Geer Cemetery facts for kids
Geer Cemetery is a very old and important cemetery in Durham, North Carolina. It's a special place where over 1,500 African Americans are buried. Many of these people were born into slavery. Geer Cemetery was the first cemetery specifically for African Americans in Durham. It opened in 1876 and for many years, until 1924, it was the only one. Today, it covers about 4 acres of land.
A Look at Its History
Geer Cemetery opened its gates in 1876, offering a burial place for African Americans in Durham. For nearly 50 years, it was the only cemetery available to them. Over time, it became very full. Because of this, the health department officially closed it in 1939, meaning no more burials were supposed to happen there. However, one last burial did take place in 1944. The city of Durham doesn't know who officially owns the cemetery now. It has also been known by other names like City Cemetery or East Durham Cemetery.
Bringing the Cemetery Back to Life
By 2004, Geer Cemetery had become very overgrown. It was hard to even walk through because of all the trees, vines, and trash. It was almost hidden from view. But then, some amazing volunteers decided to help! A group called Friends of Geer teamed up with the city and Keep Durham Beautiful Inc. Together, they started working to restore the cemetery.
They cleared away many trees, removed litter and debris, and stopped the vines and weeds from growing. They also carefully fixed headstones that had fallen over or tilted. They even smoothed out a gravel road so people could visit more easily. A stone sign was put up on Camden Street to mark the cemetery. In 2015, the Friends of Geer held a special event at the cemetery. This event celebrated the 150th anniversary of North Carolina agreeing to the Thirteenth Amendment, which was the law that ended slavery in the United States.
Important People Buried Here
Many important people from Durham's history are buried at Geer Cemetery. Here are a few:
- Edian Markham: He was the person who started St. Joseph's African Methodist Episcopal Church.
- Margaret Ruffin Faucette: She was the founder of Durham's White Rock Baptist Church.
- Augustus Shepard: He was the father of James E. Shepard, who started North Carolina Central University.
