Charley spent the last couple of years, of his too
short life, living in Holly Ridge (just a mile north of US 82
between Leland and Indianola). New Jerusalem M.B. Church (above)
is where Charley is buried. The church is on the southside of
Main St. west of Holly Ridge.
The cemetery for New Jerusalem Church is another 1/4
west along Main St. A (cotton?) gin separate the two. Add to it
the grave marker for Charley is in the back corner of the cemetery
near the gin, so rumor has it that Charley's remains might be
underneath said gin. The tombstone shown above was placed here
in 1991, largely financed by John Fogerty (of Clearance Clearwater
Revival fame). Reportedly, Charley's old record label, Vocalion
Records, had erected a marker for Charley sometime in the past.
However no one knows what ever happened to that gravestone (thus
Fogerty stepped in years later).(Per Steve Cheseborough)
Links
Dead
Blues Guys - Charley Patton
Photos taken in May, 2003
Page created on January 15, 2004
Questions and comments can be sent to Sandor
Gulyas
Return to the Key to the Highway Page