St. John's Coalition in Pensacola in Escambia County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

First Interment

— St. John's Cemetery —

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 19, 2025

1. First Interment Marker

Inscription.
The body of Martha F. Screven was the first to be buried in the cemetery. Over 20,000 interments followed. With proper management, there is ample space to accommodate burials over the next 200 years.

Erected 2018 by Pensacola Bay Area Impact 100 and St. John's Cemetery Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Women. A significant historical date for this entry is August 10, 1876.

Location. 30° 24.986′ N, 87° 14.015′ W. Marker is in Pensacola, Florida, in Escambia County. It is in St. John's Coalition. It can be reached from the intersection of North G Street and West Belmont Street, on the left when traveling north. The marker is on the St. John's Cemetery grounds, about 75 meters west of the gatehouse. (Section 13 | Lot 2). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 301 North G Street, Pensacola FL 32501, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Florida Panhandle.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North

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America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

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: Inventor of FSU Tomahawk Chop (a few steps from this marker); Historic North Side (within shouting distance of this marker); William F. Miller (within shouting distance of this marker); Mollie McCoy (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to St. John's Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); More to Discover... A Secret Language (within shouting distance of this marker); Gatehouse Chapel (within shouting distance of this marker); Zinc Marker (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pensacola.

Regarding First Interment. This marker incorrectly shows the name as “Martha F. Screven” rather than “Martha Eleanor Screven.” Also, regarding her husband, Martha Eleanor Screven was Dr. Geo. P. Frierson's second

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 19, 2025

2. First Interment Marker

Looking north across the Martha Eleanor Screven gravesite and monument.

wife. He married her after her sister, Mary Anne Susanna Screven, died. According to Find A Grave entries, the prolific Dr. Frierson fathered a total of 15 children with the two sisters! Dr. Frierson is not buried here in St. John's Cemetery, but rather in Evergreen Cemetery in Frierson, Louisiana, a town he founded.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. St. John's Cemetery

Also see . . .
1. About St. John's Cemetery (St. John’s Cemetery website).

Excerpt: The biggest growth post-Civil War in Pensacola, however, were from Protestants who moved to the area from elsewhere. These people were attracted to St. John's Cemetery, which was new and reflected the cosmopolitan, progressive nature of the community. The first recorded burial was Martha Eleanor Screven Frierson, who died August 10, 1876. In time, she would be joined thousands of others who had worked in all walks of life — governors, chief justices, mayors, physicians, soldiers, sailors, educators, businessmen, and children. From inception, the cemetery always was open to people of all faiths and races; however,
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 19, 2025

3. Martha Eleanor Screven Monument
Beloved wife of Dr. Geo. P. Frierson
Born at Charleston, S.C.
Nov. 21st 1814
Died at Pensacola
Aug. 10th 1876
”Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord”
there were specific areas for them. The largest area was reserved for white families, then smaller individual plots, followed by negroes and Indians. Even smaller areas went to people of the Eastern Orthodox faith, union members, seamen, transient Masons, indigents, and even young babies.

(Submitted on April 29, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Martha Eleanor Screven Frierson (1814-1876) (Find A Grave).

Saint John's Cemetery, Pensacola, Escambia County, Florida, USA
Plot: Section 13 | Lot 2

(Submitted on April 29, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

3. Dr George Phillip Frierson (1808-1883) (Find A Grave).

(Evergreen Cemetery, Frierson, DeSoto Parish, Louisiana, USA) Excerpt: One of the founders of the town of Frierson, Louisiana. He married Mary Anne Susanna Screven, native of Charleston, SC. After the death of his wife's father, he moved to Lowndes County, Alabama. He graduated as a physician from South Carolina College.
Mary and GP had the following children: Arthur Screven, William Screven, George Archer, John Witten, St. Julien, Thomas Screven, and Mary Eleanor. Mary died in 1844. Four years later Dr. Frierson moved to Frierson to a plantation called "Lakeville".
He married Martha Eleanor Screven and had the following children: Georgette Philippa, Thomas Clarence, Eugene Victor, Francis Herman Martha Irene, Margaret Screven, Phillip Bernard, and Lorraine Screven.
After the Civil War, Dr. Frierson removed to Honduras but soon returned to the United States to Pensacola until his second wife died. Then he returned to Frierson where he lived at Ravenswood until his death.

(Submitted on April 29, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 28, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 29, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.