Gray Court in Laurens County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Dials Methodist Church
[Front]:
This is one of the oldest Methodist congregations in Laurens County. Its earliest records have been lost, but tradition holds that Martin Dial (1744-1843), a veteran of the Revolution, organized a “Methodist Society” about 1808. It met for years in his log cabin nearby. After a camp meeting in 1835 his family donated an acre here for the first permanent church, a log building.
[Reverse]:
The present frame sanctuary was built about 1860. Dials Male and Female Academy, later Dials School, opened nearby before the Civil War and closed in the 1930s. The church cemetery, dating from 1832, includes graves of veterans of American wars since the War of 1812. Dials Methodist Church is the mother of Gray Court Methodist Church (1890) and Owings Methodist Church (1920).
Erected 2010 by Congregation of Dials Methodist Church. (Marker Number 30-15.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1808.
Location. 34° 35.65′ N, 82° 9.506′ W. Marker is in Gray Court, South Carolina, in Laurens County. It is at the intersection of Saluda Gap Road (State Highway 101) and Dials Church Road, on the right when traveling west on Saluda Gap Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11828 S.C Hwy 101 S, Gray Court SC 29645, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Upstate. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. 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 10 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Laurens County Training School (approx. 2.4 miles away); Gray Court Owings Consolidated High School (approx. 2.7 miles away); Francis Rapley Owings House / Owings (approx. 2.9 miles away); Kelletts Blockhouse (approx. 3.9 miles away); Tullyton (approx. 4.3 miles away); Sullivan (Grove) Cemetery (approx. 5.8 miles away); Fairview Church / Fairview Cemetery (approx. 6.4 miles away); Charles G. Garrett Interchange (approx. 6.4 miles away); Cherokee Boundary (1767) (approx. 6.4 miles away); Lebanon Church (approx. 6½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gray Court.
More about this marker. The marker was dedicated on Sunday, July 18, 2010.
Also see . . .
1. Dials Methodist Church Cemetery. Cemetery index and photos. (Submitted on June 3, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)
2. Historical marker unveiled at Dials United Methodist Church in Gray Court. A historical marker was recently unveiled at Dials United Methodist Church in Gray Court during the morning worship service commemorating one of the oldest Methodist congregations in Laurens County. (Submitted on June 4, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)
Additional commentary.
1. Martin Dial Obituary (Supplied by Sarah Jane Armstrong)
"Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord."
For the Southern Christian Advocate
Brother Martin Dial was born on Haw River, NC and was supposed to be ninety-five years of age at the time of his death. He immigrated to the state in early life and was present at several of the battles in the glorious struggle for American independence. At the battle of Cambridge, called old Ninety-six, he and another soldier named McDaniel were out on a foraging party and on their return found nearly all their fellow soldiers destroyed by the Tories. They soon commenced preparing graves in which to deposit the bodies of their comrades and though threatened by the enemy with death, they completed their purpose.
He embraced religion at quite an early date, (1770) and was converted to God soon after he attached himself with the church. He could tell of those “fathers” who first planted the Gospel standard in Laurens District. His house was a regular preaching-place for thirty years; he received license to exhort soon after his conversion and was the instrument in the hands of God in the conversion of many souls among whom are the names of Levi and David Garrison, good men and true. He has always sustained an unspotted reputation and died in the confidence of all his neighbors. In his last moments, he exhorted those around him to faithfulness in the service of God and fell asleep in the arms of Jesus on December 26th in the prospect of a glorious immortality. I cannot close this imperfect notice of this aged man of God without referring to a circumstance that occurred not long since. On visiting him, I found him still the patient sufferer, for he had been afflicted for the last fifty years with an asthmatic affection. Though a little previous to his death, he was nearly relieved of that disease and finally died of old age. I enquired of the old man, how he rested. He replied that for the last thirty years he had not lain down and pointed to a small table on which he leaned for repose surrounded with blankets fixed on chairs. He, however, brightened up and said that it was all well. He could not sleep as he had more time for prayer. Oh, I thought, what resignation is here, what confidence in God! I could not but secretly wish that my last end might be like his. But he has gone to where afflictions can never come, and has joined those aged veterans of the cross who often found a home and a brother in Father Dial. May his mantle fall on his surviving sons and may the members of the church which has been called by his name meet in Heaven.
George W. Moore
January 3, 1844
— Submitted June 5, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.
2. Douglas Jewel Paxton Obituary - Tombstone Shown Below
The Greenville News
May 11, 2005
Jewel Paxton
Gray Court
Douglas Jewel Paxton, husband of Patricia Ann Hudson Paxton, of 3433 Hellams Road, died Monday, May 9, 2005, at Hillcrest Hospital.
Mr. Paxton was born on May 24, 1934, in Simpsonville, to the late Charles Henry Paxton and Cordelia Parker Paxton. He was the owner and operator of Paxton's Garage, and later worked at Excluzive Imports. He was a Mason in the Schroder Lodge #144 in Gray Court, a charter member of the SC Draft Horse Association, and a member of Dials United Methodist Church, where he attended the Francis Asbury Sunday School Class. He built and restored old horse-drawn wagons and equipment. Along with his Belgian Horse "Bubba", he provided carriage rides for weddings and other special events.
Surviving, in addition to his wife of the home, are four sons, Mike Paxton of Simpsonville, Jerry Paxton and his wife, Darlene, of Pelzer, Scott Paxton
and his wife, Lorraine, of Fountain Inn, and Donald James and his companion, Rhonda Critenden of Gray Court; a daughter, Andrea Lynn Evans and her husband, Jack, of Piedmont; two brothers, John Henry Paxton of Greenville and James Paxton of Fountain Inn; a sister, Ann Quinton of Simpsonville; four grandchildren, Kyle Paxton, Ana Dell, Barbara Ann Hamilton and Alex Hamilton. He was predeceased by a son, Toby Randall Paxton; and four brothers, Clifford Paxton, WJ Paxton, Mack Paxton, and Twyman Paxton.
Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. this evening at Fletcher Funeral Service in Fountain Inn.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 12, 2005, at Dials United Methodist Church in Gray Court, followed by burial with Masonic Rites in the church cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the SC Chapter of the Leukemia Society, 1247 Lake Murray Boulevard, Irmo, SC 29063; or to the Dials United Methodist Church, 65 Powell Drive, Gray Court, SC 29645.
— Submitted June 4, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.

