Upstate Cemetery Preservation Alliance of SC

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Upstate Cemetery Preservation Alliance of SC

UCPASC’s mission is rooted in preservation—preservation of our history, as well as the graves.

The Cemetery Alliance is a nonprofit organization committed to preserving and protecting cemeteries in the Upstate region of South Carolina. Our purpose is to ensure that these important historical and cultural resources are protected for future generations through education, advocacy, and preservation efforts. Through our educational efforts, we aim to raise awareness of the significance of cemet

eries in our communities, as well as the threats they face from neglect, vandalism, and development. We believe that by educating the public about the importance of cemetery preservation, we can inspire individuals and communities to take an active role in protecting and maintaining these valuable resources. Our advocacy efforts focus on promoting policies and practices that support cemetery preservation, such as providing funding for restoration projects, implementing protections for cemeteries in land use planning, and enforcing laws against vandalism and theft. By working with elected officials, government agencies, and other stakeholders, we seek to ensure that cemeteries in Upstate South Carolina are recognized and protected as important historical and cultural assets. Through our preservation efforts, we work to actively protect and maintain cemeteries in the region. We provide training and resources to volunteers interested in cemetery cleanup and restoration, and partner with local organizations and municipalities to fund and coordinate preservation projects. By taking a hands-on approach to cemetery preservation, we strive to ensure that these important cultural resources are protected for generations to come. Please consider donating to help our cause by going to this link https://paypal.me/UCPASC

06/11/2026

I went to see a friend, Mike yesterday in Abbeville County. I happened to mention there was a cemetery fairly close to his house and did he know anything about it. He said yep and called the owner and off we went on his Mule. We finally found it after a little searching. It wasn’t the one that he was thinking about. (We did find the one he knew about)
This is the Cozby Family Cemetery. Located near Lowndesville, SC. It is located on private property.
I only saw 3 headstones and each had a foot stone with initials.
The Cemetery is listed in Volume 2 of Abbeville County Cemetery Records though there are a couple date errors.
In picture order
Cemetery Picture
Robert Cozby. Died Jan. 11, 1846
Temperance L. Cozby died March 1, 1852
Isabella T. Cozby died Nov. 13, 1838
Someone had entered the death information on FAG with Burial Details Unknown. I’m extremely excited to find this cemetery and I’ve sent an edit to move them to the Cozby Cemetery.
It still amazes me how many small family cemeteries are out there.
Please if you can help us locate any of these family cemeteries please message us!!!!

06/09/2026

Yesterday my friend, Nell Rowland and I were out and logged a few cemeteries.
We stopped by Sullivan (Grove) Cemetery also known as Old a Lebanon Methodist located in Southern Greenville County.
The historical marker states there are several Revolutionary War Veterans buried there.
I only saw one military marker which was for Moses Sullivan. His marker states he was a Lieutenant in the Continental Line.
I believe Charles Simpson, Peter Ragsdale and Hewlet Sullivan are also Revolutionary War Veterans. Can anyone confirm that?
I also noticed a small metal marker for Rev. J.W. McCall who died in 1855. The marker says United Methodist Minister with a picture of a man on a horse. First time I’ve ever seen one of these markers.
This is clearly an old cemetery. A large portion of burials are marked with field stones.

Please notice the age listed for Mary Sullivan in the 3rd picture.

06/07/2026

Yesterday I met Zach at a location in Southern Greenville County. He was kind enough to take me to a cemetery he stumbled across while metal detecting. It was about a 1/2 hour walk into the woods.
There are two fieldstones with initials and a year etched into them.
PMD - 1801
AMD - 1814
It’s thought their last name was possibly Davenport.
It was a beautiful walk. We heard an owl and on the way out we saw it flying in an old road bed.
Thank you Zach for taking the time to take me there. And thank for letting me use your field stone pictures.
Unfortunately when I got home I realized I brought home an unwanted hitchhiker. I was reminded to use my tick spray before wandering into the woods. 😩

I

06/06/2026

This is the James Lee Family Cemetery located in Spartanburg County, off of Hammett Grove Road. Following a 30-year absence, Mike Becknell recalled the cemetery's location and led us to it after a couple of attempts. Unfortunately, James' headstone is broken and lies on the stone wall enclosing his grave and that of his wife, Anna. Her headstone, however, is fragmented, and regrettably, no pieces with dates could be found. James Lee was born in 1799 and died in 1861. Due to the overcast weather, the headstones were somewhat difficult to
read. I have finally listed it on Find A Grave for those interested in accessing the dates not visible in the photographs.
FYI the property where the cemetery is located not has a gate and a no trespassing sign. They have brought in some large construction equipment.
The cemetery fortunately does have a fence around it.

