184-Year-Old Cemetery Holds Astonishing Carved Rock Discovery | Mount Tabor Champion Cemetery

This video takes us to the historic Mount Tabor Cemetery, also known as Champion Cemetery, in Marion County, Georgia. This cemetery is believed to have begun as the Champion family burying grounds around 1840 and later became known as Mount Tabor Cemetery. On this visit, we documented some of the oldest burials, including one from 1843, and explored numerous examples of pre-Civil War, plantation-era burial practices.
Mount Tabor Cemetery showcases an array of fascinating burial markers, including ornate marble headstones, intricate iron fencing, and brick box tombs made from locally produced red clay bricks. The highlight of our exploration was the discovery of a hand-carved rock box tomb. The tomb features a name, date of birth, and date of death, meticulously carved into a large fieldstone sourced from the surrounding area. This crude yet deeply personal carving contrasts beautifully with the polished marble markers, offering a rare glimpse into the resourcefulness and craftsmanship of the era.
Other notable features include unmarked graves, sunken earth plots, and cement slabs, all hinting at the many lives laid to rest here. This cemetery reflects both the artistry and simplicity of burial practices in the 19th century.
This survey incorporates information from an original study by Jeanne Wells Jernigan, published in 1980 and dedicated to her mother, B.W. Paulk.
Mount Tabor / Champion Cemetery Burial List:
McGarrah, Mary E. b. 02/26/1846 d. 01/26/1919
McGarrah, Mittie P. w/o M.H. McGarrah b. 12/08/1847 d. 04/03/1913
McGarrah, M.H. b. 11/21/1840 d. 12/13/1889
McGarrah, Infant Daughter of M.H. & M.P. McGarrah
McGarrah, Infant Son of M.H. & M.P. McGarrah
McGarrah, S. d. 05/23/1847
McGarrah, Mary M. w/o Samuel McGarrah b. 09/11/1818 d. 10/26/1860
Anders, Jonathan b. 11/27/1827 d. 07/19/1863
Anderson, Sarah S. b. 03/27/1827 d. 02/14/1873
Anderson, Samuel b. 05/08/1801 d. 08/27/1880
Champion, John b/o Walter Champion
Champion, Walter b/o John Champion
McGarrah, James b. 01/26/1805 d. 05/07/1886
McGarrah, Emily b. 03/12/1831 d. 07/28/1871
Croxton, Martha b. 12/17/1782 d. 10/16/1853
Croxton, John M. b. 11/09/1802 d. 04/13/1876
Smith, T.J. b. 09/11/1841 d. 09/18/1860
Statham, John (Mrs) b. 09/04/1844 d. 10/16/1887
Smith, Francis R. (Mrs) b. 12/26/1821 d. 11/10/1895
Smith, Tenderson B. b. 08/30/1815 d. 07/23/1899
Champion, Martha b. 05/31/1843
Harper, William H. b. 12/12/1820 d. 05/21/1877
Harper, Mary H. b. 02/28/1828 d. 06/23/1869
Harper, John M. b. 11/16/1858 d. 08/07/1874
Merritt, Capt Wade H. b. 08/31/1829 d. 01/20/1860
Merritt, Susan White w/o Capt Wade Merritt b. 04/11/1832 d. 10/18/1876
Griffin, Lila N. w/o F.W. Griffin d. 01/10/1886
6 bricked-up graves
10 sunken earth graves, unknown
3 cement slabs, unmarked
2 graves with rocks at head and foot
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Visit our sister channel for restoration projects: / @oldbyrdfarm
#History #CemeteryExploration #MountTaborCemetery #ChampionCemetery #HistoricalMarkers #AdventuresIntoHistory

[@AdventuresIntoHistory]

That carved stone was amazing. So simple, but means so much. Impressed me more than any marble monument ever has Tip Jar: www.paypal.me/rwrightphotography For more Adventures: linktr.ee/adventuresintohistory My flashlight link: www.olightstore.com/s/UPTJSG Save 10 percent: SAIH10 (not valid on sales items and X9R) Mail: Sidestep Adventures PO BOX 206 Waverly Hall, Georgia 31831

[@mygrammieis]

I second that emotion🎉

[@SondraD7676]

Amazing.

[@karenwright9123]

Very touching.

[@celleduffel1533]

Thank you Mr Cecil for taking Robert and us along for the ride..truly a great sweet cemetery!!

[@bettyboop4263]

Those grave markers have really stood the test of time. This is a beautiful cemetery ❤

[@Karen-h9l]

Thank you Robert and Cecile for giving us the history of early Georgia.

