--photo by Leroy Blair, 2000

Old Dogwood Cemetery

Griffithville, Arkansas

Old Dogwood Cemetery is located about five miles south of Griffithville. This historic site was originally listed July 1963 by Mrs. Lloyd Henry and John Griffin of the White County Historical Society and published in the organization’s White County Heritage history for 1971. The cemetery records were updated March 18, 2000, by Historical Society member Tommy H. Treadway, then again October 18, 2000, by WCHS member Leroy Blair. Henry and Griffin had described the old cemetery, "which lies along an old fencerow," as "well kept and still used some for present day burials." Thirty-seven years later, Treadway reported "the cemetery is being mowed and maintained in fair condition."

Notable among the tombstones are the number of Civil War veterans, from both the North and the South, who are buried here. In Henry and Griffin’s footnotes they stated "There are 33 Civil War veterans’ graves marked in this small cemetery and credit for this goes to John Lester Collinsworth who worked on this project for many years… Mr. Collinsworth has died since this listing and is buried in this cemetery." An article on Griffithville published by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette December 26, 1999, stated that the soldiers who were buried here during the Civil War came from a nearby Confederate hospital at a site later known as Egbert, and that Collinsworth figured out where they were buried and got markers from the U.S. government in the 1930s. In Blair’s report he speculates on this area with the following comments: "There is a large circular mound near the center of the cemetery that has a large rock erected on top. Could this be a mass grave from the Civil War? I have seen a mass grave in Pennsylvania and it looked just like this mound." The Civil War markers do not contain birth or death dates. Blair was unable to find the following graves which were listed in the original report: Ida Branch, F.J. Hood, J.W. Pence, R.E. Pence, Z.W. Tate, Sgt. J.W. Williams.

Treadway’s report included the following: "There are several headstones that are loose on their base and in need of being re-cemented to base. There are several headstones that are broken into two or three pieces, somer of the dates can still be assembled and read. However, through time these will become lost if not repaired." He said several gravesites that were marked only with simple rocks or stones. Here are Treadway’s directions to Old Dogwood Cemetery: From the junction of Highways 11 and 385 in Griffithville, travel south on McDoniel Road two miles to Fletcher Ellis Road and turn right. Continue on Fletcher Ellis Road (about half a mile) until reaching Dogwood Church Road then measure three-tenths of a mile to a single house on the left. Turn left onto this road, which runs along the west side of the yard, and travel approximately one-quarter mile to the cemetery.

If you have information on any of the Civil War veterans that are buried here, or have any other information on Old Dogwood Cemetery, please contact the White County Historical Society, P.O. Box 537, Searcy, AR 72145.

(Also, see GRIFFIN CEMETERY and WHITE OAK CEMETERY.)

The number in parenthesis refers to the position on the 1963 listing, which was not alphabetized.

