born: 01-22-1870
Died: 09-03-1942
Other: “Age 72” “Gone to Rest”
Misc: Tombstone broker, concrete blacks outline grave
McGensy, Alfonzo
Only date 1954
Grave marked with square concrete block with name and date etched into it
McGensy, Baby
Only date 1945
Grave marked with square concrete block with name and date etched into it
McGensy, Baby
Only date 1946
Grave marked with square concrete block with name and date etched into it
McGensy, Baby Alfonzo
Only date 1953
Grave marked with square concrete block with name and date etched into it
McGensy, C. Jesse
Born: 1900
Died: 1975
McGensy, Christeen Les_________
Only date 195__
Grave marked with square concrete block with name and date etched into it
McGensy, Ethal
(no date)
Grave marked with square concrete block with name etched into it
McGensy, Inez
Only date 1948
Grave marked with square concrete block with name and date etched into it
McGensy, Mae C.
Born: 07-23-1904
Died: 09-29-1978
Other: “Gone but not forgotten”
McGensy, R.J.
Only date 1960
Grave marked with square concrete block with name and date etched into it
McGensy, Rubin
Born: 02-14-1875
Died: 02-14-1935
Spouse: Callie Smith, married 01-07-1896
Misc: Per 1900 Census of Panola Co TX, Rubin and his wife Cally M. (born
Aug 1876) had been married for three years, she had given birth to two children,
But neither of the children was living at the time the census was taken
Nickerson, Julia
Born: 1855
Died: 1927
Other: “Gone but not forgotten”
Misc: Per 1900 Census, Julia was the head of her own household, she was born in TX, her father was born in GA and her mother was born in AL. It states that she had given birth to 11 children, but only 10 of them were still living at that time.
Her ten surviving children were all living in the household with her. They were
A son Noah, born Jan 1875; a daughter Creasy, born Nov 1878; a daughter Ada, born Feb 1884; a daughter Minnie, born Nov 1886; a son Arthur, born Oct 1887;
a daughter Ollie, born Dec 1892; a son Frank, born Nov 1889; a daughter Ora,
born Dec 1898; and a daughter Louana, born Feb. 1895. Also living the household with them was Noah’s wife Lola who was born Sep 1876.
Odem, Minnie M.
Born: 09-14-1927
Died: 07-03-1991
Other: “Mother”
Odum, Ervin Q.
Born: 04-04-1962
Died: 12-24-1996
Ross, Annette Marie
Born: 1970
Died: 1999
Misc: Jenkins-Gorman funeral home marker
Ross, Dallas
Born: 03-22-1895
Died: 04-12-1972
Father: Clifford Ross
Mother: Mary Smiley
Spouse: Willie Mae (double tombstone)
Misc: On 1900 Census Dallas was living in the household of his uncle, Dallas Smiley. Also present in the household were Lillie Schuyler, age 8, and listed
as the niece of Dallas Smiley; and Adline Schuyler, the 70 year old mother of Dallas Smiley. She was born Oct 1829 in TN and had given birth to 22 children, but only 9 of them were still living in 1900.
Ross, Dave
Born: 08-10-1875
Died: 11-18-1932
Father:
Mother:
Spouse: Amanda “Mandy” Schuyler 10-25-1894 (Amanda was apparently dead or they had divorced by 1900 as Dave is shown on the 1900 census as being single)
Other: “Mason” “My Trust is in God”
Misc: Headstone broken
Ross, Ethalena
Born: 08-09-1903
Died: 06-19-1973
Other: “In Memory of Our Mother”
Ross, Willie Mae
Born: 02-17-1905
Died: 03-25-1980
Spouse: Dallas Ross (double tombstone)
Simpson, Imogene
Born: 10-05-1892
Died: 05-23-1987
Smiley, Alberta
Born: 12-24-1905
Died: 05-21-1958
Other: “Mother” “Heroine of Jericho”
Misc: 2nd wife of Jesse Smiley, buried next to him
Smiley, Austin
Born: 05-25-1910
Died: 09-25-1991
Father: James “Jimmy” Smiley
Mother: Cherry
Spouse: Octaveen (double stone) Still living in 2004 – 95 yrs old
Children: Florous “Fay” Smiley Dexter, Ella Mae Smiley Fletcher, Hester Smiley, J.V. Smiley
Smiley, Cordell
Born: 1931
Died: 1978
Father: Jesse Smiley
Mother: Alberta
Other: “Cpl US Army – Korea”
Smiley, Emmit Lee
Born: 07-02-1928
Died: 09-05-2002
Father: Jesse Smiley
Mother: Alberta
Misc: Funeral home marker from Allen Mortuary – Houston TX 713-742-0551
Misc: Ribbons on flower arrangements left on grave “Grandchildren” and
“Great grandchildren”
Smiley, Hollis
Born: 05-30-1918
Died: 07-24-1998
Father: James “Jimmy” Smiley
Mother: Cherry
Smiley, J.V.
