Coffey Cemetery

Pangburn, Arkansas

Photo by Cindy Feinberg

Photo by Leroy Blair



This Cemetery is also known as: Walnut Hill Cemetery & Forrest Hill Cemetery

GPS Location:

611241-3922225

Arkansas Archeological Survey site #:

3WH0683

Number of Marked Graves: About 80

Number of Unmarked Graves: Unknown

The last complete survey of this cemetery was: 2004 By Leroy Blair.

There has been Obituaries that were printed in the newspaper posted since the last survey was made.

Current status of cemetery: Active.

Point of contact for cemetery. No known contact person.

Once known as Walnut Hill Cemetery, this cemetery was first listed by Cloie Presley of the White County Historical Society and her

12-year-old nephew, James Snowden, on New Year’s Day, 1963, and published in the White County Heritage later that year. Coffey

Cemetery - which she described as “still being used but receives very little care” - is about three and a half miles east of Pangburn,

about a quarter-mile off State Road 124.

Following Mrs. Presley’s death in 2004, an unpublished write up on this cemetery was found in her papers. She entitled it “FOREST

HILL -(Now Coffey) CEMETERY” and based much of her report on information that was given to her by Austin Yingling, “who lived

almost all his life about ¼ mile from this cemetery on land settled by his grandfather about 1845.” She stated that in the late

summer of 1978 J.W. Snowden asked to meet him and Austin Yingling at the Coffey Cemetery to try to find the grave of his

grandfather, Elisha Snowden. “This was called Forest Hill Cemetery,” Mrs. Presley’s report stated, “and had an arch over the

entrance with the name. The oldest graves were nos. 112, 113 and 114 and he never knew anyone who had any idea who they

were. They were covered with rocks but people have taken rocks from these graves for head and foot markers for later graves

until only an outline pen is left. In land transactions someone objected to allowing the land for the cemetery. Albert Stahle, C.E.

Doyle and Austin Yingling paid $25 for the land for the cemetery. He wondered if the deed was ever recorded. There was nothing

where he remembered Elisha Snowden was buried but he said it was at the foot of the grave of Elijah Richardson and he had

marked a rock E.R. when Richardson was buried. He used a screwdriver to cut the initials in a rock. From this list and the chart

we located this marked stone back in the uncleaned area and the place he had picked for Elisha Snowden was at the foot of it.

There are also two other graves north of Elisah Snowden, his daughter -(?) Page an Lee Page. Austin did not think Charlie Harris

was the oldest grave there. He said Mrs. Harris was related to the Coffeys and when she died he was the only person that came to

dig the grave and he dug the entire grave alone. Note he carved an “H” and is the only marker she has ever had.”

Mrs. Presley attached a rough drawing to her report, on which she numbered the graves. The numbers corresponded to numbers



beside the names on her list. The map was very dim but strengthened by the White County Historical Society in 2005 and added to

the end of this cemetery listing. Thanks to information provided by Austin Yingling, the map confirmed for the first time in many

years the grave sites of William Doyle and his three wives, the Yingling sisters. He also identified the graves of the son of James

Yingling, son of Mack Castleberry, Virgil Williams, Mildred Williams, Maxilee Williams, Della Doyle Williams and infant of Della Doyle

Williams. The Historical Society has added the grave number /(in parenthesis) beside each name where it is known. The graves on

the map that did not have tombstones were marked with rocks.

Note the additional article by Mrs. Presley, written 30 years later, which appears at the end of this list. The Wise family members

were added to this list in June 2000 by the Historical Society after receiving documentation from descendents Wanda Wise

Thompson and Naomi Townsend of Pangburn.

The cemetery was overgrown and in poor shape in December 2004 when it was visited by Leroy Blair, chairman of the White

County Historical Society’s cemetery committee. He had first come to the site August 31, 2000. He found 15 graves that were not

listed in the Presley report and counted 70 unmarked graves. He reported at that time, “Very recently, people have started

cleaning up the cemetery. But it still needs more work.”

