The small White Rock Church sits on White Rock Road in Gaither, just outside Sykesville. According to a book on Carroll County Cemeteries compiled by the Carroll County Genealogical Society, "Land for the church was given to the trustees (Joseph Fawset, Philmore Dorsey and Allen Nugent) in 1868 by William and Caroline Pooley."

 

The Pooleys are listed in the 1870 census. William managed the Mineral Hill mines. The Pooleys came from England and are buried at Wesley Chapel. They had no children.

 

According to the cemetery book, Alice Costley was the first person buried in the cemetery. There are several graves for people born before the Civil War. Most likely these were born into slavery The earliest date of birth listed in the book is circa 1795.

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Once on Zoom with Warren Dorsey, we looked at many of these graves. Often he knew the people and told me stories about them. Members of his family are buried there, and I'll add this information later.

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Members of Warren's family are also buried in the cemetery at St. Luke's church and at Bushy Park Cemetery, where his parents, his brother Romulus (the first of Warren's siblings to die), and two of his grandparents are buried.