Bristol, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

First Burial in East Hill Cemetery

Photographed by Mark Parker, October 17, 2024

1. First Burial in East Hill Cemetery Marker

Inscription. This cemetery began late February 1857 with the burial here of 5-year-old Nellie Gaines. She was born in early January 1852, a daughter of tenant farmers who then lived on the Samuel Goodson plantation on Beaver Creek about two miles upstream from present downtown Bristol Virginia. At the time this location was known as Round Hill and was covered with large trees and brush. It had then been laid aside as a future burial ground for the new town of Bristol Tennessee/Virginia. Soon after her death, her family moved to Texas. In 1887, her father returned here and built a small shed over the grave. It so remained as a sole marker for several years. Later her only marker was a huge poplar tree that stood at the head of the grave. This marker was placed here in 2014.

Erected 2012 by Proceeds generated from the Christmas Tour of Homes 2012, Director Jewell Williams, Bud Phillips and Robert F. White III.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Cemeteries & Burial Sites. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1857.

Location. 36° 35.699′ N, 82° 10.417′ W. Marker is in Bristol, Virginia. It can be reached from Julian Burroughs Circle west of V.N. Bud Phillips Drive. The entrances to East Hill Cemetery are located at the intersections of East

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Hill Cemetery Drive and East State Street, and V.N. "Bud" Phillips Drive and Georgia Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Julian Burroughs Circle, Bristol VA 24201, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Tri-Cities Area,

in Southwest Virginia,

and in the Blue Ridge Highlands.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Slave Section of East Hill Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); City Historian (within shouting distance of this marker); East Hill Cemetery Confederate Veterans Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Founder of Bristol (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line in Tennessee); East Hill Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away in Tennessee); Evan Shelby (approx. ¼ mile away in Tennessee); First Baptist Church (approx. ¼ mile away); Confederate Hospital (approx. 0.4 miles away in Tennessee). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bristol.

Nellie Gaines Grace maker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, October 17, 2024

2. Nellie Gaines Grace maker

Nellie Gaines
1852-1857
Rev. James King preached her funeral using the text: Suffer little children and forbid them not to come unto me for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
Matt. 19:14

Full view of First Burial in East Hill Cemetery Marker and Nellie Gaines gravestone image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, October 17, 2024

3. Full view of First Burial in East Hill Cemetery Marker and Nellie Gaines gravestone

Photographed by Mark Parker, October 17, 2024

4. First Burial in East Hill Cemetery Marker.

Looking west towards a large tree. Fenced-in burial plot of Revolutionary War General Evan Shelby is under the tree to the right.

First Burial in East Hill Cemetery Marker looking east image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, October 17, 2024

5. First Burial in East Hill Cemetery Marker looking east

Credits. This page was last revised on October 21, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 17, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 265 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 17, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.