BETHEA CEMETERY
(aka Bethea-Sherwood Sweat Swamp Cemetery)

Contributed by Sheila Berry, 07 Mar 2002.

                             BETHEA SHERWOOD SWEAT SWAMP CEMETERY

Surveyed by Sheila Berry and son Kenny Berry, March 2002

Direction: From Dillon on Highway # 9,travel 4 miles.  After you pass caution 
light in Little Rock, go 2/10 mile and bare off to right on Highway #57.  Take 
this road for 2 miles. Turn right onto McLaurin Lake Circle.  Follow this road 
on around to Woodcreek Drive (right) and then left onto Westwind Drive.  This 
will take you to wooded area and cemetery will be right in front of you.

NOTE: You can no longer go to this cemetery by the road Judson,
because it's blocked off.  You have to go in by the McLaurin Lake Circle 
Road.  

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF Mrs. Hannah Bethea, consort of John Bethea  and 
  daughter of William  L. and Jericho Walker 5/8/1788-6/2/1865  
   77 years and 21 days
IN MEMORY OF Dr. Alfred W. Bethea, son of John and Hannah Bethea 
  11/12/1816-2/18/1865   aged 48 years, 3 months,6 days.  
  HE LIVED RESPECTED AND DIED REGRETTED. ALTHOUGH DEAD YET LIVES
  AND WILL EVER LIVE IN THE FOND RECOLLECTIONS OF THOSE WHOM HE WAS ENDEARED
  BY HIS AMIABLE QUALITIES AND GENEROUSNESS ACTS. UNVEIL THY BOSOM FAITHFUL
  TOMB,TAKE THIS NEW TREASURE TO THE TRUST.  ---------------- SACRED RELIVING 
  ROOM.  
  [Stone is broken at bottom and can't read the rest.]

Cade W.Bethea 7/14/1896-6/22/1901

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF Sarah,wife of William Bethea and daughter of George 
  and Elizabeth Hairgrove
  11/23/1797 and departed this life 5/22/1875     
 "BLESSES ARE THE DEAD WHICH DIE IN THE LORD"                
       W.F.SMITH        SUMTER

John Bethea S.C. Troops  REV.WAR   son of William  Bethea 
10/20/1752-3/4/1812

Mary Henagan,wife of John Bethea  born 1756- died 9/1824
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF John Bethea Jr. son of John and Mary Bethea  who 
died 11/20/1827  aged
40 years and 1 month

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF Sophia Platt daughter  of John and Hannah Bethea  
  who was born 9/9/1815 and died 1/15/1834
DEAR  WIFE, IF YET THY SPIRIT HOVER NIGH THE SPOT WHERE NOW THY MOULDERING 
ASHES  LIE, HERE WILT THOU READ, RECORDED ON MY HEART.A GRIEF TOO DEEP TO TRUST 
THE SCULPTURES ART.
THIS TABLET IS  ERECTED BY THE BEREAVED HUSBAND  John McK. Alford M.D. OF 
N.C.  AS A TRIBUTE OF RESPECT TO THE MORTAL REMAINS OF HIS AFFECTIONIATE 
WIFE Charlotte Ann, THE DAUGHTER OF John and Hannah Bethea.  SHE POSSESSED ALL 
TH ANUIBLE QUALITIES WORTHY OF ESTEEM AND WAS ENDEARED TO ALL WHO KNEW HER. 
A WIFE, SHE WAS  AFFECTIONIATE AND LOVELY. AS A CHILD,
DUTIFUL AND OBEDEINT. AS A MISTRESS,KIND AND FORBEARING,AND AS A 
CHRISTAIN,MEEK AND LOWLY. SHE WAS BORN 3/27/1820-1/24/1848

Sarah, wife of Zack Fulmore and daughter of John Bethea 5/6/1823-7/23/1854

IN MEMORY OF Richard A.Sherwood who died 5/26/1863   aged 46 years  HE WAS A 
TRULY PIOUS MAN.
KIND AND AFFECTIONIATE IN ALL THE RELATIONS OF LIFE, AND DIED IN FULL 
CONFIDENCE OF A BLESSED INMORTALITY.

