Stanley Church of Christ
Fannin County | Organized in 1886
Stanly Church of Christ is one of those quiet mountain churches tucked away in the Chattahoochee National Forest, near the Toccoa River in a remote part of Fannin County. It was organized by the Stanley family, who came from Avery County, North Carolina, in the early to mid-19th century. The current church was built in 1886, according to family member Ralph Stanley, though a church existed on the site before that. The nearby creek is named for Elisha Stanley, whose grave is the oldest in the cemetery. Elisha and his brother-in-law, Elv Evan Hughes, were both shot as deserters by Confederate soldiers in September 1864. This part of Georgia had few plantations and was largely pro-Union, and many men like Elisha and Elv paid a high price for their loyalties.
Read more...Family member Lawrence Stanley wrote in 1971 that the church began as a Primitive Baptist congregation and also served as a community schoolhouse for up to 40 children. In the early 1900s, it became a Church of Christ. Regular services ended in 1957, but an annual homecoming is still held on the fourth Sunday in August, drawing hundreds of descendants from across the country.
The Stanley family’s history includes colorful stories, from local feuds to tales of moonshine, murder, and even witchcraft. One particularly notable figure buried here is Moses Johnson, the first African American to attend school in Fannin County. According to local accounts, during the Civil War, two brothers found him as an infant in the ruins of the Johnson Plantation in Fairmont, Georgia. They brought him to Fannin County, where he was raised by Rickels Stanley. His simple headstone reads, “Mose Johnson – Colored.”
Another unusual grave is that of Buel Stanley’s arm—buried here in 1915 after he lost it while fishing with dynamite in the Toccoa River. The rest of him rests at Macedonia Church of Christ.
Today, Stanly Church of Christ sits well cared for on a knoll overlooking the Blue Ridge. The cemetery holds 282 recorded interments, more than 100 with the Stanley name—a testament to the family’s deep roots in this part of Georgia for nearly two centuries.
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14 responses to “Stanley Church of Christ”
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My grandparents, sidney and tilda cochran, are buried there, along with many of their offspring. I will be traveling from FL with my 95 year old dad to visit. We are missing “decoration” by one week, but hopefully can connect with people who knew the family.
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Who was the first Church of Christ minister and year he came
Very interesting loved the history-
We’re not sure about that Joyce.
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This is where all my Stanley family are buried, well, a few at other surrounding cemetery sites. Arnold and Edna Stanley were my Mamaw’s parents. Spent many years at this church during the Stanley reunion. Beautiful, peaceful place.
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Thank you for this insightful article, it’s crazy the stuff you think they’d teach about our local history. Enjoyed reading this and the article on Tilley bend. thank you for using your talent to spread local knowledge.
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You’re welcome, Makenna! So glad you learned something new about your area.
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My grandmother was sara Jane Stanley..
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My great grandparents and many more family members are buried here. I visited the church with my daughter in 2021. I believe Samuel and Mary Stanley are my grandfather’s parents. Hello was William Swin Stanley and is buried in California.
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This is my family. Many many wonderful memories at the decoration. Thank you for this article.
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You’re welcome, Gidget.
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Amazing article. Would love to visit this cemetery…Ga. history we don’t usually hear about and so interesting. Thank you for posting!
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Went by the church today. It is in amazing shape for one with no active congregation. New burials may account for its good shape. Keep up the good work.
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All my granny family here
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What a fascinating story! I never saw a gravestone for an arm.
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