The History of Gardner-Wylie Cemetery in Bath Springs, TN

The cemetery I am featuring this week is Gardner-Wylie Cemetery in Bath Springs, TN. Here are the names listed on the 5 headstones featured in my daily shorts:

• Wesley A Wyatt 9-30-1868 ~ 12-30-1898

• Curry Countis Howell 1920 ~ 8-3-1944

• Solomon Wyatt 5-23-1794 ~ 2-26-1860

• William Albert Gurley 12-5-1894 ~ 8-7-1934

• Benjamin M. Lancaster 9-21-2836 ~ 6-28-1901 Martha Tennessee Wells Lancaster 12-22-1847 ~ 12-21-1917

Become a member to read about my visit, any information I can find about the 5 listed names and a few other headstones that called to me will be featured. I appreciate the support.

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The history of Gardner-Wylie Cemetery as prepared by my AI assistant (notated for reference)

Gardner-Wylie Cemetery in Bath Springs, TN dates back to the 1820s and is one of the oldest cemeteries in the southern part of Decatur County. It is also known as Wylie Cemetery or Gardner Cemetery.

The cemetery is located about a mile south of Tennessee Highway 114, near Pleasant Grove Church. It is accessible by a dirt road that leads to a fenced area surrounded by trees. The cemetery has about 275 memorials, but there are well over 100 unmarked and fieldstone-marked graves here¹. Some of the oldest graves belong to members of the Gardner and Wylie families, who were among the early settlers of the area.

The cemetery is still in use and well maintained by the descendants and volunteers. Some of the graves have been replaced or restored over the years, but many still bear the original inscriptions and carvings. The cemetery reflects the history and culture of the community, as well as the personal stories and tragedies of its residents.

Some of the notable graves in the cemetery include:

• Liddie and Will Adams, a couple who lived in the early 20th century. Liddie was born in 1888 and Will was born in 1887. They have no death dates on their tombstones, which suggests that they may have moved away or died elsewhere¹.
• Robert Lee Bingham and his wife Mary Kelley Bingham, who were married in 1892. Robert was born in 1868 and died in 1951. Mary died in 1901, shortly after giving birth to their daughter Infant Bingham¹. Their graves have been replaced by new ones with more details about their lives².
• P.H. Brigance and his two wives, Dora Ella Maners Brigance and Sarah E. Shannon Brigance. P.H. was born in 1857 and died in 1938. He was a farmer and a member of the Primitive Baptist Church². Dora was his second wife, whom he married in 1904. She died later that year, after joining the same church as her husband². Sarah was his first wife, whom he married in 1883. She died in 1902, also a member of the Primitive Baptist Church².
• Gerald Britt and his wife Eva Britt, who were married in 1989. Gerald was born in 1947 and died in 1997. Eva was born in 1946 and is still alive¹. Their tombstones have their initials and a heart-shaped engraving.
• Newton J. Boggan and his wife Elizabeth Davy Boggan, who were married in 1895. Newton was born in 1867 and died in 1918. Elizabeth was born in 1875 and died in 1934. They had six children, two of whom died as infants: Ben Davy Boggan and Elijah Clinton Boggan². Their graves have been replaced by new ones with the word “Mother” and “Father” on them¹.

These are just some examples of the many graves that can be found in the Gardner-Wylie Cemetery. Each one has a story to tell, a history to share, and a legacy to honor. If you visit this cemetery, you will be able to learn more about the people who lived and died in Bath Springs, TN.

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