The graves of many of our Wills ancestors are at Zoar United Methodist Church near Saluda, South Carolina. Zoar is a very simple, welcoming red brick church located on land close to the homes of our forebearers. I took these pictures when I was out there this past July for the Wills Family Reunion.
Mary Gray Coleman Wills was born in 1792 and died in 1872. She married Matthew Jones (also known as Jones) Wills, Jr. They were my 4th great grandparents.
Next, we have the graves of their son, Eldred Jones Wills, born 1824 and died 1876, and his wife Rachel Isabella Merchant Wills, born 1827 and died 1887. They are my 3rd great grandparents. I've already posted that Eldred was a private in the CSA and his service has been recognized also by the CSA gravemarker on his grave. Note that Eldred was also a Mason.
Next, we have one of their son's, James Drayton Wills (who by the way was one of the founders of Saluda County when it separated from Edgefield County), born 1853 and died 1908. James Drayton was my 2nd great grandfather. His wife, my 2nd great grandmother Lizzie Belle Attaway Wills is buried in the Attaway Cemetary not too far from Zoar.
Their eldest son, Joe Denny Wills, born 1881, died 1904 is also buried here. He is my great grandfather Wills. He was survived by his father and his younger siblings, Madge, Bessie Louvenia, Eldred Jones and George Travis Wills.
Joe Denny married Mary Elizabeth Coleman and they had two sons, my great uncle Fred D., born 1901, died 1982 and my grandfather Joe Summers, born 1903, died 1984. Uncle Fred and his wife Aunt Ona (Griffith) are buried here too along with 3 infant children who predeceased them.
