Cassette 1 Side 1
Media
Part of Abel Baptist Church Cemetery
Identifier
Cassette 1 Side 1
Title
Cassette 1 Side 1
Type
Interview
Language
English
Source
Black Heritage in the Upper Piedmont of South Carolina Collection
Rights
Date
August 10, 1989
Description
00:25--James Benson was born at home on June 23, 1905 in Central, South Carolina.
1:16--Mr. Benson's parents were Patrick and Annie Reese Benson. They are both from the Central, SC area as well. Patrick Benson's parents were Isaac and Emily Benson. Isaac was a slave from the Spartanburg, SC area. Annie Reese's parents were Jim and Tila Cannon Reese. Mr. Benson cannot recall their occupations.
5:58--Mr. Benson now lives in the town of Clemson, SC, just off of Benson Blvd.
7:00--Abel Baptist Church was founded in 1868. Mr. Benson has been a member since 1925. New Hope (Little Abel), Golden View, and Silver Springs Baptist all were founded by former members of Abel.
8:34--Harrison Haywood was the Clerk of Church at Abel for many years; his daughter Susie Haywood took over his job after his death. Susie put together a four-page paper about Abel's history. Both Harrison and Susie are buried in the church cemetery.
9:50--Mr. Benson talks about the job of Superintendent of Sunday school. He attended many classes for it, including several at Morris College. Mr. Benson also talks about his current job as the cemetery caretaker at Abel Baptist Church. He has been doing it for twenty-five years.
13:37--Mr. Dave Whitt and Mr. Jim Cannon were the caretakers before Benson; there have been only three since the foundation of the church in 1868.
16:01--Mr. Benson informs Megginson that there are three cemeteries and that the church keeps maps and records of whom are buried there. There are very few tombstones or markers in the first and second cemeteries because of their old age.
17:29--In 1868 Dave Whitt was in charge of the first burial.
18:28--Benson talks about where the three cemeteries are located. The first cemetery is the oldest; it is located on the southside of the church grounds. It has the fewest number of tombstones. The second cemetery is in the rear of the church and the third cemetery is the newest and adjacent to the first cemetery.
24:47--Mr. Benson explains how the church does not restrict its cemetery to members of their church or even Christians. Members of other churches in the area are buried at Abel.
25:42--Burials in the area in the old days were different than today because there were no funeral homes. The body stayed at the family's house until the funeral. The funerals were quick; most of the family lived close by. The community acted the same way towards death; family and friends would gather with the family to grieve.
31:21--Benson explains how there was no need to purchase a plot in the cemetery because the plots use to be free, even to non-members. Today non-members pay for a plot in the cemetery.
31:44--Audio ends.
1:16--Mr. Benson's parents were Patrick and Annie Reese Benson. They are both from the Central, SC area as well. Patrick Benson's parents were Isaac and Emily Benson. Isaac was a slave from the Spartanburg, SC area. Annie Reese's parents were Jim and Tila Cannon Reese. Mr. Benson cannot recall their occupations.
5:58--Mr. Benson now lives in the town of Clemson, SC, just off of Benson Blvd.
7:00--Abel Baptist Church was founded in 1868. Mr. Benson has been a member since 1925. New Hope (Little Abel), Golden View, and Silver Springs Baptist all were founded by former members of Abel.
8:34--Harrison Haywood was the Clerk of Church at Abel for many years; his daughter Susie Haywood took over his job after his death. Susie put together a four-page paper about Abel's history. Both Harrison and Susie are buried in the church cemetery.
9:50--Mr. Benson talks about the job of Superintendent of Sunday school. He attended many classes for it, including several at Morris College. Mr. Benson also talks about his current job as the cemetery caretaker at Abel Baptist Church. He has been doing it for twenty-five years.
13:37--Mr. Dave Whitt and Mr. Jim Cannon were the caretakers before Benson; there have been only three since the foundation of the church in 1868.
16:01--Mr. Benson informs Megginson that there are three cemeteries and that the church keeps maps and records of whom are buried there. There are very few tombstones or markers in the first and second cemeteries because of their old age.
17:29--In 1868 Dave Whitt was in charge of the first burial.
18:28--Benson talks about where the three cemeteries are located. The first cemetery is the oldest; it is located on the southside of the church grounds. It has the fewest number of tombstones. The second cemetery is in the rear of the church and the third cemetery is the newest and adjacent to the first cemetery.
24:47--Mr. Benson explains how the church does not restrict its cemetery to members of their church or even Christians. Members of other churches in the area are buried at Abel.
25:42--Burials in the area in the old days were different than today because there were no funeral homes. The body stayed at the family's house until the funeral. The funerals were quick; most of the family lived close by. The community acted the same way towards death; family and friends would gather with the family to grieve.
31:21--Benson explains how there was no need to purchase a plot in the cemetery because the plots use to be free, even to non-members. Today non-members pay for a plot in the cemetery.
31:44--Audio ends.
Creator
Publisher
Part of the Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives Repository