The Browns Chapel Christian Church cemetery in Robbins is one such place. The church was founded in 1843 as the Christian Church at Pleasant Hill, Moore County Browns Chapel Schoolhouse. It is believed to be one of the oldest cemeteries in the northern Moore County area.
At the entrance to the cemetery, a veterans memorial stands. Many of the 1,068 graves are those of Civil War veterans. The most common surnames include Sanders, Brewer, Moore, and Sheffield. Eleven graves have been added this year.
According to Pastor Brady Stephens, “This is the home cemetery to people who haven’t even lived here.” Some of the relatives no longer live in the community, some even live out of state. But they have family buried at Browns Chapel Christian Church, so they plan to be buried here also.
“The idea of a family cemetery is prevelant...it’s common here,” says Stephens.
Lee Brewer lives in the community and is a member of the church. His grandfather owned the land and gave land to the cemetery as it grew over the years. He did this so people could continue to be buried at Browns Chapel Christian Church. Brewer remembers that as he grew up, the cemetery became larger.
“When I was coming up, there was nothing but slate rocks...there’s a lot of them that nobody knows,” says Brewer referring to the grave markers. Keith Brewer, a church deacon, adds, “If they did write on it, erosion and time wore it away.”
The more recent headstones include photographs, or unique decorations of personal meaning to loved ones. Some of the men’s headstones are personalized with the etching of a car or pick-up truck. Others show an outdoor scene. Family members give much time and thought to the headstone details.
There are many older, unknown graves. The size of the cemetery and the aging headstones make locating graves difficult for visiting family.
Fred Morgan lives outside the community, but has family buried in Browns Chapel Christian Church cemetery. He asked to create a cemetery directory and had already created several for other area churches.
When the church agreed to the idea of a directory, Morgan took on the responsibility of documenting names and dates from headstones. He put in approximately 225 hours transcribing data from cemetery headstones and into a database. The data is compiled in directories that are available for those who have family buried here.
Sandra Maness, director of Clubhouse Ministries says, “I don’t know of people searching for their roots, but if you are ever in the graveyard and others are around you, you are sure to hear about a relative that was related to this person and so forth.”
To purchase a copy of the directory, contact Sandra Maness at 948-4254. The cost is $15 each. Checks should be made payable to Browns Chapel Christian Church Clubhouse Ministries. Part of the proceeds will go to the youth program.
Susan Wright, a student at St. Andrews Presbyterian College, is a summer intern at The Pilot.
