Good Hope Cemetery – Black Families

In 1997, there were at least 173 known black burials in Good Hope cemetery in Covington County Alabama. This represents 15% of the more than 1,200 burials at the cemetery. Joecephus Nix enumerated the cemetery in 1997 in an attempt to identify the black families buried there. Good Hope cemetery is located across the street from the church of the same name on County Hwy 63 and at the time in 1997 the cemetery was still active and cared for.

Black Families at Good Hope Cemetery

Allen, Gladys (September 18, 1913 - February 6, 1962)
Allen, Limmie (June 11, 1963)
Ballard, Richard (June 7, 1948 - December 21, 1970)
Ballard, Richard D. (May 4, 1894 - July 11, 1954)
Blue, Thedora (May 8, 1927 - January 2, 1969)
Boswell, Lillian Freeney (July 10, 1923 - November 21, 1992)
Bryant, Mittie (1908 - January, 1958)
Burnet, Cathren (1862-1900)
Burnett "Infant" (???); Parents, E. L. & Channie Burnett
Burnett, Channie D. (1895 - 1951)
Burnett, Emmer (March, 1881 - December 11, 1945)
Burnett, George (???)
Burnett, George (July 26, 1877 - December 22, 1947)
Burnett, John Dove (November 18,1879 - February 17, 1958)
Burnett, Sellus (April 3, 1886 - May 6, 1967)
Burnett, Thomas (November 25, 1908 - December 4, 1987)
Burnett, Vicie (May 4, 1888? - November 2, 1960)
Chester, Rex (February, 1954)
Cox, Henry (May 2, 1858 - October 29, 1944)
Cox, Isiah (July 15, 1889 - October 7, 1918); Son of C. and Onelia Cox
Cox, Luke (July 9, 1890 - December 21, 1918)
Cox, Onealie (December 22, 1880 - September 16, 1942)
Daniel "Infant" (December 29, 1929); Daughter of Babe & Annie Daniel)
Daniel Babe (October 13, 1865 - January 8, 1963)
Daniel, Anega (1828 - July 20,1905)
Daniel, Bessie (August 20, 1913 - December 22, 1992)
Daniel, Earnest (May 25, 1912 - November 23, 1992)
Daniel, Emmanuel (1830 - July 15, 1905)
Daniel, John (September 13, 1890 - February 8, 1964); ALA PVT CO H 816 PIONEER INF WWII
Daniel, Matildy (May 6, 1896 - November, 1940)
Daniel, Mildre (B/D December 24, 1940)
Daniel, Minter (1887 - 1957)
Daniel, Nellie (???)
Daniels, Phil (January 12, 1876 - February 27, 1960)
Davis, Anna (1868 - December, 1951)
Davis, Ike (October 9, 1872 - August 2, 1917); Husband of Lilla Davis
Davis, Sam Jr. (January 7, 1913 - March 7, 1942)
Davis, Willie Lewis (October 18, 1941 - July 14, 1967); PFC U.S. ARMY, VIETNAM P. H.
Dockett, Charlie (???)
Edwards, M. (March 25, 1954)
Florence, Cornelius ((August 2, 1898 - April 20, 1931)
Florence, Ella (1869 - January 13, 1927)
Florence, Mollie D. (1882 - 1975)
Freeney, Charity (1864 - March 16, 1966)
Freeney, Charlie (January 13, 1889 - March 30, 1960)
Freeney, Cuss (???)
Freeney, Daniel (October 28, 1932 - December 6, 1970); PFC U.S. Army, Korea
Freeney, Elbert Jr. (???)
Freeney, Henry L. (???)
Freeney, Lene (???)
Freeney, Nonie Daniels (May 13, 1900 - August 28, 1987)
Freeney, Rosetta (March 3, 1915 - July 31, 1992)
Freeney, Wilbert L. (May 28, 1924 - February 24, 1997); 51 U.S. Navy, WWII
Freeney, Zachariah (1863 - July 8, 1953)
Hamilton, Mozel L. (October 23, 1907)
Harris, Ezella F. (October, 1893 - June 3, 1960)
Howard, Dora V. (May 9, 1916)
Howard, Jacob (January 31, 1913 - December 18, 1977)
Howard, Levander Jr. (February 14, 1919 - April 15, 1978); SGT U.S. ARMY WWII
Howard, Lula B. (July 14, 1912)
Howard, Rachel (1854 - February 4, 1904)
Howard, Robert L. (December 11, 1910 - June 2, 198?)
Jackson, Charlie, Jr. (July 13, 1878 - August 3, 1990)
Jackson, Charlie, Sr. (April 10, 1925 - April 20, 1952); TEC 5 3297 QM SVC CO WWII
Jackson, Donald Ray (October 9, 1926 - May 6, 1991)
Jackson, Gatsy Lee (January 28, 1907 - April 22, 1963)
Jackson, Joseph Solomon (October 10, 1948 - August 23, 1991)
Johnson, Robert "Infant" (September 27, 1762?)
Jordan, Lilly H. (July 17, 1882 - August 3, 1957)
Kelle, Clide (July 27, 1908 - February 2, 1909)
Kelley "Infant" (December 8, 1896 - April 11, 1900); Parents, Jim & Stella Kelley
Kelley "Infant" (October 3, 1896 - February 8, 1897); Parents, Jim & Stella Kelley
Kelley, Rossell (June 8, 1897 - September 28, 1897)
Lampkin, Pearlie l. Cox (February 26, 1918 - April 20, 1996)
Levens, Sally (???)
Levens, Thomas (January 16, 1864 - May 6, 1964)
Levins, Grover (December 29, 1932 - January 15, 1967)
Levins, Johnnie (January 29, 1922 - September 15, 1992)
Levins, Lee Edward (March 6, 1925 - January 28, 1982); CK2 U.S. NAVY WWII
Levins, Rebecca (April, 1875 - September 23, 1961)
Levins, Rev. M. L. (September 24, 1885 - October 20, 1973)
Levins, Roberta B. (July 7, 1919 - August 4, 1990)
Levins, Rosa B. (???)
Louis, Van (June 25, 1899 - May 17, 1918); Son of Onelia Cox
Lowman, Annie (May 11, 1987)
Lowman, Dudley (February 8, 1893 - July 16, 1960); F & A M
Mathis, Anier L. (August 27, 1951)
McDonald, Ever Lee (April 19, 1902 - October 9, 1927)
Moneik, Montra (October 21, 1971 - November 20, 1971)
Moss, T. S. "E. L. D." (???)
Page, Delmar (March 4, 1919 - July 8, 1990); PVT U.S. AIR CORPS WWII
Palmer, Martha J. (June 16, 1958)
Parker, A. J. (March 23, 1904 - September 7, 1972)
Parker, George W. (November 10, 1894 - April 3, 1914)
Parker, Marion (???)
Phillips, Brenda F. (November 27, 1962 - February 9, 1996)
Raymond, Gussie (October 30, 1902 - August 26, 1981)
Raymond, John T. (1856 - December 25, 1929)
Saffold, James (November 25, 1900 - September 26, 1936)
Sasser, Joe "Uncle" ( - February 15, 1926)
Smith, Robert (September 17, 1889 - October 24, 1973)
Stinson, Doris (December 27, 1934 - May 23, 1953)
White, Brisco (1886- April 21, 1949)