Photographed by Brian Scott, September 5, 2009
13. Gray Court United Methodist Church -
Daughter Church of Dials Methodist Church
Daughter Church of Dials Methodist Church
This wood frame structure was built in the Gothic Revival Style. The church was organized in 1890. The present structure, the sanctuary, two class rooms and a pastor's study was built in 1904. (Source: 200 Years of Church Architecture - Laurens County, brochure published by the Laurens County Beautification Commission Committee.)

Photographed by Brian Scott, September 5, 2009
14. Owings United Methodist Church -
Daughter Church of Dials Methodist
Daughter Church of Dials Methodist
Built in 1921 in the vernacular Norman style. Has the same plan and similar, though less developed elevations as the Patterson Chapel United Methodist Church in Lanford. This plan may have been a stock pattern used by the Methodists during this period for many small country churches. (Source: 200 Years of Church Architecture - Laurens County, brochure published by the Laurens County Beautification Commission Committee.)

Photographed by Brian Scott, May 30, 2011
27. James Neil Leak & Elizabeth Idella Garrett Tombstone
October 2, 1855-December 25, 1917
----------
Elizabeth Idella Garrett
His Wife
April 11, 1854
All the plans of life are broken,
All the hopes of life are fled -
Counsel, comfort, and adviser,
Alas, alas, for thou art dead.

Photographed by Brian Scott, May 30, 2011
71. Pvt. M.V. Abecrombie Tombstones
1 SC Cav
CSA
Mar 15 1839
Jul 29 1919
[Original Inscription]:
A Confederate Veteran
From 1861 to 1865
Born Mar 15 1838
Died July 29 1918
Another link is broken
In our household band,
But a chain is forming
In a better land.

Photographed by Brian Scott, May 30, 2011
73. David Johnson & Nettie Curry Blackwell Tombstone
Feb 4 1872
Mar 5 1954
I have fought a good fight
I have finished my course
I have kept the faith. II Tim 4:7
-----
Nettie Curry
Oct 15 1874
May 8 1959
I can do all things through
Christ which strengtheneth me.
Phil 4:13
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 3, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 3,746 times since then and 85 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on June 3, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 10. submitted on June 4, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 11, 12. submitted on June 3, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 13. submitted on June 4, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 14. submitted on May 6, 2010, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. submitted on June 3, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 20. submitted on June 4, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44. submitted on June 3, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74. submitted on June 4, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.




































































