Historic Athens Welcome Center

For , we're visiting the grave of Reverend John W. Quillian on the West Hill at Oconee Hill Cemetery.

According to the Oconee Hill Cemetery book authored by Charlotte Marshall, Reverend John W. Quillian was born in White County, Georgia, on October 8, 1854 to Reverend Fletcher A. Quillian and his wife, Kaziah. The 1860 U.S. census shows that John was one of six sons born to Fletcher and Kaziah, with John having been their fourth.

"Methodist Preachers in Georgia 1783-1900" tells us that John became a Lay Leader in May 1873 and was trained as a Local Preacher by May 1875. In 1877, he completed all requirements to be ordained as a clergy member and in 1879 joined the North Georgia Methodist Conference. John spent time at churches in Elberton, Franklin Springs, Ellijay, Whitesburg and Newnan before coming to Athens to join the Oconee Street and East Athens Missionary churches in 1884-85. He died of pneumonia while visiting Oxford, Georgia, on March 19, 1885.

Reverend Quillian's gravestone, erected by the Oconee Street and East Athens churches, features chalices on the left and right sides which are symbolic of the sacrament of holy communion.