Born: 1948
Died: 1978
Father: Austin Smiley
Mother: Octaveen
Other: “US Navy – Vietnam”
Smiley, Jesse E.
Born: 09-16-1890
Died: 11-19-1968
Father: James “Jimmy” Smiley
Mother: Cherry
Other: “Mason” Picture of Jesse on tombstone
Smiley, Octaveen
Born: 10-18-1910
Died: (no date)
Spouse: Austin Smiley (double stone)
Children: Florous “Fay” Smiley Dexter, Ella Mae Smiley Fletcher, Hester Smiley, J.V. Smiley
Smiley, Velma
Born: 03-30-1895
Died: 02-02-1926
Other: She was the sunshine of our home”
Spouse: 1st wife of Jesse E. Smiley
Smith, Adline
Born: 1887
Died: 01-13-1947
Other: “At Rest”
Spouse: Floyd Smith, married 12-06-1906 in Panola Co
Misc: Tombstone broken, concrete blocks outline grave, Large concrete
Bowl on grave
Smith, Amanda
Born: 12-04-1878
Died: 12-12-1936
Other: “She is not dead but sleepeth”
Smith, Beverly Ann
Born: 11-06-1963
Died: 12-13-1963
Father: Homer Smith
Mother: Lennie
Smith: Dave
Born: 06-22-1905
Died: 12-31-1994
Other: “Mason” “Deacon”
Smith, Eliza B.
Born: 1873
Died: 1960
Other: “After Labor, Rest”
Smith, Floyd J.
Born: 03-09-1886
Died: 10-30-1947
Spouse: Adline Smiley, married 12-06-1906 in Panola Co
Smith, George Bird
Born: 1902
Died: 1970
Other: “Gone but not forgotten” “Mason”
Smith, J.T.
Born: 02-15-1874
Died: 10-11-1940
Misc: Tablet of headstone is broken off of the base
Smith, Lue Seal
Born: 02-06-1935
Died: 11-16-1936
Smith, Mozell
Born: 01-05-1933
Died: 02-15-1934
Thirlkill, Claud
Born: 08-04-1934
Died: (no date)
Other: “TX Pvt 165th Depot Brigade”
Thirlkill, Lucious
Born: 03-12-1898
Died: 01-01-1951
Other: “At Rest”
Misc: Old red brick outlining grave
Unknown
White marble square block with no writing
1st block to the left of Julia Nickerson
Unknown
White marble square block with no writing
2nd block to the left of Julia Nickerson
Unknown
White marble square block with no writing
3rd block to the left of Julia Nickerson
Unknown
Broken marker to the right of Charley Fite
Unknown
Rocks mark the grave to the right of Josephine Edwards
Unknown
Stick marks the grave to the right of Edward Anderson
Unknown
One of three unmarked graves to the left of Velma Smiley
Unknown
One of three unmarked graves to the left of Velma Smiley
Unknown
One of three unmarked graves to the left of Velma Smiley
Unknown
Funeral home marker with no info on it, to the right of Amanda Smith
Unknown
One of two unmarked graves on west side of George Bird Smith
Unknown
One of two unmarked graves on west side of George Bird Smith
Unknown
Old red bricks outline the grave, no type of marker found, in the row
Beside Lula Lewis
Unknown
Concrete slab covering the grave is molded to resemble the top of a
Casket – silver mark in the shape of a cross on top of it – 2nd grave
From Lula Lewis
Unknown
Grave outlined in old red brick, metal flower urn at the head of the grave,
3rd grave from Lula Lewis
Unknown
A rock and part of an old funeral home marker with nothing on it, 4th grave
From Lula Lewis
Unknown
Large rock marking grave, 5th grave from Lula Lewis
Unknown
Old red brick outline the grave, 6th grave from Lula Lewis, right beside James
Biggers
Unknown
Unreadable old funeral home marker, grave between Rubin McGinsie and James
Ballard
Washington, Nancy
Born: 07-02-1883
Died: (no date)
Spouse: Nelson Washington, married 01-01-1903 in Panola Co
Other: “Heroine of Jericho”
Father: Henry Ballard
Mother: Luvenia _________
Washington, Nelson
Born: 08-13-1885
Died: 07-28-1956
Spouse: Nancy Ballard, married 01-01-1903 in Panola Co
Other: “Mason”
Father: Nelson Washington