Branner Cemetery is located across the Old Andrew Johnson Highway from Glenmore Mansion (Built by John Roper Branner) in Jefferson City (formerly Mossy Creek), Tennessee. The entrance to the cemetery is near the Tennessee historic marker that commemorates the Battle of Mossy Creek which was fought over this ground at the end of 1863.
Soldiers from both sides of that War are buried in Branner Cemetery as are some of the slaves whose condition was so central to that great struggle.
This cemetery accepted burials for about a century from around 1840 until about 1940. Below you will find information about all the persons known to have been interred in Branner Cemetery.
For many decades until 2001, Branner Cemetery was lost for all practical purposes in a jungle of trees weeds, and undergrowth. Many of its old markers were overturned or broken. However, with hundreds of hours of hard, physical labor a handful of dedicated volunteers have reclaimed Branner Cemetery from nature and vandals. The volunteers have personally repaired numerous tombstones and have contributed their own money to perform more technical demanding work requiring specialized equipment. The Branner cemetery volunteers include: Ernie Hedges, Dr. Jane Smith, Neil Manley, Cleve Smith, Bobby Shands, George Clay, any many other individuals.
You too can be part of the continuing quest to restore and properly maintain old Branner Cemetery. (Nature will immediately begin to retake the cemetery site if maintenance efforts slacken.) Branner Cemetery’s volunteers invite you to participate (with your labor, your financial contributions, or both) to the ongoing effort to save and respect this important place. At the end of this website you will find information about how to contact the Branner Cemetery volunteers.
Below you will find the list known graves using the following symbols: Name (n) Born (b) Died (d) Comments on Tombstone, if any (c)
Ashmore, Magnolia (n) Feb 18, 1851 (b) Nov 24, 1873 (d) Daughter of H.H. & M.J. Hubbard (c)
Altom, Amanda N. (n)Aug 25, 1890 (b) July 1, 1891 (d) Infant of W.F. & M.C. Altom, Aged 10 mos 16 days (c)
Anderson, John P. (n) Nov 17,1866 (b)Oct 17,1893 (d)
Booth, Ailsey M.M. (n) Apr 10, 1854 (d) wife of Col Edwin Booth; aged 90 yrs (c)
Bowen, Juanita (n) Feb 27, 1902 (b) May 27, 1909 (d) Daughter of G.N. & L.B. Bowen (c)
Bracken, Hugh (n) May 28, 1889 (d) aged 76 (c)
Branner, Benjamin M. (n) May 6,1830 (b) Mar 4, 1905 (d) Benjamin M. Branner who on June 25, 1861 formed "The Peck Light Dragons" Lt Col. C.S.A. (c)
Branner, Deborah G. (n) July 10, 1885 (d) wife of J.R. Branner A Light from our household is gone A voice we loved is stilled A place is vacant in our heart That never can be filled (on back of stone)
Branner, Dee (n) Sept 7, 1879 (b) Sept 12, 1879 (d) daughter of W.M. & A.R. Branner (c)
Branner, George (n)Jul 11, 1796 (b) February 28, 1847 (d) Scared to the memory of (c)
Branner, George Arthur (n) Son of John R & D.C. Branner Died at Cumberland Gap (c)
Branner, Ida (n) Nov 20, 1855 (b) Aug 17,1856 (d) Daughter of J.R. & D.C. Branner (c)
Branner, J.C. (n) Jul 10, 1869 (b) Mar 30, 1908 (d)
Branner, Jessie (n) Feb 26, 1908 (b) Oct 30, 1908 (d)
Branner, John R. (n) Feb 4, 1822 (b) Feb 8, 1869 (d) Deceased for many years was president of E.T.V. & G.R.R. Lifes duty done as the sinks the day Light from the Lord its spirit flies while Heaven and Earth combine to say How blest the righteous when he dies. (Aged 47 yrs 4 days) Erected by wife D.C. Branner (c)
Branner, John Roper (n) Sept 19, 1847 (b) Sept 11, 1851 (d) son of Jho R. & Deborah C. Branner Aged 3 yrs 11 mo & 25 day (c)
Branner, John Roper (n) Feb 6, 1877 (b) Jun 7, 1877 (d) Son of W.M. & A.R. Branner (c)
Branner, Josephine Bonapart (n) Feb 15, 1847 (b) Dec 10, 1854 (d) daughter of George & Mary A. Branner Sacred to the memory of Aged 7 yrs 9 mo 25 days
Branner, LC (n) August 25, 1905 (b) April 4, 1918 (d)
Branner, M.M. Jan 25, 1832 (b) June 25, 1908 (d)
Branner, Mary Susan (n) June 29, 1854 (b) April 22, 1855 (d) Aged 9 mo & 24 days (c)
Branner, Maggie D. (n) Aug 6, 1857 (n) Dec 14, 1863 (d) Daughter of J.R. & D.C. Branner Aged 6 yrs 4 mos & 8 days Budded on earth to bloom in Heaven (c)
Branner, Robert Franklin (n) Jun 17, 1851 (b) Jul 25, 1852 (d) Son of Jno R. & Deborah C. Branner Aged 1 yr 1 mo 8 days (c)
Branner, Stephen Franklin (n) Nov 23, 1849 (b) Sept 2, 1850 (d) son of Jho R. & Deborah C. Branner Aged 9 mo 10 days (c)
Branner, William Massengill (n) Jul 4, 1845 (b)Dec 23, 1907 (d)
Brown, Joe E. (n) 1873 (b) 1939 (d)
B.T. (These initials are the only markings on the tombstone.)
