The Central Church was build upon land donated by Nelson and Rachel Anderson in 1904. Prior to the building of this historic structure, meetings were held in a building known as Livesay Hall which was also used as a Masonic meeting place.

The Central Cemetery was established circa 1884. According to Methodist Church records the first person buried there was either Nancy Anderson or a Copenhaver child who died in a fire at a home near the Cemetery. The oldest tombstone memorializes Allen Cornett (H-7) who died March 13, 1844 at the age of seventeen. It is believed that Joseph A. Cornett erected the first monuments at the Cemetery, those of Allen Cornett (his brother), David Cornett (I-8), his father and Feby Sutherland Cornett (I-7), his mother). Allen’s sister, Olive Melvine (H-9), died February 6, 1847 and his 9 month old brother John (H-11) died March 13, 1852.

Margaret Jane Robinson’s baby son David (H-13-A) died July 2, 1861. Elias B. Robinson (H-14-A) died April 4, 1862. Infant D. L. Robinson (I-12) died November 28, 1862. David Cornett selected the highest point in the Cemetery for the graves of his family. There are 15 unknown graves in the Cemetery and some could be older. Unfortunately we do not know the names or dates for these individuals. Central Cemetery was originally known as the Cornett Cemetery.

Selected Notes from Newsletters:

June 24, 1990 Newsletter: The “new” section of the Cemetery was fenced, but the gate has been left open for grazing. The children of Mamie and Garnet Anderson had four Norway maple trees planted (plots Q-12 and Q-19) at the front gate and two along the fence at the end of Row H. Central Cemetery signs were erected at the road and letters and numbers were attached to the fence to match the census that was prepared in 1989.

June 23, 1991 Newsletter: The highway was widened and graveled from Honey Grove Road to Route 658. The entrance to the Cemetery was widened and graded, too. The road up to the Cemetery received much attention by men of the community regarding the driveway and providing drainage to reduce erosion.

The Cemetery land originally belonged to David and Feby Sutherland Cornett and was known as the Cornett Cemetery until Central Church was built on two acres of ground owned by David’s daughter, Rachel, and her husband, Nelson Anderson. David’s son, James Monroe Cornett, gave land for the other Cornett Cemetery near Bethel Road. The Central Community was halfway between the Chapel Hill Church in Flat Ridge and Livesay Hall.

June 27, 1993 Newsletter: Wholesale Monument Company of Mt. Airy, NC contracted to straighten and level about 30 tombstones or $2,100 (makes out tombstone straightening project sound like a real bargain!)

Limestone marker at D-19 read “J.C.O.” When bleached and scrubbed it read John G. Cornett, b. Oct. 13, 1899, d. Jan. 30, 1900, son of D.R. and Ellen Cornett.

Date of death is incorrect for Sarah Livesay Cornett – Should read April 2, NOT April 11.