Montgomery in Montgomery County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Old Elam Baptist Church Cemetery
Montgomery County
Photographed By Mark Hilton, April 21, 2015
1. Old Elam Baptist Church Cemetery Marker
Old Elam Baptist Church Cemetery is Montgomery County's 22nd cemetery listed in the prestigious Alabama Historic Cemetery Register. Rev. James McLemore, Electious Thompson, Arnold Edwards, and E. Jeter founded Old Elam Baptist Church on June 19, 1819. Although founded by a white congregation, for its first 46 years the church and cemetery were integrated. In 1865, the deed for the church and 10 acres including the cemetery were passed to the church's African American members.
The oldest graves date back to June 17, 1820. One grave belongs to a person born in South Africa in 1817 who was brought to America as a slave in 1823 and remained here until her death. The cemetery is diversified and holds the earthly remains for early settlers, slaves, sharecroppers, American and Confederate soldiers, educators, preachers, and successful businessmen and women. This cemetery provides powerful insights about the diligence and commitment of our ancestors. The Alabama Historical Commission listed this cemetery in the Alabama Historic Cemetery Register on March 19, 2013.
Erected 2014 by the Old Elam Missionary Baptist Church.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Cemeteries & Burial Sites
this page online
Location. 32° 24.952′ N, 86° 13.986′ W. Marker is in Montgomery, Alabama, in Montgomery County. Marker is at the intersection of Gunter Park Drive and Cong W L Dickinson Drive (County Road 21), on the right when traveling west on Gunter Park Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2526 Cong W L Dickinson Drive, Montgomery AL 36109, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Old Elam Baptist Church (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Gunter Annex / Gunter Basic Flying Training School (approx. ¾ mile away); Union Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church (approx. one mile away); Madison Park School (approx. 1.2 miles away); Khobar Towers (approx. 1.2 miles away); Corporal Vernon L. Burge (approx. 1.2 miles away); Operation Allied Force (approx. 1.2 miles away); Vietnam Service Memorial (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Montgomery.
Also see . . . Montgomery Advertiser photo gallery of dedication of marker. (Submitted on April 21, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
Photographed By Mark Hilton, April 21, 2015
2. Old Elam Baptist Church Cemetery
Photographed By Mark Hilton, April 21, 2015
3. Old Elam Missionary Baptist Church
Photographed By Mark Hilton, April 21, 2015
4. View of marker looking east on Gunter Park Drive.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, April 21, 2015
5. View of marker looking west on Gunter Park Drive.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, April 21, 2015
6. Old church belfry and old cornerstones.
Note misspellings on older cornerstones.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 12, 2017. It was originally submitted on April 21, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 600 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on April 21, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
