Rankin Cemetery

Grayson County, Virginia

Location:  East of Galax
Directions:  This cemetery is on the east side of Rt. 89 (South Main Street), in the Marion Heights Subdivision. Turn on to Rt. 940 (Rock Road) at the Hillcrest Baptist Church. Then turn left on to Rt. 941 (Marion Heights), then right on to Rt. 942 (Marion Lane). The cemetery is on the east side of Marion Lane and is visible from the road.
GPS Coordinates:  N36.63177 W80.91163
Surveyed by:  Buford C Wilson Completed 22 Apr 2003 Updated 30 Apr 2008
Comments:  This cemetery appears to be one of the oldest surviving cemeteries in this area. The oldest marker is dated 1817. On July 11 1929, the cemetery was deeded to the Galax Primitive Baptist Church by Mrs. Mary J Shinault and other family members.
Part of this information was contributed by a person who wishes to remain anonymous. On an earlier visit, the cemetery was abandoned and in very poor condition. Recently the brush and weeds have been cleared away and the old fence removed. The cemetery is now being mowed and is in excellent condition.

Name Birth Death Comments
Row 01
SHORES, Rosa G. Rankin 2 May 1852 30 Dec 1932 w/o Jiles Shores; Broken stone
RANKIN, Jennettie S. 17 Dec 1864 23 Dec 1881 Age 17yrs 6days; Broken Stone
RANKIN, W. F. 16 Oct 1850 7 Jun 1880 Age 29yrs 7mos 21days; [Possibly a CSA veteran]
RANKIN, William F. 20 Jun 1877
s/o M. D. & S. A. Rankin; Stone is broken and badly eroded; Part with death date is missing.
RANKIN, Roberta 9 May 1861 12 Sep 1862
RANKIN, Vergel S. 9 Jul 1857 21 Aug 1862
Row 02
RANKIN, Martin D. 1855 17 May 1941
SHINAULT, Mary Jane Rankin 28 Apr 1848 22 Nov 1932 w/o P. F. Shinault
SHINAULT, Abraham 11 Jul 1889 21 Jul 1889 s/o P. F. & M. J. Shinault
SHINAULT, William 3 Apr 1881 27 Oct 1881
RANKIN, Isabella 1803 1840 [Md. William Rankin 27 Jul 1823; Maiden name possibly Patton]
RANKIN, William 25 Jan 1789 11 Mar 1870 81yrs 1mo 16days; [Thought to have been in Flower Swift’s 1812 Militia Roster Roll]
RANKIN, Mary M. 17 Dec 1826 30 Jul 1898 w/o William Rankin
Row 03
MARTIN, Winnie Claire 19 Jun 1898 19 Jun 1900 Age 2 yrs; d/o P. A. & L[ela] B[eth] Martin
RANKIN, John 22 Jan 1815 16 Aug 1831
RANKIN, Manuel

s/o John & Ollie Rankin; [Ollie nee possibly Wallace]
Row 04
RANKIN, Infant
2 Jan 1840 s/o Wm. & Isabella Rankin
Row 05
BARNES, Glenn 23 Jan 1921 13 May 1921 s/o R[ufus] H. & I[lla] F[aye] Barnes
RANKIN, Nancy 16 Aug 1788 13 Nov 1820 [Md. William Rankin 25 Sep 1811; Nee possibly Mullen]
RANKIN, James 1817 1817 Inf. s/o Wm. & Isabella Rankin
RANKIN, William

Pioneer of Grayson Co. Va.; Age not known