Name Birth Death Comments
Anderson, Isabel no dates stone broken daughter of J.T. and S.R. Anderson
Autrey, Archibald (9) Co. E, 1 Reg. Ark. Cav. C.S.A.
Bailey, Anna Mae October 10, 1887 April 9, 1968 on double stone with David T. Bailey
Bailey, David Thomas January 14, 1888 September 19, 1936 on double stone with Anna Mae Bailey
Blakemore, T.J. (32) Co. F, 14 Tenn. Cav. C.S.A.
Bost, W.E. no dates Co. A, 1st Arkansas Cav. C.S.A.
Bost, William A. (37) August 1, 1865 January 29, 1885
Bradley, W.M. (80) Co. C, 7 Tenn. Vols C.S.A.
Branch, B. (27) Co. A, 38 Tenn. Inf. C.S.A.
Branch, Benjamin L. (40) March 20, 1867 July 10, 1880
Branch, Clyde (28) July 18, 1887 August 28, 1891 , son of S.W. & Ida Branch
Branch, Etta (19) October 12, 1874 May 4, 1876 , daughter of W.H. & M.E. Branch
Branch, Ida October 12, 1874 May 4, 1876 daughter of W.H. and M.E. Branch
Branch, Nancy A. (29) July 22, 1838 February 10, 1879
Branch, Thomas H. (4), January 10, 1849 February 28, 1871 son of W.B. & Mary Branch
Branch, Thomas J. (18) Co. G, 9 Ark. Inf. C.S.A.
Branch, William B. (16) Co. B, 12 Bn. Ark. Sharp Shooters C.S.A.
Brimberry, James (42) b. c1830 in Hancock County, GA son of Elizabeth (Hinton) and Matthias Brimberry husband of Martha (Cannady) Brimberry Company L, 28th Texas Cavalry C.S.A.
Britton, William (30) Co. A, 1 Bn. Tenn. Cav. C.S.A.
Collinsworth, Hallie Ella (106) August 7, 1868 vacant on double stone with James William Collinsworth
Collinsworth, James Bernice (107) April 16, 1893 November 21, 1944
Collinsworth, James William (105) September 9, 1857 December 22, 1932 on double stone with Hallie Ella Collinsworth WW I Veteran
Collinsworth, John Lester September 18, 1900 June 13, 1970
Collinsworth, Mary no birthdate July 5, 1996 Roller Daniel funeral marker
Collinsworth, Perry Wesley (108) January 2, 1896 December 28, 1960 Ark. Qm 2 U.S. Navy WWI
Collinsworth, R.B. January 2, 1898 January 21, 1981
Collinsworth, Thomas Wayne December 30, 1939 November 12, 1981
Fenton, Linnie May May 31, 1886 July 14, 1971
Haines, Joseph C. (43) Co. B, 1 Tenn. Inf. C.S.A.
Harris, Dean (22), August 5, 1906 September 16, 1906 son of W.N. & E. Harris
Harris, Lawton (21), October 18, 1899 December 18, 1899 son of W.N. & E. Harris
Hartzog, Gertrude Thurman February 12, 1905 April 20, 1905
Hinson, L.B. (69) Co. B, 14 Tenn. Cav. C.S.A.
Holladay, Eanes A. (6) August 3, 1844 March 14, 1884 stone broken
Holladay, William (5) November 10, 1845 March, ???? stone broken
Hood, Frederick J. (66) July 25, 1854 September 20, 1896
House, Marvin (73), April 8, 1869 August 12, 1872 son of A.H. & S.E. House
House, S.E. (74), wife of H.A. House March 19, 1843 February 20, 1905 age 35 years
Johnson, Corpl. Miles (31) Co. B, 662 Ill. Inf.
Keeble, J.P. (12) August 15, 1831 November 14, 1902
Keeble, Mary E. (13) December 1, 1838 March 5, 1911
Lewis, Mary E. (71), November 7, 1885 July 24, 1888 stone broken daughter of W.H. & L.T. Lewis
Lewis, William A. (70), September 2, 1874 September 6, 1876 stone broken son of W.H. & L.T. Lewis
Malicoat, J. (41) Co. D, 21 Ark. Mil. C.S.A.
McGuin, Thomas (68) Co. F, 21 La. Inf. C.S.A.
McKinnon, John (35) Co. I Reg. Ark. Cav. C.S.A.
McNeil, James (75) Co. G, 18 Tenn. Inf. C.S.A.
McRay, Earnest A. (8), January 29, 1888 stone broken son of C.O. McRay
Measles, S. (36) Co. A, 1 Reg. Ark. Cav. C.S.A.
