Sacred Ground: O’Possum Rock Cemetery
It’s not necessarily a common practice in modern times, but for centuries churches and cemeteries often went hand-in-hand. Nearly every church had an accompanying cemetery. The burial ground was an extension of the church itself.
Historically, churches usually had a cemetery because it was thought that the dead would be closer to God if they were buried near a church. The practice dates back to the fourth century, when the Roman city of Constantinople was founded. Prior to that, the dead were usually buried outside the city walls. But the mother of Roman Emperor Constantine, St. Helena, was buried near her church, and a practice was born.
These cemeteries were historically called “churchyards.”
There are many surviving churchyards in Scott County, including several that have already been profiled by “Sacred Ground,” such as Winfield Baptist Church Cemetery and Bull Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.
Another of those churchyards is the O’Possum Rock Cemetery in the Leatherwood area west of Oneida, which sits adjacent to Leatherwood Baptist Church (originally known as O’Possum Rock Baptist Church).
“Possum Rock,” as it is commonly called locally, is sometimes also referred to as Black Oak Cemetery, or Leatherwood Cemetery. It dates back to 1902 and is still in use today. Many of those buried at Possum Rock are descended from the earliest families of the Big South Fork River settlements in places like Station Camp and No Business.
Beginnings
The first person buried at Possum Rock was also the oldest person (not in terms of years lived but the year she was born) buried at Possum Rock: Polly Thompson.
Born Polly Brown on July 5, 1826, she was the daughter of Henry Brown and Margaret Duncan Brown. She moved with her parents from Virginia to Tennessee. She married Lewis Thompson but may have been married prior to him.
Many records tie Polly to Joseph Lowe, the grandson of Scott County’s first white settler, Mikel Low of Smokey Creek. However, this is apparently an error. Joseph Lowe did marry a girl named Polly in 1842. However, court records show that her maiden name was Polly Thompson. The Polly Thompson buried at Possum Rock was born Polly Brown. Additionally, census records show that Joseph and Polly were still married in 1870 — long after Polly from Possum Rock married Lewis Thompson.
Polly did have at least two children prior to her marriage to Lewis Thompson. Their last name was West, which could mean that she was married prior to wedding Lewis Thompson.
Lewis Thompson was a Virginia native who was among the early pioneers to travel through the Cumberland Gap and settle in what would become Scott County. He died in 1863 and is buried at the Keeton Cemetery nearby.
The date of Lewis Thompson’s marriage to Polly Brown is sometimes listed as 1849. However, the 1850 census shows that Thompson’s first wife, Pheby, or Phoebe, was still alive and living with Thompson in 1850. He and Polly were married sometime between 1850 and 1860. That marriage was probably much closer to 1850 than 1860. Emolin Thompson, born in 1851, was likely Polly’s daughter.
Polly had at least two children prior to her marriage to Lewis Thompson. Then she and Lewis had several children together before his death in 1863. Several of Polly’s children are buried at Possum Rock with her. These include her oldest son, Charles West, who died in 1923; daughter Emolin, who died in 1917; and son Marion, who died in 1936.
The Thompson family lived at Black Oak, where both Lewis and Polly are buried in separate cemeteries. It’s worth noting, however, that several of her children are buried in the Winfield area, which may indicate that she spent time there — perhaps after her husband’s death in 1863.
The second person buried at Possum Rock was Will Sweet, who died in 1910 at the age of about 74. He was the husband of Sarah Sweet. She was the granddaughter of Richard Harve Slaven, the first permanent settler of the No Business area of Big South Fork.
Will Sweet’s great-grandson, Jim Sweet, was buried at Possum Rock in 2016.
The Terry family
One of the most prominent names at Possum Rock is the Terry family that lived at Black Oak. The first of them to be buried there was baby Archie Terry in 1910.
Archie was the son of Elisha and Sarah Davis Terry.
