Silent Sentinel of Stone:  Old
Chapel
Hill Cemetery
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Sections I-IV
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Sections I-IV

Section I is the oldest section of the cemetery. Originally, it was not divided into separate family plots, but as the cemetery grew, the section was organized that way. Many of the family plots are surrounded by low rock walls or iron fences.

Margaritta Chapman, who died in 1814 at the age of 16, has the oldest monument, but she was not the first buried. The first person buried in the cemetery was a student, George Clarke, who died in 1798, but his marble marker was not put in place until several years after his death. The Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies enclosures are also located in Section I.

Section II, east of Section I, is composed of family plots starting from the early 1800s. Not until the early 1900s, did regular interments begin. The family arrangement of a single monument with the family name and individual headstones for family members became more popular later on. Family plots in this style are not enclosed, and this arrangement continues into Section III and IV. Many of the people buried in these four sections are either students, faculty or administrators at UNC. Click here to view a map of the cemetery.

Di and Phi
Societies Di and Phi Societies
Until the 1870s, all students were required to join either the Dialectic and Philantropic Societies. The socieites were responsible for burying students who passed away while they were at UNC. These enclosures contain mostly Victorian monuments.
Edward Kidder
Graham Edward Kidder Graham (1876-1918)
Edward Kidder Graham started as a student at UNC, and then became an English professor. H was president of the University, fron 1914-18 and an advocate of women's rights.
William Coker William Coker (1872-1953)
William Coker taught botany and made it into a separate department at the University. He was heavily involved in beautifying the campus and also created the arboretum on campus that now bears his name.
Louis Graves The Graves Family
Many members of the Graves family were prominently involved with the University. Several generations have been involved in developing and working at the school. Three of the Graves children are buried in the cemetery, Louis Graves, 1883-1965; Ralph Henry Graves, 1878-1939; and Mary Graves Rees, 1886-1950.
William
Carmichael William Carmichael, Jr. (1900-1961)
William Carmichael attended the University as an undergraduate and returned to serve as controller for the university system and as the acting president.
Louis Round
Wilson Louis Round Wilson (1876-1979)
Louis Wilson received his undergraduate degree from the University in 1901 and went on to become university librarian and a professor of German.
Charles Kuralt Charles Kuralt (1934-1997)
Charles Kuralt was a journalism student at UNC. He later became a renowned journalist for CBS, and had his own show for many years, called "On the Road." Even though his travels took him all over the world, he chose to be buried in Chapel Hill.

Section I

  • Algernon Barbee, 1840-1918. Mayor.
  • Alma Holland Beers, 1892-1974. Long-time assistant to Botany Professor William Coker.
  • (Charles) Dale Beers, 1901 - 1976. Professor of Zoology.
  • George Clarke, 1779- 1798. First known interment in cemetery; stone dates from mid-19th century.
  • Jane Tenney Gilbert, 1896-1980. Epitaph reads: I was a Tar Heel born/and a Tar Heel bred/and here I lie a Tar Heel dead./Bom Jan. 1896 AND STILL HERE 1980.
  • Col. Hugh Blair Guthrie, 1814-1881. Mayor, sheriff, postmaster, member of NC General Assembly. Unique chest tomb and inscription.
  • Thomas West Harris, 1839-1888. First Dean of Medical School; also ran drugstore.
  • Nancy Hilliard, 1798-1873. Proprietor of Eagle Hotel, on present site of Graham Memorial Building, which President Polk once visited. She later built a home called the Crystal Palace, on present site of Planetarium Rose Garden, where she took in student boarders. Her parents are buried in two unmarked graves just to the north of hers.
  • John Huskey, 1840-1920. Blacksmith.
  • Sophia MacNider, 1846-1929. Ran boardinghouse and prep school in home at Franklin and Henderson Streets.
  • William MacNider, 1881-1951. Dean of Medical School; authority on kidney diseases and aging process.
  • Edward Mallett, 1827-1865. Killed at Battle of Bentonville; buried in his bloody uniform.
  • William Mallett, 1819-1889. Physician; ran student infirmary. Also had chemist's shop and post office in home at Franklin and Henderson Streets.
  • Edward and Annabella Martin, mid-19th century. Young wife died 3 days after marriage; romantic epitaph.
  • Graham Morrow, ?-1863. Killed at Gettysburg. A brother was killed at Fredericksburg, and another in Atlanta.
  • Phillips Family. Prominent Chapel Hillians. Charles (1822-1889) was UNC Professor, his daughter Cornelia Phillips Spencer (182S-1908) helped reopen UNC during Reconstruction; his son Samuel (1824-1903) was Professor of Law, and later U.S. Solicitor General under President Grant. (Errata)
  • Tenney (Tenny) Family. Owners of Tenney Plantation off East Franklin Street in 19th century.
  • Walter Toy, 1854-1933. Professor of Modern Languages for 48 years.
  • Foster Utley, 1820-1894. University carpenter during Reconstruction.