SACRED IN THE MEMORY OF William L.Andrew, son of Richard and Martha Sherwood 
3/20/1846-12/21/1855
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF James T. son of Richard and Martha Sherwood 
10/9/1844-3/9/1845
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF William Andrew, infant son of Lewis and Ann Sherwood 
3/2/1845 aged 3yrs.8dys.
Martha, wife of Richard Sherwood and daughter of William and Sarah Bethea 
2/12/1822-4/12/1909   THY WORD
IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH.   PSALMS CXIX-105

Goodman Bethea   Lieut.S.C.Troops REV.WAR. son of William Bethea born 
10/1759- died 11/1796

Kitty Bethea, wife of Cade Bethea died 4/15/1870   aged 75 years
Cade Bethea died 9/12/1867  aged 75 years

IN MEMORY OF Mary E.Bethea, wife of John J.Bethea 6/12/1828-11/3/1855  aged 
27 yrs.4mths. 21 dys.

Elizabeth Walter, daughter of John Bethea  who departed this life 1/15 
A.D.1857   aged 55 years,6mths,28dys.

4 WOODEN MARKER S

Phillip B.Bethea 3/14/1834-12/18/1869

IN MEMORY OF Sarah Ann Sherwood, wife of William Davis 3/22/1857-2/16/1903   
TIS BUT THE CASKET LIES HERE.THE GEM THAT FILLED IT SPARKS YET.

John L. son of Richard and Martha Sherwood 4/26/1860-5/6/1907

William Henry, son of Sarah A.Davis  4/1/1882-7/31/1909   HE LOOKED FOR A 
CITY WHICH HATH FOUNDATIONS,WHOSE BUILDER AND MAKER IS GOD.

IN THE MEMORY OF Catharine Jane, wife of T.B.Braddy and daughter of Daniel 
M.McKinnon  7/15/1827-7/18/1861   SHE WAS FROM HER 18TH YEAR  
AN EXEMPLARY MEMBER OF THE PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH. I HEARD A VOICE FROM HEAVEN SAYING UNTO THE WRITE,BLESSED ARE THE 
DEAD WHICH DIE IN THE LORD.FROM HENCE FORTH YEA SAITH THE SPIRIT 
THAT----------[Stone broken]

Joseph Lewis Bruson, son of Augusta Jerome and Sarah Walters Brunson 
11/12/1912-2/12/1933
A.J.Brunson 4/29/1876-7/10/1953
Jaratt Walter, wife of A.J.Brunson 5/8/1884-1/12/1917   O' CALL BACK 
YESTERDAY BID  TIME RETURN.
R.A.Brunson born 1849-died 1912
Willie Eugenia, wife of R.A.Brunson  4/28/1850-11/14/ 1881
Walter Ervin, son of R.A.& W.E.Brunson 12/7/1870-5/27/1871
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF William E. son of M.L.& Mary Walter who was born 
10/8/1836-6/2/1857
Sacred to the memory of Margaret L.daughter of T.B.& C.Walter
IN MEMORY OF William W.Walter who was born 10/6/1815-10/19/1849 in the 34th
year of his age.             Erected by his wife
BY HIS MOTHER    IN MEMORY OF JOEL FRANKLIN WALTER 1/11/1840 - died in his 
3rd year of his age.THE
YOUNG AND ALL MUST DIE.

Infant daughter of T.B.& C.J.Braddy 11/15/1851-aged 1month and 3 days
THIS IS ERECTED BY Martha Braddy 
 THE BEREFT RELICT TO THE DEPARTED WORTH OF HER ESTEEMED
 HUSBAND John Braddy  who died of Apoplexy 11/25/ A.D.1844 aged 60 years,1 
 month, 1 day

ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF Martha Braddy born  3/1790-died 10/11/1853  aged 
63years 6mos.    BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHO DIE IN THE LORD.

Tristram B.Braddy 2/19/1828-11/23/1881   IN THE MIDST OF WE ARE IN DEATH.
IN MEMORY OF Lewton C. Braddy M.D. 2/23/1826-8/5/1853

Robert Bruce Braddy 12/11/1831-2/3/1901
John Braddy, son of  T.B.& C.J.Braddy 11/14/1865-aged 15 years and 9 months 
IN THE MIDST OF
LIFE WE ARE IN DEATH.
Lucy Lillian, daughter of T.B.& A.N.Braddy died 8/17/1865 aged 1 year and 5 
days

Mary Ann, wife of E.R.Bethea 3/1/1831-10/7/1868
E.R.Bethea 1/1/1822-3/28/1860

Contributed by Victoria Proctor, 1998 (partial), with additions Feb 2002.

                  BETHEA CEMETERY

LOCATION: East side of Sweat Swamp, north of Little Rock, S.C.