The oldest member of the Terry family to be buried at Possum Rock was Miles Terry, who died in July 1929 at the age of 80. He was baby Archie’s grandfather. His wife, Artie Coyle Terry, had also been buried there when she died in 1911.
Artie first married Harmon Terry — Miles Terry’s brother. However, he died at a young age and she remarried to Miles. They had several children together, the oldest being son Elijah, born in 1869.
Elisha Terry, Archie’s father, was born in 1874. He was buried at Possum Rock when he died in 1915 at the age of 40. His wife, Sarah, never remarried and was buried at Possum Rock when she died in 1958.
Most of Elisha and Sarah’s other children are buried at Possum Rock, as well. They include James (1906-1992), L. Caney (1909-1984), Claude (1914-1969) and Eva Jeffers (1920-1998). The only exception is George Dewey (1904-1956), their oldest, who is buried at Alticrest in Fentress County.
Miles and Artie Terry had several children besides Elisha buried at Possum Rock, as well. Lectie Burk, who married Harmons Burk, was buried there in 1914. Daniel Terry was buried there in 1947. Byrdine Terry was buried there in 1932. And Loransy Dow Terry was buried there in 1952.
Loransy Dow, who was known both as “Rans” and “L.D.” was the husband of Burnetta Phillips Terry. Among their children was Miles Terry (1912-1997). He married Dorothy Terry (1917-1993), who along with her sister, Bertha (1912-2007) operated Terry & Terry Store at the intersection of Coopertown Road and Leatherwood Road.
Dorothy and Bertha were the daughters of James Calvin Terry and Angie Slaven Terry. All are buried at Possum Rock.
James C. Terry was a great-grandson of Elijah Terry, who was a brother to Josiah Terry, often referred to as the first settler of present-day Oneida. One of Elijah Terry’s children was daughter Hellen, who married Armstead Blevins — son of early Big South Fork settler Jonathan Blevins. Another as Rev. Calvin C. Terry. He was James C. Terry’s grandfather. He and several other early members of the Terry family — including son John H. Terry, who was James C. Terry’s father — are buried at the Terry Cemetery off O&W Road.
Dorothy and Bertha married cousins. Dorothy married Miles Terry, while Bertha married James H. Terry, Miles’ first cousin. James H. Terry’s father was Byrdine Terry.
Miles and James H. were also a part of Oneida’s first family. They were directly descended from Josiah Terry, the brother of Elijah Terry. Josiah Terry was their second great-grandfather.
Modern day
More than 350 people have been buried at Possum Rock over the past 113 years. The cemetery remains very active. The most recent burial was Vera Jean Slaven, who died July 7 at age 86. Her son, Mark Hancock, is the owner of Buckhorn Hunting & Fishing Supply in Oneida. Her first husband was Larry Hancock.
Like many of the others buried at Possum Rock, Vera was a member of the Terry family. Her father was Segal Terry, who is also buried at Possum Rock. He was a brother to James C. Terry.
Earlier this year, Dennis Kidd was buried at Possum Rock. He was one of James C. Terry’s grandsons. His mother, Flonnie, was James C. Terry’s daughter and married Estel Kidd. Estel and Flonnie Kidd are both buried at Possum Rock, as well.
Other of John C. Terry’s children to be buried at Possum Rock, besides Bertha, Dorothy and Flonnie, include John Archie in 1970, James Elmer in 1996, Lawrence Gason in 1919, and Lonnie in 1970.
Also earlier this year, Wilma Burke was buried at the cemetery when she died at age 86. She was a great-niece to Harmons and Lectie Burke who are buried at the cemetery. Her grandfather, Isaac Burke, was a brother to Harmons Burk.
Incidentally, Wilma Burke was a third great-granddaughter of Anderson Grant Lewallen (and Harmons Burke was a great-grandson) who is buried at the Lewallen Cemetery at Wolf Creek that was profiled last week. Nancy Lewallen, the daughter of Scott County’s first sheriff, John Lewallen, married Haden Burk and was the mother of Isaac and Harmons Burk.