Miller, Ora Lee May 7, 1875 February 6, 1909
Myrick, David P. (45), January 24,1884 March 15, 1885 son of C.M. & Texanna Myrick
Myrick, Osker (46), September 11,1882 September 12, 1882 son of C.M. & Texanna Myrick
Myrick, Texana A. August 21, 1861 August 23, 1904 wife of Rev. C.M. Myrick
Neely, Lafayette (1) Co. A, 10 Ala. Inf. C.S.A.
Newsom, Lois (90), July 11, 1902 September 17, 1906 daughter of Neal & Lucy Lewsom
Newsom, Lucy L. (92), May 9, 1885 October 31, 1905 wife of Neal Newsom stone broken in several pieces wife of Neal Newsom 
Norton, James (82) Wiggins Btry Ark. Lt. Arty. C.S.A.
Norton, Mary A. (17), August 31, 1838 November 25, 1868 daughter of William B. & Mary Branch
Olinia Williams January 12, 1905 February 18, 1905
Olinia Williams February 14, 1905 February 21, 1905
Olinia Williams January 6, 1905 February 22, 1905
Osburn, Alice J. (39), January 19,1857 December 24, 1909 wife of Jesse Osburn
Pence, - born September 21, 18?? no other date stone broken on of G.L. and S.J. Pence
Pence, Avie Cleo March 25, 1905 March 25, 1905 see comment on Clarence Pence
Pence, Damaris L. (51), February 25, 1830 March 4, 1874 wife of J.W. Pence
Pence, Dugger March 21, 1905 March 21, 1905 see comment on Clarence Pence above
Pence, G.W. Clarence February 11, 1905 March 26, 1905 see comment on Clarence Pence above
Pence, George F. (60), September 22, 1886 August 6, 1889 stone broken son of G.L. & S.J. Pence
Pence, George L. (57), September 22, 1857 September 28, 1943 on double stone with Sarah J. Pence
Pence, Gladys R. March 17, 1905 March 17, 1905 see comment on Clarence Pence above
Pence, Infant (62), February 1885 March 1885 stone broken son of G.L. & S.J. Pence
Pence, Infant (86) born and died January 27,1905 stone broken of O.D. & M.C. Pence
Pence, J.W. (52) May 18, 1830 May 24, 1914
Pence, Jacob M. (2), November 28, 1898 December 4, 1899 son of L.R. and M.A. Pence
Pence, Joshua W. (53) Co. A, 36 Ark. Inf. C.S.A.
Pence, M. Avie February 16, 1905 March 25, 1905 see comment on Clarence Pence above
Pence, Marietta March 16, 1905 March 26, 1905 see comment on Clarence Pence above
Pence, Mary C. (87), March 23, 1871 February 9,1905 wife of O.D. Pence
Pence, Onie Agness (88), February 9,1903 daughter of O.D. & M.C. Pence
Pence, Orville L. (59), died September 2, 1901 stone broken son of G.L. & S.J. Pence
Pence, Robert E. (61), June 6, 1881 December 2, 1889 son of G.L. & S.J. Pence
Pence, Sarah J. (58), March 29,1856 April 2, 1924 on double stone with George L. Pence
Pence, Velma E. March 18, 1905 March 18, 1905 see comment on Clarence Pence above
Peterson, Matilda F. (67), January 22, 1855 November 7, 1906 wife of W.E. Peterson
Ray, Bertha (20), June 30, 1892 February 26, 1898 daughter of C.C. & C. Ray
Ray, Frederick (23), July 11, 1902 July 15,1905 son of G.C. & M.C. Ray
Ray, George C. (25) January 27, 1905 April 25, 1905
Ray, M. Clara Holiday (26), February 8, 1905 April 15, 1905 wife of George C. Ray parents of Charles H., Bertha, William, J. Claud, John R., Frederick,Vernon H., Earnest and George C. Ray
Ray, William J. (24) August 27, 1899 January 7, 1924
Reippe, John H. (49) Co. K, 32 Ark. Inf. C.S.A.
Roach, Jesse P. (50) Co. A, 32 Ark. Inf. C.S.A.
Roach, Michael (48) Confederate Soldier
Rogers, Bettie B. (84), October 14, 1902 wife of O.S. Rogers age 32 years