[@Carolbearce]

The people did an amazing job clearing this old cemetery. God bless you Cecil for finding and documenting these cemeteries.

[@karenwright9123]

Happy New Year everyone. "Do not go where the path may lead,go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." "It is not the length of life ,but the depth." "The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful,to be honorable,to be compassionate,to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well." Ralph Waldo Emerson

[@joycehorstmann2634]

McGarrah is a Scottish name, and many Scots are Presbyterian. Some of this family may have been born in Scotland.

[@cindys.9688]

Cool info - thank you!😊

[@chrisw422]

Probably so, Champion name is actually of Scott desent,among others. Town where I grew up in Georgia, that lady whom lived there years back, was a Mrs Champion with a first name in which the town was named for.

[@Lorriann63]

This is a very beautiful cemetery. A lot of beautiful monuments and fences and stone walls. I love to see families near each other. Thank you Robert and Cecil for finding all these amazing places.

[@pats9055]

Thank you, Cecil and Robert, for this enjoyable walk through this beautiful cemetery!

[@cindys.9688]

That is a super impressive carved headstone. A monument and a labor of love. This old cemetery might not have had anyone walking around it for decades til now. Thank you for taking us with you!

[@SondraD7676]

Happy New Year to everyone. Thank you for another interesting cemetery with so much to show in burial method and gravestone style. Your time and efforts are appreciated, Cecil, Joy, Dan, Other Robert and most of all Robert. If you don't see me in 2025, you all have a good new year, all the best.👍❣️👍❣️ P.S. you all be sure to read Robert's detailed writings about each of his videos. Great information and he sets the tone of the video. Wonderful.

[@trudychartrand3585]

Hi Robert and Cecil love your cemetery segment. I always find them so interesting. Thank you for sharing.

[@lindatanner8726]

Wow so old but beautiful!

[@barbaraharshman9460]

Love seeing all the cemetery's you have been going to! Thank you Robert & Cecil for taking us with you 💖

[@susanthompson2278]

It takes a lot of work and time to keep an grave yard clean especially when it's been over grown with weeds and other things My hubby and I keep his grandma grave clean in the summer and his uncle and cousin helps to the graveyard is about 5 acres we do this in love 😍 😅😅❤❤❤❤😊

[@Linney321]

some really remarkable stones, graves and epitaphs. Thank you to Cecil and you for bringing us around to these places.

[@decembergem4598]

Thank you Cecil and Robert for the tour. Absolutely beautiful hand carved Stone. I really appreciate that you list the names of the burials of the cemetery.

[@45beetle]

These stones are in such great shape really enjoyed so glad they took the time to clean it up

[@kerrygilchrist62]

Amazing old graves !!!!

[@cliffyarboro1163]

Awesome video Robert and Cecil love this old southern history 👍👍

[@peggyharris3301]

Robert love your channel and have been following you for years now, your content never gets old for me… thanku!

[@AdventuresIntoHistory]

Appreciate it, thanks for watching!!!

[@maryleeswope3353]

Another amazing old cemetary!! Thank you!!❤❤❤

[@janefinley-english1051]

Love these videos of quite old cemeteries! Fascinating. Thanks Robert & Cecil. 😍

[@KatefromOZ62-e5o]

That was great guys. Thanks again.

[@JUDYPATRICK-vf9ql]

Great Job 👏

[@perdidosachados]

Nice movie friends. I am of Sao Paulo, Brazil. I film cemeterys here too. Hugs

[@Helena2702]

Amazing! Thank you ❤

[@mattsmith809]

Enjoyed the tour. Thanks

[@farrout4]

Love watching these videos

[@dsinavich5141]

Hi ...love old cemeteries ...so glad they are being cleaned up and fix....great..... Happy New Year!!....... Deborah 🇨🇦🙏❤️🎉🎉🎊⭐⭐🌟🌟⛪

[@toniasalways]

@17:37 Teresa J Smith Statham Married John Statham 05 Sep 1867 in Marion County, Georgia. Mother of John Richmond Statham, Otis Wister Statham, and Benjamin Griffin Statham.

[@margaretgarls153]

What an amazing historical cemetery. Mrs. Teresa Statham is the first time I saw that epitaph on a grave. I have seen it books about Victorian epitaphs.

[@marcbrunson6986]

That's great that church chose to come clean the cemetery. It looks great.

