Bethel Historic Cemetery Project (Girl Scout Led)

In an effort to give back to the community, seven girls in Troop 1967, which meets at Bethel United Methodist Church, are working to earn their Girl Scout Silver Award. The Silver Award is the second highest award of Girl Scouts USA and the highest award that a Girl Scout Cadette can earn. A girl must be in 6th, 7th or 8th grade (or equivalent) and be a registered Girl Scout Cadette.

Purpose: Their project aims to grid the 1.3-acre historical graveyard at Bethel United Methodist Church located at 500 Holland Rd Simpsonville, South Carolina, founded in 1796. The project will identify unmarked graves and mark the graves of enslaved African Americans buried in the graveyard. The project is divided into phases of research, documentation, technology, and presentation. The project's conclusion would be a grave grid mapping located on the Bethel United Methodist Church website, where descendants, historians and the community could log on to view information regarding those buried at the historic site. The compilation of all research and findings will be documented on the church website and stored in a hard-bound book in the onsite church museum. The project would conclude with a Community Ceremony and public dedication of a new grave marker to honor the enslaved African Americans buried at Bethel United Methodist Church. The scouts need to generate donations and philanthropic support to complete their project.

How it got started: In 2020, a beloved member of Bethel and the Girl Scout Liaison at the church asked Troop 1967 if they could assist with a project. The church was sure there were formerly enslaved African Americans buried in the church cemetery. The church wanted to identify and recognize these unmarked graves and honor the enslaved African Americans with a marker. Seven girls in the troop answered the call. The girls have been working on this project for two years. Some current findings are that formerly enslaved people are buried at Bethel, and a previously unknown marker is already at the site.

The significance of this is that historically it is believed that this is one of the few cemeteries in the state of South Carolina that allowed formerly enslaved people to be buried on church property with their owners and the community. Ground penetrating radar would assist with finding the number of formerly enslaved people buried in the area. This project has been very enlightening for the scouts working on research; they can’t wait to present it to the community.

How can you help these girls? At this time, funding is needed for Ground Penetrating Radar Services as the research portion is nearing completion. Funding will also be used for adding the grid mapping and research to the church website, allowing anyone to see information on anyone buried at Bethel. Monies would also be designated for the creation of a hard-bound book to be donated to the church museum and a book to be presented to Greenville County Library system. Lastly, a new grave marker dedicated to enslaved African Americans would be purchased. “All money and other assets, including property, raised, earned, and donated, will benefit Bethel Historic Cemetery project and Girl Scouts.

This project is now dedicated to the memory of Mr. Dennis Dease. Mr. Dease, a Bethel United Methodist Church member and our Girl Scout Liaison, has passed away since we began working on this project two years ago. He was beloved by all, a faithful servant to God and a friend to Girl Scout Troop 1967. Mr. Dennis is the one who initially asked our troop to take on this project on behalf of the church. He was instrumental in guiding and helping our troop with everything from cookies to ensuring our meeting space was adequate. Mr. Dennis, as our scouts called him, provided books and historical documents and aided the girls in research. He provided the girls with their first tour of Bethel Cemetery, walking them through history. This project was near and dear to his heart. While we miss him dearly, it is considered an absolute honor for the scouts to finish this project and dedicate their work to him.

We cannot do this without your help; no donation is too small. We are working to acknowledge and recognize people who at this time have no name, no history and no descendants to acknowledge their lives existed until we identify them, recognize them and give them a voice. We don't know if it's two or 200 people, but they are all important. Will we identify them all? We may not, but we will certainly try! Will you help us?

If you have information on anyone buried at Bethel cemetery or information that could assist with this project, please contact us.