Michal Family Cemetery
LOCATION
The Michal Family Cemetery is a small family graveyard located in the Bethel Community in a pastoral wooded area off of Sonoma Road.
HISTORY
CEMETERY DESIGNATION
The Michal Cemetery is listed in George Augustus Miller, Sr's. Cemeteries and Family Graveyards in Haywood County, NC, with documented gravesite listings in the 1880s. Emily Lenoir Michal Gentry's book, The Michal Family Cemetery, indicates that the family graveyard was established in 1880 as the “Lenoir/Michal Family Cemetery.” Through the years, however, it has come to be known as the “Michal Family Cemetery.” Thomas Isaac Lenoir owned the property originally, and he buried his wife there, followed by his own interment beside her. The 1882 handwritten deed was written on behalf of the daughters of Thomas Isaac and Lizzie Lenoir: Mary Lenoir Michal, Laura Lenoir, and Sarah Lenoir Hickerson. The guardian of the Lenoir's three orphaned daughters gifted the three-acre property to the Episcopal Diocese of WNC (Thomas Isaac Lenoir was a founding member of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Waynesville) with the direction that two of the acres would be used for the graveyard with the remainder designated for use by the local Methodist church.
This two-acre parcel is now the graveyard area, and the original Bethel United Methodist Church parsonage (now privately owned) sits adjacent to the burial ground on the remainder of the original deeded property. The deed currently lists ownership by the Bethel United Methodist Church.
EXPANSION
The graveyard has no need to expand beyond the original two-acre plot since adequate space remains available for future gravesites. George Augustus Miller, Sr. at the date of publication of his book on Haywood County cemeteries, 1979, listed sixteen cemetery occupants. The cemetery continues to grow as Lenoir/Michael descendants pass. Gentry's book lists twenty-eight names.
GOVERNANCE
Since its inception as a gift from the Protestant Episcopal Diocese of Waynesville, NC, family members are in charge of governance and maintenance of the Michal Family Cemetery. Emily Lenoir Michal Gentry is the primary contact person: emgentry2@att.net.
FUNDING
Currently, Emily Gentry and her husband as well as other family members donate to the upkeep of the cemetery. The Lenoir-Michal family ensures that the graveyard is well maintained with frequent mowing.
GRAVES AND GRAVE MARKERS
A lovely carved wooden marker greets visitors to the Michal Family Cemetery. Miller's book indicates that while most of the graves are marked there are a few unmarked burial sites. The majority of the grave markers are traditional granite stones that are typical of mid-1900s local cemeteries in the mountains. Thomas Isaac and Lizzie Lenoir's headstone is a massive stone and mortar marker. A unique single cross denotes one unidentified grave site.
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND WEBSITE SEARCH LINKS
Emily Lenoir Michal Gentry has compiled an extensive biographical listing of every person interred at the Michal Family Cemetery. In addition, the book includes historical data about the cemetery as well as the Lenoir and Michal families and their role in North Carolina and Haywood County history: Michal Family Cemetery.
In Walking in the Footsteps of Those Who Came Before Us DVD, Dr. Mary Michal and Charles Trantham discuss Lenoir's Creek Farm in Bethel where Lizzie and Thomas Isaac Lenoir made a home with their family.
George Augustus Miller, Sr. lists the Michal Family Cemetery in his book, Cemeteries and Family Graveyards in Haywood County, NC, 1979.
Emily Michal Terrell details the Lenoir family history in Forks of Pigeon (Bethel) in Haywood County, NC, as well as in other parts of North Carolina in Legends, Tales & History of Cold Mountain, Book 3.
The Michal Family Cemetery is not included in the listing of “Family Cemeteries in Haywood County, NC.”
*Find a Grave Virtual Cemetery lists the Michal Cemetery: https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2246869/michal-family-cemetery
Information for this article came from the following sources:
Coltman, Evelyn. Legends, Tales & History of Cold Mountain, Book 3. Waynesville, NC, 2005.
Gentry, Emily Lenoir Michal, The Michal Family Cemetery.
Miller, George Augustus, Sr. Cemeteries and Family Graveyards in Haywood County, North Carolina. Waynesville, NC, 1979.
*Emily Lenoir Michal Gentry provided oral information.
*Carol Litchfield provided directions
Article written by Evelyn M. Coltman
Historic Preservation Committee Chair
Bethel Rural Community Organization
Bethel Cemeteries, Churchyards, and Graveyards
Directions
- From HWY 276, the Bethel Community Cemetery is situated on the hill across the street from the Dollar General store.
- At the base of the hill on the east side of the cemetery, turn northwest on Market Street.
- Drive 0.2 mile and turn left onto Sonoma Road and then turn right onto Evergreen Circle (a gravel road).
- Bear right onto Birdsong Trail and drive 0.1 mile.
- There will be a white frame residence on the right and a brick building on the left.
- Park in the parking area by the brick building and walk back across the road to the right of the white frame residence where signage indicates cemetery grounds.
- Walk up the grassy slope to reach the Michal Family Cemetery.
