Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church, Georgetown.
Christine Vernon: Expert on local history and lore.
A historic cemetery tour of the Grand Strand needs to include the rich history of Conway, S.C., which predates the American Revolution.
Over 300 years old, Duncan is the oldest Methodist congregation in South Carolina.
Graves in the Duncan cemetery date back as far as the mid-1700s,
Time and the elements take a great toll on grave markers but teams of caring volunteers do their best to preserve history.
Duncan cemetery has the graves of six “circuit riders,” itinerant Methodist preachers who traveled the area by horseback.
Prince George Winyah Parish: Another 300-plus-year-old parish.
The Prince George Winyah parish is very active today and has a strong cemetery committee that works to preserve its rich history.
Volunteers at the Prince George Winyah Parish strive to keep the cemetery clean, neat and well-kept. They are available to help family members and other visitors seeking historic markers.
Started in 1739, All Saints is one of South Carolina’s oldest continuously operating parishes.
All Saints cemetery has numerous outstanding examples of grave stone art and sculpture.
Visitors often mistake this grave at All Saints marked “Alice” as the resting place of Alice Flagg, the subject of numerous ghost tales. One legend says she “walks the marsh at night searching for the ring her from her lost love that was taken from her by her brother.” Alice Flagg is actually buried at Cedar Hill cemetery in Murrells Inlet.
Kingston Presbyterian Church in Conway also has a cemetery dating from the early 1700s. It is also on the National Registry of Historic Places.
The Beaty family owned a plantation and newspaper and were instrumental in Conway’s growth and commerce. However, the family experienced several tragedies.
Kingston Church and Cemetery occupy a beautiful and peaceful bend along the Waccamaw River.