Cannon, Elbert J. (n) Dec 5, 1829 (b) Jan 1, 1864 (d) Capt. Co. C. 1 Reg't. Tenn Cav U.S.A. Wounded Dec 29, 1863 at Battle of Mossy Creek (c)
Carden, Samuel R. (n) Mar 26, 1840 (b) Nov 24, 1915 (d)
Cate, Emma (n) Mar 4, 1833 (b) Mar 30, 1882 (d)
Cate, S.C.D. (n) Aug 6, 1862 (b) Mar 15, 1863 (d)
Cate, William Crockett (n) Nov 16, 1833 (b) Oct 28, 1905 (d) Blessed is the death of those who die in the Lord Aged 71 yrs 11 mos 12 days (c)
Cate, Z (n) 1863 (d)
Cobb, Ailcey (n) Oct 25, 1796 (b) Jun 9, 1884 (d)Relic of Arthur Cobb Daughter of Henry Massengill Aged 87 yrs 7 mo 14 days (c)
Cobb, Arthur (n) Oct 7, 1790 (b) May 30, 1822 (d)
Cox, Nancy Elizabeth (n) Sept 2, 1843 (d) Sacred to their memory of Daughter of W.N. & Melinda Cox Aged 8 months 13 days (c)
Devinney, R (n) Mar 1, 1842 (b) Sept 10, 1903 (d)
Dyer, James (n) Jun 22, 1864 (b) Nov 21, 1904 (d) Husband of Mary Dyer Married 5/16/1889 Gone but not forgotten (c)
Forshee, Orlelia Glorina (n) Apr 17, 1837 (b) Aug 2, 1877 (d) Wife of G.W. Forshee Aged 40 yrs 3 mo 16 days (c)
G.B. (These initials are the only markings on the tombstone.)
Gunson, Henry (n) Jan 21, 1905 (b) Mar 19, 1905 (d)
Hill, Robert (n) Dec 21, 1859 (d) Son of W.N. & R.A. Hill Aged 3 yrs 3 mos 2 days (c)
Holifield, Charlie (n) son of J.W. & L. Holifield (c)
Hoss, Penelope (n) Feb 17, 1813 (b) Jul 22, 1849 (d)Sacred to the memory of: Consort of Ed Hoss & Daughter of William & Deborah Massengill Aged 36 yrs 5 mo 5 days (c)
Hubbard, Ann Augusta (n) Dec 14, 1847 (b) Aug 4, 1848 (d) 2nd daughter of Henry H. and Mary J. Hubbard died at Leas Spring Aged 8 mo 22 days (c)
Hubbard, Col. Henry H. (n) Feb 12, 1825 (b) Feb 16, 1903 (d) Author's comment...not on tombstone: Became the Recording Secretary for the C.S.A. in Richmond, VA
Hubbard, Mary B. (n) Nov 17, 1849 (b) May 11, 1874(d) daughter of H.H. and M.J. Hubbard (c)
Hubbard, Mary Jane (n) Aug 10, 1826 (b) Sept 30, 1904 (d)
J.P.A. (These initials are the only markings on the tombstone.)
J.M. (These initials are the only markings on the tombstone.)