The cemetery and nearby Coffey Family Cemetery were cleaned by Little Rock Boy Scout Troop 227 in October 2005. The project

was planned and directed by Neil Feinberg, a 227 member, as part of his application to become an eagle Scout (See photo above.)

Also as this time, a headstone containing the names of William Doyle and his three wives was placed in the cemetery. The stone

was paid from donations made by descendents of William Doyle.

Blair provided these directions: “To get to this cemetery from Pangburn, go about 3.5 miles east on Highway 124 to Ramsey

Access Road to the Little Red River. Turn left and go about a quarter-mile, then turn left on a dirt road leading up the hill. The

cemetery is at the end of this road.” Blair was unable to find 20 graves that were listed in the Presley report: Anna, B.P., Elaine

Doyle, Elizabeth Doyle, Katherine Doyle, E.R., H., Charley Harris, J.C.K., K. and M.K., Leona P., Nellie H., P., Sherrod, Stahley

daughter, W., W.E.D., W.W.D., Mrs. A.M. Williams, and Chester Yingling. According to the Presley report, most of these had been

marked with carved rocks.

If you have corrections or additions to this list or other information on this Cemetery, Contact the White County Historical Society,

P.O. Box 537, Searcy, AR 72145. Or phone 501- 278- 5010

Following is a list of known burials in this cemetery.

Annie – Carved on rock, badly broken - Coffey Cemetery,

B.P. – Carved on rock - Coffey Cemetery,



Broadwater, Jennie – November 23, 1873 – May 15, 1901 – Wife of Presley Broadwater - Coffey Cemetery,

Castleberry, ? – Son of Mack Castleberry – (Unmarked grave) - Coffey Cemetery,

Culum, Elmer O. – August 22, 1899 – January 15, 1916 – Son of A.E. and Anna Culum - Coffey Cemetery,

Davenport, Benjamin Franklin – 1848 – April ?, 1886 (? Ark Inf. C.S.A.) – DS with Tabitha Frances Davenport - Coffey Cemetery,

Davenport, Booth – September 1, 1879 – July 21, 1895 – Son of B.F. & T.F. Davenport - Coffey Cemetery,

Davenport, Tabitha Frances – 1847 – 1942 – DS with Benjamin Franklin Davenport - Coffey Cemetery, – (Obit)

Dobbins, Johnnie – April 7, 1872 – February 12, 1915 - Coffey Cemetery,

Doyle, Elaine Yingling – Died 1875 – First wife of William Doyle – Only date listed - Coffey Cemetery,

Doyle, Elizabeth Yingling Parsons – No dates listed – Second wife of William Doyle – (Unmarked grave) - Coffey Cemetery,

Doyle, Howard Eugene – August 13, 1909 – September 14, 1909 – Son of L.A. & L.E. Doyle - Coffey Cemetery,

Doyle, Katherine Jenkins Yingling – No dates listed – Third wife of William Doyle – (Unmarked grave) - Coffey Cemetery,

Doyle, Michael S. – May 22, 1869 – October 25, 1954 – (FM) - Husband of Minnie B. Doyle - Coffey Cemetery, - (Obit)

Doyle, Minnie B. – October 13, 1873 – January 17, 1920 – Wife of Michael S. Doyle - Coffey Cemetery,

Doyle, Sarah Laney – August 14, 1915 – September 9, 1915 – Daughter of Edgar & Effie Doyle - Coffey Cemetery,

Doyle, W.E. – 1870 – 1918 - Coffey Cemetery,

Doyle, W.M. Drew – February 1, 1916 – July 1, 1917 - Coffey Cemetery,

Doyle, William – 1840 – December 30, 1883 – (Unmarked grave) - Husband of Elizabeth, Elaine & Katherine Doyle - Coffey Cemetery,

E.R. – Carved on rock - Coffey Cemetery,

Griffin, Howard W. – August 7, 1901 – July 25, 1902 – Son of S.W. & S.A. Griffin - Coffey Cemetery,

