Evergreen Cemetery is a historic African-American cemetery in the East End of Richmond, Virginia, dating from 1891.
The most recent burial in the historic section of the cemetery dates from the 1980s. Much of the privately owned cemetery had completely overgrown with kudzu or is returning to forest until the late 2010's. The original organization responsible for the cemetery, the Evergreen Cemetery Association, made no allowances for perpetual care in its charter. However, in recent years (2019–2022) community efforts have made noticeable progress in cleaning. In 1970, the association sold its more than 5,000 plots to Metropolitan Memorial Services, which soon went bankrupt. A group of black funeral-home directors later bought the site at auction.
Notable burials edit
- Rev. John Andrew Bowler (1862–1935), educator[1]
- Z. D. Lewis (1859–1926), Baptist church leader and businessman[2]
- John Mitchell, Jr. (1863–1929), civil rights pioneer[1]
- Maggie L. Walker (1867–1934), businesswoman[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c Harrison, Don (8 August 2017). "Uncovering the Dead". Richmond Magazine. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
- ^ "Crowds Attend Noted Preacher's Funeral". The Richmond Planet. 1926-03-27. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-02-15 – via Newspapers.com.
Further reading edit
- "Evergreen Cemetery". Church Hill People's News. Richmond, VA (East End). March 2, 2007.
- Jones, Will (November 9, 2009). "Neglected cemetery being reclaimed". Richmond Times-Dispach. Archived from the original on November 11, 2009. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
- Hipolit, Melissa (May 24, 2016). "Historic Richmond cemetery where Maggie Walker is buried in disrepair". WTVR 6News. Richmond, VA: Scripps Local Media.
- Moreno, Sabrina (February 29, 2020). "Group unveils $19 million plan to restore Evergreen Cemetery". Richmond Times-Dispatch.
External links edit
- Richmond Cemeteries: Evergreen and East End Cemeteries
- Historic Evergreen Cemetery
- Evergreen Cemetery at Find a Grave
- Evergreen Cemetery Families and Friends
- Evergreen Cemetery (Richmond, Virginia) Flickr Group
- Evergreen Cemetery on Historic Cemeteries
- Richmond's African Burial Grounds and Historic African American Cemeteries
- Harlow, Katelyn, abc8 News, "Richmond City Council approves ordinance to own 3 historic African American cemeteries, February 27, 2024