It is actually at the intersection of Central and Route 26 that runs
to Bethany Beach.
The Mariner's Bethel United Methodist Church is located in Ocean View,
DE which is in southeastern Sussex County. The first service was held
in the original church building Nov 9, 1859. It was named Mariner's
because of so many seafaring members.
Initially when anyone died, they were buried "out back" on the small,
half-acre plot. Hence, that part of the cemetery had no numbers. Eventually,
four more acres were purchased to enlarge the church and cemetery. The
first records of cemetery plots date back to 1936. The cemetery is well-maintained
and there is perpetual care.
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Map shows the church and sections of the cemetery.
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Tombstone inscriptions were copied from all the visible burials. It
does not include other records such as books, sexton records, family
records, etc.
Catalog Statistics:
Count of names on stones: 1597
Oldest grave based on death date: 1840
Oldest grave based on birth date: 1801
Oldest person buried: 106
Catalogs: Printed copies are in the Mariner's Bethel UMC and South Coastal
Library, Bethany Beach. Database on disk is at Delaware Public Archives,
Dover DE
Thanks to the following people for taking their Sunday afternoons to
catalog and document the cemetery:
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Dr. Clement Counts - Recorder
Maria Counts - Recorder
Elizabeth Stacey - Recorder
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Julia Stacey - Recorder
Mel Lewis - Recorder & Coordinator
Janis Coffin - Organizer and Typist |
Special thanks to the church staff for supporting our efforts!
- Janis L. Coffin