[@brendahogue5487]

Love and enjoy your videos Robert. May the lord bless and protect you Robert and Cecil bringing out the past history. Happy New Year

[@lynnmacleod1879]

For your dedication and passion thank-you to all involved in the creation and participation of this channel. 🫶🏻

[@tonyahaley6900]

Thanks, Cecil!!!

[@MrsJessiemerritt]

So very interesting glad someone cleaned up. Ty for sharing. God bless you and your family Amen.

[@artillerest43rdva7]

it is great to find those who are lost to time! remember those who came before us! keep finding those poor lost graves to remember the people who have passed.

[@Mari-B]

Rhank you, Cecil, and Robert.

[@karenshepler7128]

Thank you for sharing as very interesting and a very great part of history so very long ago 😮

[@phyllisshieldsjones1482]

Hey Robert happy new year!

[@ninaellyson814]

Nice!!! Love it! Thank you Robert and Cecil. Truly an amazing cemetery.❤

[@pampurr1]

A place of peace

[@paulawright1554]

Always Amazing. Thank you Robert and Cecil.

[@kathleenmuller306]

That church family did an amazing job of clean up in this grave yard!

[@dianadelahaye7660]

Amazing 😊rock and band made bricks

[@mygrammieis]

Thank you both for this history walk around🎉

[@philomenadennehy8585]

What you do both of You is called corporal Works of mercy Its the same as feeding The hungry They cannot do anything To take care of the graves They have both of you

[@cumberlandquiltchic1]

❤️

[@janehelbert7551]

Blessings to the neighboring church who cleaned this cemetery!

[@annabrahamson4320]

We have that epatath in Mt Hope cemetary in my town

[@MS-hl8fe]

How nice of the members of the church to clean up the cemetery. It always makes me a bit sad to see an uncared for cemetery. I worked in a cemetery before I joined the Army in 1986.

[@nancymoore3456]

I really like the ornate stones like the one with gates of heaven on it

[@kathysmith4274]

Wasn’t there a grave marker from the 1700’s ? Wouldn’t that be the earliest instead of Martha’s? Or do I not understand what you were implying. I sure admire the love and labor you and Cecil put into each adventure.

[@AdventuresIntoHistory]

Grave marker age goes by date of death. This area of Georgia wasn’t settled by European descendants until 1826. 1840 was when this cemetery was established. 1843 is the earlier still marked burial.

[@kathysmith4274]

@ Thank you for explaining to me.

[@nancysantamarialatica1141]

Happy New 2025 u and family , actually all the crew really .

[@beretta1342000]

so intresting do told houses still stand

[@superstock318]

the large grey rocks stacked for the one tomb are limestone, the unlying rock of the area you are in Karst topography someone mined an outcropping of it along a creek more than likely

[@williamkerr880]

McGarrah surname has strong connections to the Covenanters....🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@leekorten1791]

💞

[@cherylradabaugh2720]

The recent children's cemetery you found .they had several epidemics go through of chlorea,yellow fever ,small pox and etc.

[@THEOLDPIXLEYFARM]

Tenderson Smith is the great grandfather of Rosalynn Carter.

[@danhutson3460]

I'd be careful sweeping or digging, as there is no telling what kind of snakes you might run into, especially copperheads & rattlesnakes.

[@TerriAnnNiemeier-dy3no]

Jimmy n Roselyn Carter, please reload which video I remember you all going to the olde Carter Family Cemetery

[@AdventuresIntoHistory]

This is one Carter cemetery we went to. Grave Under A House Leads Us To Lost Plantation Ruins! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gabLoJKvfNKtaM0 That’s Jimmy Carter’s great uncle. Other Robert filmed an old cemetery on Jimmy Carter’s farmland. I don’t remember if that one was related to the President or not.

[@cindys.9688]

Jimmy Carter passed away today. I wonder where he'll be buried.🤔

[@cumberlandquiltchic1]

@cindys.9688 Im sure next to his wife. I looked up where she’s buried and it’s at their home in Plains GA by the house and pond. I read they donated it to the NPS so they will build a museum etc.

[@CaitlinLovesIreland]

That place needs cleaned up. Wish people would take care about their local cemeteries.

[@NicholasLittleton-vw3wq]

You wernt to far from me i live here in Schely Co

[@3_3645]

Can you round up volunteers to clean up these forgotten cemeteries. Seems disrespectful to just ignore and forget at least you are being light to these yet maybe they rest in peace and quiet. It's nice of the church to clean up the brush. Would more plots be out in the forest? Slave cemeteries? There are probably grants you could find preservation of Georgia history