Johnson, C.H. (n) Sept 25, 1830 (b) Aug 1, 1857 (d)
Johnson, Donie B (n) Mar 24, 1888 (b) Feb 24, 1890 (d) Gone but not forgotten Gone Home (c)
Johnson, Henry (n) 1843 (b) 1906 (d)
Johnson, J.R. (n) Jan 18, 1857 (b) Feb 3, 1857 (d)
Johnson, Martha (n) Jul 7, 1875 (d) Aged 8 yrs 5 mos (c)
Johnson, Parilee (n) 1852 (b) Oct 2, 1879 (d)
Johnson, Thomas (n) Jun 22, 1791 (b) Oct 10, 1880 (d) 89 yrs 4 mo 19 days (c)
Kinder, A.E. (n) Oct 4, 1843 (b) Jul 20, 1907 (d)Wife of G.W. Kinder Daughter of J.B. & D.H. Churchman Married April 29,1866 Gone but not forgotten (c)
King, S. Branner (n) Oct 31, 1887 (b) Jun 30, 1898 (d) son of W.G. & Maggie King (c)
Lacy, Lewis (n) Dec 4, 1819 (b) Mar 8, 1886 (d)
Line, L.C. (n) Sept 26, 1843 (b) Jul 19, 1879 (d)Wife of A.E. Line. Daughter of Jonathan & Mary Quarles Our Mother (c)
Little Rowley (Possibly a Branner)
Masengale, Martha A. (n) Jun 8, 1849 (b) Jun 1, 1880 (d)
May, Mrs. Betsie (n) Nov 1, 1823 (b) Mar 3, 1894 (d)
(May)?, Frederick (n) Mar 29, 1907 (b) Sept 1884 (d) Aged 77 yrs 5 mos 21 days Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. (c)
Mountcastle, Jesse (n) Dec 3, 1861 (b) Apr 14, 1891 (d)
Newman (n)
Newman, C.B. (n) Sept 5, 1888 (b) Dec 12, 1912 (d) Thy trial ended Thy rest won (c)
Newman, Susan (n) 1855 (b) 1919 (d) She died as she lived-a Christian (c)
P.H. (These initials are the only markings on the tombstone.)
R.B.S. (These initials are the only markings on the tombstone.)
Reese, Dr. Jos. B.M. (n) May 21, 1792 (b) Nov 7, 1848 (d)
Reese, Elizabeth (n) Jul 8, 1843 (d) in the 75th year of her age (c)
Reese, James (n) Oct 14, 1840 (d) in the 93rd year of his age (c)
Rogers, Elizabeth (n) Sept 11, 1852 (d) Scared to the momory of Daughter of W. & E.J. rogers (c)
Rogers, Rev. W.M. (n) Apr 3, 1817 (b) Nov 24, 1851 (d) President of the Mossy Creek Missionary Baptist Seminary Member of Dandridge Church an Exemplary member of the Baptist Church 19 years. A useful minister of Gospel near 9 years. Humble and preserving in the cause of Christ. He sacrificed Property, Health and even life for truths sake. As a token of esteem this is placed here by his friends. (c)
Roper, Col. John (n) Mar 11, 1782 (b) Feb 22, 1858 (d) In memory of (c)
Sawyers, Rebecca H. (n) Nov 17, 1825 (b) Nov 26, 1873 (d) Wife of Ruphus J. Sawyers (c)
Stone, Nancy Ann (n) Apr 2, 1784 (b) Sept 9, 1854 (d)
Talbott, Anna M. (n) Oct 27, 1866 (b) Jul 12, 1869 (d) Aged 76 years (c)
Talbott, Barshaba (n) May 15, 1814 (b) Jul 11, 1854 (d) Daughter of Arthur & Ailcey Cobb Aged 40 yrs 1 mo 27 days (c)
Talbott, Barshaba (n) May 22, 1803 (b) May 4, 1877 (d)Second wife of John Talbott Aged 73 yrs 11 mo 12 days (c)
Talbott, Col. John (n) Aug 19, 1801 (b) Feb 11, 1884 (d) He lived the life of an honest man and died the death of a Christian (c)
T.J. (These initials are the only markings on the tombstone.)
Toland, Mary B. (n) Nov 17, 1849 (b) May 11, 1874 (d) Daughter of H.H. & M.J. Hubbard (c)
Weldon, Sarah J. (n) Nov 16, 1866 (d) Daughter of E.D. & P. Hoss We have lived on earth and may we meet in heaven Aged 22 yrs 4 mo 6 days (c)
Williams, Eliza Jane (n) Dec 17, 1823 (b) May 3, 1860 (d) Wife of W.M. Rogers & W.G. Damron (c)
Please email any comments to me, Ernest Hedges, Jr. E-mail Address: echedges@bellsouth.net
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