Brief History of Good Hope Church

The Old Good Hope Primitive Baptist Church, located five miles northwest of Dozier in Covington County, celebrated its centennial on February 1, 1928. The event was attended by a large congregation, including Eld. J.W. Jones, who had been visiting the church for 53 years.

Founded on February 1, 1828, by Elders Thomas Wall and A. Travis, the church quickly became a significant spiritual and community center. One of its early notable members was Daniel Dozier, who joined and was baptized in the same year. Originally from South Carolina, Dozier settled near Long’s Bridge on the Patsaliga River, an area then teeming with wildlife and sparsely populated.

Daniel Dozier and Elder Solomon Long, another early member who joined in 1831, became prominent preachers in the region. Dozier later moved to what is now the town of Dozier, significantly influencing its development. Both men are buried in the cemetery across from the church, with their graves marking their contributions to the community.

The church records from the Civil War era onward highlight the connections many local families have with Good Hope, including prominent figures like Col. J. Lee Long, a descendant of Elder Solomon Long.

In the church’s early days, it included both white and Black members, with records noting “Colored Brother Kitt” joining in 1846 and “Colored Brother Berry” in 1859. As the Black membership grew, they eventually formed their own congregation.

The centennial celebration was a testament to the church’s enduring legacy, featuring singing, prayer, preaching, and fellowship, despite inclement weather. The event underscored the church’s historical and ongoing significance to the local community.

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