cemetery gates

Village Cemetery in Edgefield County, South Carolina. This cemetery is the burial place of three S.C. Governors: F. W. Pickens (1807-1869), J. C. Sheppard (1850-1931), and John G. Evans (1863-1942) and filled with incredible wrought iron fences around many old family plots.

Sometimes known as the Edgefield Village Cemetery, Willowbrook dates back to as early as 1819. It is believed that the first person buried here was Pierre LaBorde, Edgefield's first merchant, who died in 1819. Although it is adjacent to the Baptist Church, the cemetery predates the church which was built in 1823. Many famous South Carolinians are buried here, including four of the state's governors (Francis W. Pickens, John Gary Evans, John C. Sheppard, and Strom Thurmond), two United States Senators (M.C. Butler and Strom Thurmond), a famous congressman (Preston S. Brooks), a remarkably accomplished missionary to China (Dr. John Lake), the author of the South Carolina Ordinance of Secession (Francis Hugh Wardlaw), a Revolutionary veteran and approximately 150 Confederate veterans. Of special interest is a large rock brought here from the Tai Kam Leper Colony in the South China Sea to mark the grave of Dr. John Lake who founded the Colony.

Village Cemetery
Edgefield, South Carolina

Burial place of three SC Governors: F. W. Pickens, 1807-1869; 1. C. Sheppard, 185~ 1931; John G. Evans, 1863-1942; and the families of Gov. PierceH. Butler and Gov. M. L. Bonham. Also buried here are Francis H. Wardlaw, 1800--1861; Preston S. Brooks, 1818-1857; Matthew C. Butler, 1836-1909; and John Lake, 187~ 1949, missionary to China

Erected by First Baptist Church, Edgefield, SC - 1967

This image of the Edgefield First Baptist Church from Willowbrook Cemetery. The steeple was replaced with a more modern version in late 2019.