Griffin, William Irwin – December 11, 1897 – April 5, 1898 - Coffey Cemetery,



H – carved on rock - No dates listed - Coffey Cemetery,

Harris, Charley – Carved on rock - No dates listed - Coffey Cemetery,

Hilger, Catherine – January 12, 1807 – July 21, 1878 – DS with John Hilger - Coffey Cemetery,

Hilger, John – June 12, 1802 – December 7, 1852 – Father of N.B. Hilger – DS with Catherine Hilger - Coffey Cemetery,

Hilger, Nancy – February 27, 1843 – October 23, 1923 – On stone with the Unsells - Coffey Cemetery,

Howell, Mrs. Zero R. – November 9, 1851 – May 29, 1917 - Coffey Cemetery,

Howell, William E. – October 29, 1849 – April 19, 1913 - Coffey Cemetery,

J.C. & possibly K – Carved on front of rock - No dates listed - Coffey Cemetery,

Jenkins, M.M. – July 2, 1883 – January 9, 1898 – Wife of W.W. Jenkins - Coffey Cemetery,

K – Carved on front of rock – M.K. on top of rock - No dates listed - Coffey Cemetery,

King, Conna M. – October 24, 1901 – September 4, 1902 – Daughter of J.T. & S.C. King - Coffey Cemetery,

King, Mary E. – July 28, 1879 – April 15, 1910 – Wife of W.E. King - Coffey Cemetery,

Leona P. – Carved on rock - No dates listed - Coffey Cemetery,

Nellie H. – Carved on rock - No dates listed - Coffey Cemetery,

P – Carved on rock - No dates listed - Coffey Cemetery,

Pierce, Bynum M. – May 21, 1907 – November 19, 1925 - Coffey Cemetery,

Pierce, J.M. – March 31, 1868 – January 22, 1915 - Coffey Cemetery,

Pierce, Luther H. – November 29, 1902 – December 7, 1902 – Son of J.M. & J.A. Pierce - Coffey Cemetery,

Pollard, Alvin – March 20, 1901 – November 30, 1901 – Son of T.J. & M.C. Pollard - Coffey Cemetery,

Pollard, Anet – April 16, 1895 – July 11, 1895 – Daughter of T.J. & M.C. Pollard - Coffey Cemetery,

Pollard, Leonia – December 30, 1904 – February 2, 1905 – Daughter of B.F. & M.J. Pollard - Coffey Cemetery,



Pollard, Lugenia – October 10, 1894 – June 15, 1896 – Daughter of T.J. & M.C. Pollard - Coffey Cemetery,

Pollard, Walker – January 15, 1875 – December 5, 1918 - Coffey Cemetery,

Pollard, Willie – June 29, 1902 – April 1929 - Coffey Cemetery,

Reaves, John Marion – No dates listed – Co. B. Miss. Cav. CSA - Coffey Cemetery,

Reaves, Venia Elizabeth – July 12, 1866 – April 25, 1903 – Wife of P.A. Reaves - Coffey Cemetery,

Richardson, Elijah – February ?, 1850 – January 14, 1916 – 15

th

Ark. Inf. 33

rd

Ark. Regt. C.S.A - Coffey Cemetery, .

Sherrod, ? – Children of W.T. & Ida Sherrod - (Unmarked graves - Coffey Cemetery, )

Snowden, ? - Children of J.W. & Delia Snowden - (Unmarked graves) - Coffey Cemetery,

Snowden, Elisha – No dates listed – (Unmarked grave) - Coffey Cemetery,

Stahle, George – February 13, 1855 – April 9, 1915 – DS with Lizzie Stahle - Coffey Cemetery,

Stahle, Lizzie – August 2, 1861 – March 23, 1923 – DS with George Stahle - Coffey Cemetery,

Stahle, Philip – July 29, 1882 – February 12, 1930 - Coffey Cemetery,

Stahley, No dates listed – Daughter of Albert & Cassie Stahley - Coffey Cemetery,

