Thomson Memorial Cemetery
McDuffie Turns 150
Join us in celebrating the 150th birthday of McDuffie County! We will be sharing historic highlights from the county (like the one below) over the next year.
An example of tombstone iconography. A book found on a cemetery tombstone can represent many different things, including the book of life, often represented as the Bible. A book on a gravestone may also depict learning, a scholar, a prayer, memory, or someone who worked as a writer, bookseller, or publisher.
Thomson Memorial Cemetery was established in 1853 when the Bethany Methodist Church moved from one mile north of Thomson and established the First United Methodist Church on Main Street. The land for the cemetery was deeded by James R. Wilson. The earliest marked grave is that of Mary Sutton, who died on June 5, 1855. In 1932, funds were raised to replace the wire fence with the iron one that presently surrounds the cemetery. As of 2008, there are 1086 graves, marked and unmarked, in the cemetery.
The Confederate (C.S.A.) Grave Marker was patterned after the design on the Southern Cross of Honor medals. The front of the markers are the dates 1861 and 1865, which represent the beginning and ending of the War Between the States. Also on the front you will read Deo Vindice which is Latin for “God Is Our Vindicator” or “Vindicated By God”. On the back are the letters C.S.A. meaning the Confederate States of America.
The Thomson Memorial Cemetery represents part of the 19th century “Rural Cemetery Movement” (1830) which advocated moving cemeteries away from church-yards into more park-like settings, often on a high rise or bluff which was considered prettier and more healthful. Cemeteries became sites of recreation, picnics and family outings. Lawn cemeteries or memorial gardens emerged in the 20th century to retain a park-like atmosphere.
For more on Thomson Memorial Cemetery, visit the history section and download our self-guided tour.
The graves of Thomas and Georgia Watson.
More stories about McDuffie County can be found in the book: McDuffie County, Celebrating 150 Years: Over 200 sketches and stories of the people and places of McDuffie County in celebration of its founding on October 18, 1870. Compiled by Lewis & Joann Smith.
More historic images of McDuffie County can be found in the book: Images of America, McDuffie County by Chase Beggs.