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Semira Louisa Byers 1817-1844

Mother of Louise Semira Byers Hartsfield;
first wife of Amzi W. Byers.

Status: Located

College Hill Cemetery, Oxford, Lafayette County, Mississippi, United States

Notes: LOCATION: The College Hill Presbyterian Church Cemetery is located in Lafayette County approximately 4 miles northwest of the city of Oxford on County Road 102 (College Hill Road).

The origin of this church begins with its formation January 11, 1835, in the home of Alexander Shaw. The church was originally named Neriah Church but was changed to Ebenezer Church in 1836. On January 11, 1841 the name was once again changed to College Presbyterian Church in recognition of the founding of North Mississippi College located in the community of College Hill.

In 1842, the congregation paid $400 for 23 acres of land and built the sanctuary in 1844. The church was built from bricks fired on site and was completed in 1846 for a total cost of $2,809.75. It is the oldest Presbyterian Church in North Mississippi and the oldest church building of any denomination in the Oxford area.

The history of this church reveals General Sherman camped his troops on the property using the church for a hospital. Beyond the main cemetery is a slave cemetery which also is the burial site for some union soldiers. Several graves have markers but most do not. However, through the efforts of the church, wooden crosses have been erected in memory of the soldiers and blacks buried there.
Inside the church, which is always open, are framed plats showing the burial sites of names appearing on this list.

The cemetery is divided into three sections:
Northern Section
Center Section
Southern Section

Photo pending permission, courtesy of Martin Paterson, www.findagrave.com, requested 6/22/2009.

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