DIRECTIONS: From Dillon take Hwy. 9 toward Little Rock.  When you get to 
Little Rock, you'll see Harllee's Bridge Road; turn right.  Make a left
onto Judson Road.  Go past Prospect Drive (on your left).  Judson Rd. makes
a gentle zig-zag between Prospect and the Bethea cemetery location:



|
|---- McLaurin Lake Cir.}            | x Bethea Sweat Swamp Cemetery
|                                    /
|H                                  /J
|w                                 /u
|y                                |d
|______Prospect Dr._______________|s
|5                                |o
|7                                |n

If you've got a street map, you'll see the locations mentioned above
and be able to spot the "curve" mentioned.  




John BETHEA, S.C. Troops, Rev. War.  
  ("Devil John" Bethea)
  Son of William BETHEA.  Born Oct. 20, 1752.  Died March 4, 1812.
Mary HENAGAN, wife of John Bethea, born 1756.  Died September 1824.

Sacred to the memory of John BETHEA, Jr.
  Son of John and Mary who died Nov. 30, 1827 Aged 40 years and 4 months.
Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Hannah BETHEA,
  Consort of John Bethea, Jr., 
  Daughter of William L. and Jericho WALKER.
  Born May 8, 1788.  Died June 2, 186_.

Cade BETHEA died Sept. 12, 1867  Age 75 years.
Kitty BETHEA, wife of Cade Bethea died April 15, 1870  Age 75 years.
Cade W. BETHEA Born July 14, 1826.  Died June 22, 1901.

Goodman Bethea, Lieut. S.C. Troops. Rev. War.
  Son of William Bethea.  
  Born on October 1759.
  Died November 1796.

Philip Bethea
Born March 14, 1831
Died December 18, 1869

In memory of
Sarah Ann Sherwood
wife of U. M. Davis
Born March 22, 1857.
Died February 16, 1908.
"Tis the casket lies here
The gem that filled it,
sparks yet."

Martha
wife of Richard Sherwood
and daughter of William and Sarah Bethea
Born February 12, 1822.
Died April 12, 1909

Richard Sherwood
Died May 26, 1863
aged 46 yrs.

~~~~Additions from 197_ survey by Catherine Hooker,
p. 112 "Bicentennial Project":

Dear Wife, if yet thy spirit hover nigh
The spot where now thy mouldering ask
here lie.  Here wilt thou read recorded
on my heart.  A grief too deep to trust
the sculptors art.  This tablet is
erected by the bereaved husband
John McK. Alford M.D. of N.C..  As a tribute
of respect to the Sacred Memory of
Sophia Platt, Daughter of John and Hannah
Bethea who was born September 9, 1815
and died January 15th 1834.

In memory of Dr. Alfred W. Bethea, son
John and Hannah Bethea Born Nov. 12, 1816
Died Febry. 18 1865, Age 48 yrs, 3mos,
and 6 dys.  He lived respected and died
regretted.  Although dead yet lives and
will ever live in the fond recollections
of those whom he was endeared by his
amiable qualities and generousness.

Erected to the memory of Martha Braddy
Born March 1790.  Died Oct. 11, 1853
Age 63 yrs, 6 mos.  Blessed are the dead
who die in the Lord.
[Note: this is repeated on p. 113]

This is erected by Martha Braddy the bereft relict
to the departed worth by esteemed husband John
Braddy who died of apoplexy November 25 1844 A.D.
Aged 60 years, 1 month, 1 day

Elizabeth Walter daughter of John Bethea
Departed this life's journey the 13th 1837 A.D.
Age 55 years, 6 months and 28 days.

Sacred To the memory of Sarah wife of William Bethea
and Daughter of George and Elizabeth Hargrove.
Born Nov. 23, 1797 and departed this life May 25, 1815.
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.



p. 113:

In memory of Mary E. Bethea, wife of John J. Bethea.
Born June 12th 1828.  Died November 31, 1855.
Lived 27 years 4 months and 21 days.

Martha, wife of Richard Sherwood and
Daughter of William and Sarah Bethea.
Born February 12, 1822.  Died April 12, 1909.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.
Psalms CXII.

p. 114:

Sacred to the memory of Wm. Anderson, son of
Richard and Martha Sherwood, born March 11, 1840.
Died December 11, 1855.

Sacred to the memory of James T., Son of
Richard and Martha Sherwood.  Born October 9, 1844.
Died March 9, 1845.