Rogers, Carrie Mae November 28, 1883 November 14, 1975
Rogers, Charles Henry March 24, 1911 December 26, 1976 Pvt. U.S. Army
Rogers, Fannie B. (89), September 6,1896 January 20, 1897 daughter of O.S. & Bettie Rogers
Rogers, John (55) June 1, 1863 March 11, 1902
Rogers, John F. (56) Co. B, 33 Ark. Inf. C.S.A.
Rogers, Odis S. (85) September 7, 1869 May 7, 1940
Ross, W.A. (72) Co. A, 1 Ark. Cav. C.S.A.
Sanders, Mary R (3), January 29, 1880 April 14, 1899 wife of W.H. Sanders
Saunders, Caroline V. (64), November 14, 1846 October 3, 1885 stone broken wife of E.B. Saunders
Saunders, Ezell B. (65) Co. K, 13 Tenn. Inf. C.S.A.
Shannahen, Maggie L. (102), December 23, 1861 May 10, 1880 wife of Thomas Shannehen
Shumate, Barbara (63), September 22, 1866 October 22, 1887 wife of Sam Shumate
Shumate, Ellish (54), August 19, 1886 June 29, 1906 son of S.S. & B.E. Shumate
Slaughter, Frank K. (103) February 12, 1905 April 28, 1905 on double stone with Mattie Sue Slaughter
Slaughter, Mattie Sue (104) February 17, 1905 vacant on double stone with Frank K. Slaughter
Tarleton, Jake (81) Co. C, 51 Tenn. Inf. C.S.A.
Tate, Zada W. (33) December 25, 1860 aged 50 years
Thompson, Willis H. (38), November 1, 1906 November 28, 1908 son of J.A. & M.S. Thompson
Thurman, Nancy E. (14) July 22, 1837 December 24, 1899
Thurmond, D.T. (10) Co. F, 14 Tenn. Cav. C.S.A.
Thurmond, D.T. (11) August 8, 1835 February 4, 1905
Tisdale, Emily (15) January 21, 1905 February 23, 1905
Wardlow, John (34) Co. A, 21 Ark. Inf. C.S.A.
Williams October 19, 1863 September 5, 1871 daughters of John W. & Harriett E. Williams
Williams July 24, 1865 July 19, 1868 daughters of John W. &Harriett E. Williams
Williams, Blanche B. (78), February 27, 1874 August 1, 1879 daughter of E.R. & S.E. Williams
Williams, Eddie O. (93), February 1, 1865 November 23, 1905 son of E.R. & S.E. Williams
Williams, Egbert R. (91) Co. A, 8 Ark. Inf. C.S.A.
Williams, Egbert R. (94) June 1, 1840 March 9, 1897
Williams, Harriett E. (98) on same stone with John W., John E. &
Williams, Infant (79), February 15, 1905 son of E.R. & S.E. Williams age 8 days
Williams, John E. (99) on same stone with John W., Harriett E. &
Williams, John W. no dates Co. E 4 Ark. Inf. C.S.A.
Williams, John W. (99) on same stone with Harriett E., John E. &
Williams, Livenola A. (77), July 8, 1869 August 2, 1872 daughter of E.R. & S.E. Williams
Williams, Mary Almedia (95) on double stone with Sallie Lodia
Williams, Olinia (100) February 16, 1905 February 21, 1905 on same stone with John W., Harriett and John E.
Williams, Rosa L. (76), December 12, 1871 January 8, 1874 stone broken daughter of E.R. & S.E. Williams
Williams, Ruel September 18, 18?? December 13, 1872 son of E.R. and S.E. Williams stone broken
Williams, Sallie Lodia (96) on double stone with Mary Almedia
Williams, Sg. John W. (101) Co. E, 4 Ark. Inf. C.S.A.
Wilson, J.L. (44) Co. G, 26 Va. Inf. C.S.A.
Woodard, William A. (83) Co. H, 8 Tenn. Inf. C.S.A.
Wortham, J.M. (47) Co. K, 8 Ark. Inf. C.S.A.
Pence, Clarence - Blair report states there is a large stone with the Clarence Pence family listed on it as follows: M. Avie 1874-1911, Marietta 1902-1912, Velma E. 1904-1904, Dugger 1907-1907, G.W. Clarence 1869-1912, Gladys R. 1903-1903, Avie Cleo 1911-1911
Ray (large round marker RAY next to George C. and M. Clara Holiday Ray)