Unsell, Bryant – April 9, 1836 – February 27, 1902 - Coffey Cemetery,

Unsell, Fred T. – July 20, 1880 – November 5, 1888 – Son of Bryant & Nancy Unsell - Coffey Cemetery,

Unsell, Mary E. “Mollie” – June 19, 1871 – January 23, 1951 - Coffey Cemetery, - (Obit)

W – Carved on rock - No date or name listed - Coffey Cemetery,

W.E.D. and cross carved on rock - No dates listed - Coffey Cemetery,

W.W.D. (or W.D.D.) – Carved on rock - No dates listed - Coffey Cemetery,

Williams, Della Doyle – 1896 – 1949 - On granite stone with Max, Mildred & Virgle Williams - Coffey Cemetery, - (Obit)

Williams, Infant - No dates listed - Infant of Della Doyle Williams - Coffey Cemetery,



Williams, Max – On granite stone with Della Doyle, Mildred & Virgle Williams - Coffey Cemetery,

Williams, Mildred – On granite stone with Della Doyle, Max & Virgle Williams - Coffey Cemetery,

Williams, Mrs. A.M. – Died March 16, 1949 – Age years 52 - Coffey Cemetery,

Williams, Virgle – On granite stone with Della Doyle, Max & Mildred Williams - Coffey Cemetery,

Wise, Hatie Elizabeth – February 17, 1883 – November 21, 1892 - Coffey Cemetery,

Wise, James A. – March 29, 1885 – August 5, 1887 - Coffey Cemetery,

Wise, John Franklin – August 7, 1846 – June 11, 1918 – Co. D. 34

th

Ala. Inf. C.S.A. - Coffey Cemetery,

Wise, Margaret Ellen – February 26, 1847 – February 8, 1922 - Coffey Cemetery,

Wise, Mary Emmer – August 29, 1874 – November 10, 1892 - Coffey Cemetery,

Yingling, ? - No date listed – Son of James Yingling – (Unmarked grave) - Coffey Cemetery,

Yingling, Chester – March 15, 1907 – March 21, 1907 – Son of W.W. & M.A. Yingling - Coffey Cemetery,

Yingling, James F. – Died December 21, 1955 – Age 75 years – DS with Myrtle B. Yingling - Coffey Cemetery, - (Obit)

Yingling, James Worley – October 10, 1918 – Only date listed – DS with Martha Ann Yingling - Coffey Cemetery,

Yingling, Louis – 1849 – 1914 – DS with Sarah E. Yingling - Coffey Cemetery,

Yingling, Martha Ann – August 21, 1929 – Only date listed – DS with James Worley Yingling - Coffey Cemetery,

Yingling, Myrtle Buice – October 28, 1888 – December 28, 1971 – DS with James F. Yingling - Coffey Cemetery,

Yingling, Sarah E. – 1855 – 1900 – DS with Louis Yingling - Coffey Cemetery,

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Legend: Copyright-Aug.23, 2016-Paul V. Isbell-Webmaster:



Most of the cemetery information listed was collected by Leroy “Lee” Blair Former member of the White

County Historical Society Board of Directors. Now working at the White County Historical Society office

If you have any additions or corrections to the burial listing please contact the Historical Society. Phone 501-

278-5010 or Email me at

lblblair74@gmail.com

or wchs1962@gmail.com

I will be posting more burials later. The Searcy Daily Citizen donated all their Micro Film and Ledgers dating

back to 1953. After reviewing them, if I find a death of a person that we do not have I will to add to the

cemetery listings.

There are some graves listed as unmarked that may have had a tombstone set since the listing was made.

I may have missed some graves when I prepared the listing. Some cemeteries are very hard to get an

accurate listing due to how some graves are scattered

The following Abbreviations are used in the listings

.

FM-Funeral home marker DS-Double tombstone TS-Triple tombstone

(Obit)-means that the Historical Society has, or has access to the Obituary for this person.