06/04/2026

A couple of weeks ago, Mike Becknell escorted me to the historic Old Fairfirest Cemetery, a burial ground situated near Jonesville Cemetery in Union County. The journey to the cemetery proved to be a considerable undertaking, requiring nearly a two-hour walk, a fact Mike had warned me about, though I initially suspected exaggeration.
The first picture is when we finally got close enough to see the stand of trees where the cemetery is located.
Unfortunately, Hurricane downed several trees, one of which struck the corner of Samuel Morrow's box tomb. Notably, Samuel Morrow, a veteran of the Revolutionary War born in Baltimore in 1760, lies buried alongside his wife, Janet Nelson Morrow, whose box tomb has sunk over time.
Additionally, the cemetery is the final resting place of Capt. J. H. Cunningham, who succumbed to wounds sustained at Chickamauga in 1863.
The cemetery contains 16 marked graves with headstones and an estimated couple of dozen more marked by field stones.
As we stood there, we couldn't help but imagine what a peaceful and beautiful cemetery this was when it was still in active use.

05/29/2026

While logging cemeteries we stopped at Mountain View Cemetery in Seneca which is located in Oconee County.
It’s a fairly large hilly cemetery, it has a wide variety of headstones and fencing.
This is another cemetery we would recommend a visit to if you enjoy walking thru cemeteries.
We’ve added a few photos of some headstones and iron fencing.

05/25/2026

Today is Memorial Day, and many in the South/Appalachia refer to it also as Decoration Day. This tradition predates Memorial Day and is observed in different ways by different groups and regions, but central theme is honoring loved ones and ancestors by decorating their graves. Have you ever celebrated Decoration Day? Or maybe even spent time in a cemetery today, remembering a loved one?

In recognition of both Decoration Day and Memorial Day, here are some of the many veteran graves we’ve encountered in the Upstate in recent months, spanning conflicts from the Revolutionary War to Vietnam.

05/21/2026

We recently stopped by the Clayton-O’Dell-Bowen Cemetery between Liberty and Pickens, and were impressed with how clean and well-preserved the stones are. It’s amazing to see the texture and the art/designs on the stones! In the woods about a hundred yards away are two more small cemetery plots, one for the Chandler family and the other an impressive tall monument for Capt. William W. Clayton and his wife, Martha. This Clayton one is surrounded by an old, now rusted iron fence. We’d love to know how these three cemeteries ended up so close to each other and yet disconnected.

05/19/2026

The Bagwell Cemetery, situated within a subdivision in Spartanburg, has a notable history. According to reports, Gertrude Bagwell donated the cemetery along with a couple of acres surrounding it to Converse College. Notably, she had a beautiful wrought iron fence and gate installed, adorned with the "Bagwell" name. Unfortunately, the cemetery suffered significant damage from Hurricane Helene, resulting in extensive destruction to the fencing and leaving the gate mangled. Adjacent to the enclosed Bagwell Cemetery lies a small area believed to be the burial ground for enslaved individuals, marked by fieldstones and a larger headstone for Jacob & Caroline Wages, with Jacob passing away on August 22, 1900, at the age of 90, and Caroline in 1864 at the age of 50. The last known burial in the Bagwell Cemetery was that of Miss Gertrude Bagwell, who passed away in 1989 and now has a tree lying on her headstone. It's evident that she wouldn't have envisioned her final resting place in such a state, which is truly heartbreaking. Following a conversation with nearby residents, it was revealed that Converse College had been notified about the damage but has reportedly declined to undertake cleanup efforts.

05/15/2026

The Allen-Wells Cemetery is located on Garden Grove Ct in Spartanburg in the middle of a subdivision. Fortunately it has been fenced and is not overgrown.
We are so happy to see that many of the small family cemeteries have been saved.
Surnames in this cemetery are Allen, Drummond, Liles, Miss and Wells.
If you know of a small family cemetery we may not know about please message us.

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Simpsonville, SC
29680

Website

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