Cemetery census
O’Possum Rock Cemetery
GPS Coordinates: 36.48104, -84.61299
First Burial: 1902
Last Burial: 2023
Rose Hancock Acres 1954-2021
Isabelle Lay Adams 1912-2000
Sol M. Adams 1901-1966
Gloria Terry Anderson 1936-2007
Homer W. Anderson 1930-1997
Edith Litton Armstrong 1923-2017
James W. Bishop 1937-1976
Margaret H. Bishop 1939-unknown
Alfred “Alf” Blevins 1871-1959
Andrew Blevins 1924-1998
Beulah Smith Blevins 1927-2001
Rev Carl “Bud” Blevins 1940-1988
Clarence Glenn Blevins 1954-1954
Crawford “Craft” Blevins 1881-1973
Elva Smith Blevins 1905-1997
George Clinton Blevins 1906-1948
Harold Bruce Blevins 1933-2020
Hattie Koger Blevins 1897-1982
Henry C Blevins 1917-1970
Idell Payne Blevins 1923-1970
Joseph G. Blevins 1963-1963
Joy Lee Terry Blevins 1938-1989
Lloyd Blevins 1921-2004
Mary Ann Miller Blevins 1884-1963
Mary Helen Judd Blevins 1932-2005
Mary Lou Smith Blevins 1945-2015
Poppie Litton Blevins 1888-1971
Sarah Ellen Litton Blevins 1877-1955
Sylvester Blevins 1902-1977
Thelma Sammons Blevins 1920-1995
David Wayne Bowling 1951-2021
Kira Rhae Bowling 2004-2004
Kira Rhae Bowling 2004-2004
Marvin Ray Bowling 1950-2021
Mary Ross Boyatt 1878-1953
Irene Brewster 1945-1945
Shirley Brewster 1943-1943
Shirley F. Brewster 1941-1941
Thelma Brewster 1934-1934
Willie Owens Brewster 1921-1987
Leda Terry Buress 1939-2021
Electie “Lectie” Terry Burk 1878-1914
Frona Litton Burk 1891-1962
Harmons Burk 1879-1954
Mitchel Asbury Burk 1887-1970
Wilma Burke 1936-2023
Edgar Huston Cecil 1897-1975
Zona Payne Cecil 1904-1994
Esther Terry Chleba 1914-2009
James R. Clark 1898-1961
Ollie Bell Koger Clark 1900-1952
Nora Spradlin Coffey 1890-1963
Clona Bell Cooper 1934-1994
Harmon S. Cooper 1919-1989
Herman S. Cooper 1951-2004
Patsy Smith Cooper 1892-1986
Alice Ryan Cornett 1948-1999
Jewell Pennington Cox 1940-2017
Lee Crabtree 1901-1962
Tommy D. Crabtree 1968-1971
Zora Slaven Dalzell 1928-1997
Ab Davis 1919-1992
Rev Lindsay H Davis 1886-1969
Lucy F. Marsh Davis 1896-1953
Thressie Smith Duncanson 1929-2022
James Willard Ellis 1906-1965
Robert Ellis 1909-1979
Carl Odell Foust 1933-1997
Colena Terry Foust 1929-2001
Herman Griffith 1917-1974
Fred F Hammock 1911-1983
Letha Slaven Hammock 1925-2017
Larry C. Hancock 1932-2003
Lila Hancock 1964-1964
Sheila Jo Hancock 1960-1961
Vera Terry Slaven 1937-2023
Carolyn Kidd Harris 1944-2011
Floyd M Hawkins 1914-1988
Georgia Smith Hawkins 1925-1995
J. C. Hollifield 1922-1971
Ona Ilene Burke Hollifield 1917-1996
Anna M. Litton Holt 1915-2003
Claude Denton Holt 1908-1965
Henry Lee Howard 1903-1987
Nova Burke Howard 1911-1989
