A cemetery maintenance training class and cleanup for all interested persons will take place
Saturday, May 10, at the historic Old Beulah Baptist Cemetery, 1745 Pleasant Grove Road in
Etowah, hosted by the Henderson County Cemetery Advisory Committee. The cemetery is
located at the end of Mount Pleasant View Road off Pleasant Grove Road.
This class and cleanup were cancelled in autumn due to Hurricane Helene.
The cemetery contains the grave site of Revolutionary War veteran Joseph Henry.
Hands-on training on the cleaning of gravestones will take place from 9 a.m. until noon. Warren
Scott, gravestone conservator, will teach the proper and careful methods to preserve gravestones.
Registration is required for the morning class. Class size is limited. The work is wet and dirty,
dress accordingly.
Cemetery cleanup is voluntary.
To register for the class or for more information, contact Toby Linville at 694-6627 or
tlinville@hendersoncountync.gov
The original Beulah Baptist Church was established at the site of this cemetery in 1815.
Some areas of this old cemetery are separated by families. There are distinct sections for the Orr,
Aiken and Shipman families. The Orr, Henry, Shipman and Aiken families lived in this section
of Henderson and Transylvania counties. Descendants are within both counties.
The Henderson County Cemetery Board has a sign erected with a date of 1840. This date
reflects the oldest legible grave stone within the cemetery.
The church was organized out of French Broad Baptist Church. The 15 charter members were
Jesse Blythe, Sion Blythe, Robert Jordon, Jeremiah Taylor, Perry Cantrell, Sarah Trammell,
Joseph Evans, Joseph Henry, Thomas Henry, E. Hightower, Eli Merrell, Jane Shipman, Jacob
Shipman, B. Taylor and Elizabeth Williams.
In March 1843 church members agreed to move Beulah Baptist Church to the mouth of Big
Willow Creek in the Big Willow community.
There are approximately 56 legible grave stones within the cemetery. There are approximately
188 field stones with no inscriptions or inscriptions that are not legible.
