Priest Cemetery

Priest Cemetery, Drew Co, AR (approximately 408 Old Dermott Rd, off of Highway 35 East; fenced and located on private property)

Author's Note: Some headstones have been vandalized and concrete and paint now obscures several of them. This is the cemetery of the John Priest family. John relocated to Drew County from Sampson Co, NC around 1850. His grandson, Benajah/Ben Priest followed him sometime between 1860 and 1870. Individuals who are reportedly buried in this cemetery but were not found or identified include John Priest (d. 1866), Ben Priest (d. abt 1915), Lizzie Priest (d. abt 1900), Matilda Shumaker Priest (d. unknown, second wife of John) and Inez Priest (d. at age 9 months sometime in 1880s). Credit for additional information belongs to Larry W. Priest and Audrey Priest Walters. Transcribed March 2009 by Katherine Cobb and Bennie K. White.

Row 1:

Jim Matthew (no legible dates)

Sara Curry (no legible dates)

Bill Curry (no legible dates)

Row 2:

Birdie Tanner (1) (no legible dates)

Martin Cean Hayden d. Dec 22 1929

Illegible Marker

Barton P. Priest b. 16 May 1916 d. 20 Jul 1935 (2)

Virgil T. Priest b. 27 Jan 1915 d. 20 Jul 1935 (2)

Row 3:

Unmarked Grave

(Note: These graves are centered within the cemetery)

Row 4:

Margaret L. Priest 1881-1945 (3)

Samuel H. Priest 1872-1947 (3)

(Above is a double stone, seems to be last burial in this cemetery)

Unmarked Grave

Lizzie Priest (no legible dates)

Weldon Priest b. 28 Aug 1883 d. 06 Jun 1904

Mary Priest (no legible dates)

Reuben Priest (no legible dates)

Row 5:

Henry Priest b. 27 Jul 1886 Baby

Helen Priest b. 29 Aug 1902 Baby

Unmarked Grave

Quinton Priest b. 23 Apr 1904 Baby

Charles Priest b. 05 Jan 1906 Baby

Lizzie Priest b. Jan 1907 Baby

Ray Priest b. 21 Jun 1908 Baby

Jessie Priest b. 23 Jul 1909 Baby

Row 6:

Unmarked Grave

Edwin Priest b. 23 Apr 1911 Baby

Gracie Priest b. 16 Jun 1913 Baby

Walton Priest b. 29 Apr 1918 Baby

George Priest 03 Apr 1919 Baby

Baby Priest 08 Jun 1922 Son

Ila/Tyler Priest b. 06 Jun 1924 Baby Twins

Outside of fenced area, marked by metal post and small stone:

Ben's Slave

Notes:

1. Birdie Tanner was the married name of a daughter of Ben and Lizzie Priest, b. 27 Dec 1880; d. 15 Nov 1966

2. Barton P. and Virgil T. Priest were sons of Samuel H. and Maggie L. Priest and died in a car accident.

3. Samuel Hugh Priest (b. 1872; d. 09 Jun 1947) was a son of Ben and Lizzie Priest. Margaret Linder Priest was his second wife.

4. Henry and Helen Priest were born to Samuel H. Priest and his first wife Dena Beavers.

5. Weldon P. Priest was the son of Ben and Lizzie Priest.

Katherine Cobb and Bennie K. White.

Drew County ARGenWeb