Earl Winston Jeffers 1918-1994
Eva K. “Evie” Terry Jeffers 1920-1998
Michael Jeffers Jr. 1985-1986
Russell G Jeffers 1951-1999
Delores Catron Jones 1962-2010
Ellis R. Jones 1915-1996
Jane Bledsoe Jones 1886-1955
Jewelda Jones 1953-1953
Myrtle Mansfield Jones 1923-2013
Samuel Jones 1879-1961
Shelba J Jones 1939-1989
Arizona Hardin Judd 1895-1961
Ottis Judd 1899-1964
Annie Lee Eatman Kemplin 1870-1961
Jonathan S. Kemplin 1868-1952
Aunton Kidd 1918-1978
Bobby Dorcie Kidd 1941-1952
Dennis Warren Kidd 1963-2023
Dwight Eugene Kidd 1946-2021
Eda Blevins Kidd 1852-1941
Estel Lee Kidd 1928-2017
Flonnie Terry Kidd 1929-2002
Hester Miller Kidd 1921-1996
James Odis Kidd 1936-1998
Marie Smith Kidd 1931-2004
Maudie Thomas Kidd 1914-1993
Melinda Kidd 1968-2020
Will S. Kidd 1909-1992
William Howard Kidd 1925-1977
Clara “Polly” Judd Krueger 1934-2009
David Shane Laxton 1962-1966
Janice V. Smith Laxton 1938-2005
Margaret Slaven Lay 1911-1982
Christopher Litton 1887-1952
Delta Litton 1896-1968
Ella Kidd Litton 1889-1978
Lillie Smith Litton 1891-1980
Sherman Litton 1887-1976
Ila Mansfield 1940-1941
Mary Lou Neal Mansfield 1897-1976
Will Ed “Bill” Mansfield 1897-1974
Frank Marcum 1912-1976
Marie Ellen Burke Marcum 1914-1960
Henry Clay Mays 1934-1994
James Henry Mays 1886-1972
James M Mays 1924-1951
Mary Ellen Hembree Mays 1892-1979
Nellie Mays 1896-1927
Joseph James Miller 1937-2009
Joyce Kidd Munoz 1946-2003
Baily Owens 1894-1975
Cora Ann Mays Owens 1890-1981
Maudie Cordell Davis Owens 1899-1980
Narcissus Owens 1934-1955
Rosie Ellen Owens 1924-1996
Solomon Owens 1930-1991
Solomon Willis Owens Jr. 1965-1982
Willis Owens 1886-1973
Cordelia Owens Paul 1888-1970
Daisy Nona Anderson Payne 1889-1957
Lewis Henry Payne 1929-1997
Lewis Napoleon Payne 1879-1959
Martha Pittman Payne 1872-1970
Ralphard Payne 1925-1944
Thomas Miller Payne 1889-1959
Irene Ellis Pierson 1940-1963
Jewell Maxine Poindexter 1921-1997
William Riley Risden 1850-1915
Diane Jean Kidd Robbins 1950-2005
Delta Mae Terry Roysdon 1908-1995
George Dewey Roysdon 1897-1969
Icie Elizabeth Roysdon 1927-1932
Lawrence Elmer Roysdon 1940-1973
Maudie Alley Roysdon 1901-1969
Milford Roysdon 1942-2021
Robert Lee Roysdon 1937-1937
Roy Roysdon 1930-1930
Samuel Roysdon 1900-1986
Charles E Ryan 1918-1959
Cora Ryan 1922-1989
Danny Mack Ryan 1946-2003
Bessie Scroggins 1906-1987
Avil Prichard Sewell 1919-1957
James Alfred Sewell 1855-1949
Lawrence Oswald Sewell 1899-1975
Daniel Milburn Skaggs 1863-1950
Audley Edgar Slaven 1929-1994
Bailey Slaven 1891-1957
Benjamin Slaven 1900-1976
Clyde Will Slaven 1932-1993