Section II

  • Eric Abernethy, 1876-1933 University physician for whom Abernethy Hall is named.
  • Harriet Morehead Berry, 1877-1940. Advocated North Carolina road improvements; section of I-40 between Durham and Hillsborough named for her.
  • Gustave Braune, 1872-1930. First Dean, School of Engineering.
  • Collier Cobb Jr., 1893-1982. Founder, Collier Cobb Insurance.
  • Zeb Council, 1876-1958. Mayor.
  • Alfred Engstrom, 1907-1990. Professor of Romance Languagcs.
  • Clyde Eubanks, 1871-1965. Druggist, bank executive, co-founder of Merchants Association, alderman for 25 years.
  • Robert Foister, 1888-1963. Owned Foister's Cameras on Franklin Street.
  • Adam Kluttz, 1857- 1926. Ran well-known general store on Franklin Street.
  • Estelle Lawson Page, 1907-1983. World champion golfer.
  • H.H. 'Hoot' Patterson, 1844-1917. Ran general store on Franklin St.. First homeowner in Chapel Hill to install running water.
  • Joseph Hyde Pratt, 1870-1942. Professor of Geology and first chairman of Planning Board.
  • Mary Bayley Pratt, 1874-1929. First Chapel Hill public library named for her.
  • Lillian Hughes Prince, 1893-1962. Actress; first Queen Elizabeth in 'The Lost Colony.'
  • William Meade Prince, 1893-1951. Artist and writer: 'The Southern Part of Heaven.'
  • Isaac Pritchard, 1853-1935. State representative; director, Bank of Chapel Hill; developer, Westwood subdivision.
  • William Pritchard, 1850-1930. Storekeeper, postmaster, mayor, state senator. Until his death, ran 15 acre farm west of Columbia St. near present Town Hall.
  • A.B. Roberson, M.D., 1840-1897. Physician, druggist, hotel owner. Owned 1500 acre farm east of town.
  • Foy Roberson, M.D., 1884-1955. Chief of surgery, Watts Hospital. Established Foy Roberson Jr. (1918-1941) basketball award.
  • William Roberson, 1869-1935. 3-time mayor, teacher, realtor, lawyer.
  • Inez Koonce Stacy, 1886-1961. Advisor of Women and Dean of Women 1919- 1946.
  • Marvin Hendrix Stacy, 1877-1919. Served 3 months as acting UNC President; died of the same influenza epidemic that took the life of his predecessor, Edward Kidder Grahaun.
  • Bruce Strowd. 1891-1955. Owned Ford dealership at corner of Columbia and Franklin Streets for many years.( Errata)
  • Robert Strowd, 1864-1934. Owned 1200 acre plantation in Davie Circle area off East Franklin Street in early 20th century; built Strowd Block on West Franklin Street.
  • William Strowd, 1832-1911. Ran sawmill on Bolin Creek.
  • Horace Williams, 1858- 1940. Professor of Philosophy. Left entire estate to UNC, including home on East Rosemary and 1000 acres on present site of municipal airport.
  • Thomas Wilson, Jr., 1874-1945. Professor of Greek and Latin; Registrar for 46 years.
  • Thomas Wilson (III), 1902-1969. Director of UNC Press and Harvard Press.

