Editor’s Note: Western North Carolina is rich with untold stories—many resting quietly in local cemeteries. In this Tombstone Tales series, we explore the lives of people from our region’s past whose legacies, whether widely known or nearly forgotten, helped shape the place we call home.

FLETCHER, N.C. — The next time you pass the town limit sign for Fletcher, North Carolina, consider the man behind the name. Dr. George Washington Fletcher left a lasting legacy as a physician, civic leader, and one of the founders of a community that still carries his name.

Born May 4, 1829, in the Cane Creek and Hoopers Creek area of what was then Buncombe County, Fletcher pursued a career in medicine. He studied in Asheville and later graduated from Charleston Medical College. When the Civil War began, he served as a surgeon in the Confederate Army. Following the war, he returned home and resumed his medical practice.

Fletcher became known for treating patients throughout the region, often on horseback or on foot, regardless of distance or weather. He earned a reputation as a dedicated and compassionate doctor who served families from remote mountain hollers to valley farms.

His efforts extended beyond medicine. Dr. Fletcher built his home near the Old Plank Road, later called the Buncombe Turnpike and Howard Gap Road. The house became an inn for travelers, and the surrounding land grew to include a blacksmith shop, general store, and tannery. The arrival of the Spartanburg & Asheville Railroad in 1878 brought increased traffic and economic opportunity to the area. A depot was built near Fletcher’s home, drawing more visitors and settlers to the community.

The history of the town that bears his name began long before Fletcher’s time. In 1795, Samuel Murray moved his family from South Carolina to the mountains of western North Carolina. They followed the old Howard Gap Road, a rugged trail that had once been used by Native Americans. The family settled near the current location of Fletcher Community Park. Over the years, Samuel Murray acquired more than 10,000 acres in the region, an area then known as the Limestone District of Buncombe County.

In 1827, Murray’s son opened the first post office, and the community became known as Murrayville. Its location along the Buncombe Turnpike made it a key stop for farmers and traders traveling between South Carolina and Asheville. In 1837, the town was renamed Shufordsville after Jacob Rhyne Shuford was appointed postmaster. The following year, it became part of the newly established Henderson County.

In 1886, the town’s name changed once more when Dr. George Fletcher was appointed postmaster. It was renamed Fletcher in recognition of his leadership and contributions to the growing community.

Fletcher was also active in church and civic life. He became the first Junior Warden at Calvary Episcopal Church, contributing to its early growth and writing one of the first recorded histories of the parish. His work in both public health and local development made him one of the most respected figures in the county.

He married Margaret Justus, daughter of John Justus Sr., and together they raised a large family. His descendants continued to serve the region through education, agriculture, and local government.

Dr. George Washington Fletcher died on May 3, 1901, one day before his 72nd birthday. He was buried in the cemetery at Calvary Episcopal Church, where his grave still stands not far from the roads he helped build and the community he helped shape.

Calvary Episcopal Church, Fletcher, North Carolina

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