Daniel Ray Slaven 1961-1997
David Slaven 1956-1956
Earl Edward Slaven 1939-1954
Elpha Keeton Slaven 1922-1991
Ethel Florence Burk Slaven 1897-1988
Evelyn Lee Slaven 1942-1942
Hilda Ethel Blevins Slaven 1924-2009
Kenneth Slaven 1953-1973
Leland H. Slaven 1891-1978
Levi Slaven 1933-1938
Mary Roysdon Slaven 1872-1957
Nellie Abbott Slaven 1895-1980
Norman D. Slaven 1951-2009
Oliver Slaven 1923-1992
William Holton Slaven 1914-1991
Aria Rosa Smith Smith 1894-1959
Benjamin Franklin Smith 1910-1983
Bonnie Louise Smith 1959-1960
Carry Smith 1927-1928
Charline Smith 1943-1943
Conellan Smith 1911-1982
Cordella Smith 1888-1970
Danny Smith 1952-1952
David Smith 1959-1959
Dollie Jane Young Smith 1912-1992
Edna Howard Smith 1907-1989
Emberson Smith 1863-1926
Eugene Smith 1943-1966
Frona Phillips Smith 1940-2008
George Harrison Smith 1913-1962
Gladys Marie Sexton Smith 1948-2013
Halk Smith 1926-1961
Harlan Smith 1929-2020
James Elmer Smith 1906 – 1972
James Isaac Smith 1884 – 1938
Jerry M. Smith 1889 – 1977
Leon Smith 1943 – 1984
Lillie Lee Owens Smith 1924 – 1963
Martha Ann Smith 1947 – 2006
Mary Stephens Smith 1857 – 1925
Mary Lou Blevins Smith 1945 – 2015
Novella Roysdon Smith 1947 – 2022
Ronnie Smith 1952 – 1952
Tommy Smith 1955 – 1955
Willie F. Smith 1921 – 1987
Zelphia Lou Burke Smith 1889 – 1960
Zelta E. Terry Smith 1910 – 1993
Randy Stanfill 1948 – 1948
Wanda Terry Stanley 1939 – 2022
Clovia Crabtree Strunk 1933 – 2013
David Strunk 1940 – 2017
James Sweet 1937 – 2016
Will Sweet 1836 – 1910
Angie Slaven Terry 1887 – 1963
Anna Whittenburg Terry 1918 – 1983
Archie Terry 1910 – 1910
Arley Terry 1941 – 2018
Arlie Joseph Terry 1950 – 1950
Artema Coyle Terry 1843 – 1911
Audis Terry 1942 – 1942
Audney Terry 1922 – 1944
Avo Stewart Terry 1913 – 2000
Bertha Terry 1912 – 2007
Brenda Carrol Terry 1943 – 1943
Burnetta Phillips Terry 1882 – 1951
Byrdine Terry 1883 – 1932
Carlie Terry 1906 – 1931
Charlie E. Terry 1909 – 2000
Claude Terry 1914 – 1969
Cletus Cecil Terry 1945 – 1996
Daniel Terry 1880 – 1947
Dorothy Terry Terry 1917 – 1993
Eddie Phillip Terry 1942 – 1960
Elisha Terry 1874 – 1915
Etta Terry 1915 – 1915
Eva Burke Terry 1922 – 1980
George Oscar Terry 1911 – 1977
Gilbert Terry 1916 – 1918
Grover Terry 1928 – 1998
Henry Franklin Terry 1914 – 1969
Ida Marie Terry 1923 – 1946
Infant Terry 1920 – 1920
Infant Terry 1948 – 1948
Infant Terry N/A – N/A
James Arthur “Art” Terry 1935 – 2013
James C Terry 1970 – 1971
James Elmer Terry 1914 – 1996
James Hughie Terry 1909 – 1969
James Lee Terry 1906 – 1992
James Calvin Terry 1885 – 1983
Jody Dwayne Terry 1937 – 1937