Section III

  • Carl Boettcher, 1986-1950. Woodcarver.
  • Henry Brandis, 1909-1989. Dean of Law School.
  • Albert Coates, 1896-1989. Founder, UNC Institute of Government.
  • Oscar 'Skipper' Coffin, 1887-1956. Professor of Journalism; author.
  • Robert Connor, 1878-1950. Kenan Professor of History; first United States Archivist.
  • Edward Danziger, 1893-1972. Restaurateur (Viennese Candy Kitchen, Papa D's); son started the Rathskeller.
  • James Gooch, 1871-1940. Longtime owner of Gooch's Cafe, Franklin Street.
  • Edwin Greenlaw, 1874- 1931. Professor of English.
  • Mable Hill, 1893- 1983. Silent movie pianist for many years at Pickwick Theatre En Franklin Street.
  • Robert House, 1892-1987. UNC Chancellor; author.
  • Frederick 'Prof' Koch, 1877- 1944. Founder, Playmakers Theatre.
  • Kay Kyser,1905-1985. F amous bandleader.
  • Francis LeClair, 1884-1973. Botanist, landscape architect; designed Old Well and Planetarium rose garden.
  • Braxton Lloyd, 1886-1947. County physician, mayor of Carrboro.
  • Sidney Long, 1861-1928. Chief of Police and dairy farther.
  • Isaac Hall Manning, 1866-1946. Dean of Medical School, Kenan Professor of Physiology. Founded Hospital Savings of N.C., providing first medical care in North Carolina for all its citizens, which became Blue Cross/Blue Shield.
  • John Taylor Manning, 1913- 1982. Son of Isaac; attorney and judge.
  • Frederick (1893-1973) and Adeline (1900- 1989) McCall. Two of the founders of North Carolina Symphony; he was UNC Professor of Law; she composed score for 'The Lost Colony'.
  • John Nesbitt, 1860-1946. Engineer for 24 years on UNC railroad, the 'Whooper'.
  • E. Carrington Smith, 1905-1977. Operated Carolina Movie Theatre.
  • Hiram Stone, 1856-1901. Blacksmith.
  • James Street, 1903-1954. Novelist: 'The Biscuit Eater', 'Good-bye, My Lady'.
  • James L. Sutton, 1891-1950. Founded Sutton's Drugstore on Franklin Street in 1923. Unique 'signature' inscription on stone.
  • James Tatum, 1913-1959. UNC football coach.
  • Ralph Trimble, 1899- 1975. Professor of Engineering; surveyed much of Chapel Hill.
  • Maurice VanHecke, 1892-1963. Professor of Law for whom VanHecke-Wettach Hall is named.

Section IV

  • Roy Armstrong, 1904-1984. UNC Director of Admissions; Director of Morehead Foundation; Brigadier General, US Army Reserves.
  • English Bagby. 1891-1955. Professor of Psychology.
  • Walter Reece Berryhill, 1900-1979. Dean, School of Medicine.
  • Dudley Carroll, 1885-1971. Dean, School of Business.
  • Robert Coker, 1876-1967. Professor of Biology and author.
  • Samuel Cornwell, 1925-1979. Professor of Physical Education.
  • John Couch, 1896-1986. Professor of Botany.
  • Rachel Crook, 1879-1951 (murdered). Ran Chapel Hill's first launderette; also ran fish/produce market which later became Crook's Corner Restaurant.
  • Myrtle Etheridge, 1904-1990. Long-time telephone operator.
  • Robert Fowler, 1905-1961. Grocer; founded Model Market (later Fowler's).
  • Wesley Critz George, 1888-1982. Professor of Anatomy; world-famous expert on study of blood and embryos.
  • Paul Green, 1894-1981. Author and playwright: 'In Abraham's Bosom', and first outdoor drama, 'The Lost Colony'.
  • Noel Houston, 1909-1958. Novelist and playwright.
  • Edwin Lanier, 1901-1983. Mayor.
  • Howard Odum, 1884-1954. Professor of Sociology, founder of Institute Research in Social Science, pioneer in the study of black culture.
  • Fred Smith Sr., 1858-1939. Conductor for 48 years on UNC railroad, the 'Whooper'.
  • Jeff Thomas, 1898-1957. Owner of Jeff's Confectionery on Franklin Street.
  • Henry Totten, 1892-1974. Professor of Botany. He and wife Addie (1889-1974) were well known horticulturalists for whom Totten Center at the NC Botanical Garden is named.
  • John Umstead, Jr., 1889-1968. State Representative.
  • Robert Wettach, 1891-1964. Professor of Law for whom VanHecke-Wettach Hall is named.