John Archie Terry 1910 – 1970
Juanita Viola Cecil Terry 1922 – 2001
L. Caney Terry 1909 – 1984
Lawrence Gason Terry 1919 – 1980
Lloyd Edward Terry 1931 – 2003
Lonnie Lee Terry 1923 – 1970
Loransy Dow Terry 1885 – 1952
Lura Litton Terry 1919 – 1940
Martha Roysden Terry 1905 – 1967
Mary Thompson Terry 1885 – 1920
Maudie Blevins Terry 1911 – 1984
Miles Terry 1848 – 1929
Miles Terry 1912 – 1997
Minnie Anderson Terry 1886 – 1963
Minnie Owens Terry 1910 – 2004
Monroe Terry 1904 – 1966
Nancy Thompson Terry 1864 – 1944
Nellie Webb Terry 1916 – 2002
Nova Terry 1908 – 2000
Ogilee Payne Terry 1914 – 2001
Opal Blevins Terry 1931 – 2013
Pearl Gregory Terry 1909 – 1975
Phyllis Gibson Terry 1949 – 2004
Polly Terry 1894 – 1985
Rudy Terry 1947 – 1965
Sally L. Phillips Terry 1909 – 2009
Samuel Jeffery Terry 1968 – 2005
Sarah Davis Terry 1878 – 1958
Segal Terry 1893 – 1983
Sharon Davis Terry 1949 – 2014
Shirley Ruth Terry 1952 – 2002
Teddy Lincoln Terry 1902 – 1973
Thelma Duvall Terry 1924 – 2015
William Lee Terry 1949 – 1949
William Virgil Terry 1902 – 1972
Emolin Thompson Thomas 1851 – 1917
Kellen Thomas 1943 – 1997
Martha Thomas 1874 – 1953
Bessie Hunley Thompson 1903 – 1990
Elsie Thompson 1928 – 1928
Emily West Thompson 1869 – 1942
Frona Smith Thompson 1897 – 1989
George W. Thompson 1892 – 1965
Henry Thompson 1898 – 1970
James L. Thompson 1938 – 2006
Luther Thompson 1924 – 1998
Luther Glen Thompson 1955 – 1955
Marion Thompson 1858 – 1936
Polly Brown Thompson 1826 – 1902
Ruth Thompson 1929 – 1929
Janice Terry Walker 1933 – 2006
Porter Franklin Walker 1927 – 2004
Franklin Reed Walters 1946 – 2008
Joshua Adam Walters 1993 – 2011
Kaden Ryan Walters 2006 – 2019
Son Walters N/A – N/A
Alice Marie Watson 1913 – 1974
Brenda June Welch 1947 – 1997
Scott Matthew Welch 1967 – 2015
Charles West 1842 – 1923
Geri West 1935 – 1993
James Edison Whittenberg 1914 – 1948
Anna Whittenburg 1941 – 1941
Anthony Whittenburg 1953 – 1957
Earnest Whittenburg 1951 – 1957
Ernest P. Whittenburg 1912 – 1983
Myrtle Sewell Whittenburg 1891 – 1952
Nelson Whittenburg 1878 – 1958
Viola Beaty Whittenburg 1916 – 1991
Daniel Williams 1944 – 1944
Elizabeth Slaven Williams 1903 – 1978
Herbert Williams 1894 – 1966
Mary Matthews Williams 1909 – 1957
Sherman Obis Winchester 1972 – 1972
Baby Young N/A – 1966
Carlos Levi Young 1948 – 1994
Ethel Walters Young 1941 – 2014
Gladys Smith Young 1921 – 1960
Melissa Sue Young 1968 – 1968
Milford Eugene Young 1939 – 2013
Raymond H. Young 1914 – 1988
Robert J. Young 1946 – 2002
Sheila Ann Young 1969 – 1971
This story is part of the Scott County Cemetery Project.