We aim to develop methods that will provide Gullah Geechee people with skills in identifying and preserving sites, historical data, artifacts, and objects associated with Gullah Geechee people and culture, for the benefit and education of all. We accomplish these goals by working with communities to preserve African and African-American burial grounds, identity and history.
A recent message from Rovena Owens, who visited Zion Cemetery, on Monrovia Street, to find the burials of her great grandfather, his mother-in-law and other relatives, illustrates the importance of this work.
"I am excited that someone has interest in this cemetery. It took me a while to find it and I was so unhappy to see its condition. I have found death certificates that say that they [eight relatives] were buried at Zion Presbyterian Cemetery. I have not found one for Sidney Eckhardt yet. He was my Grandfather's uncle. He was in the state legislature during reconstruction. He was referred to by the family as "The Senator". I did read that he partook in a streetcar sit-in I think during the 1860s. He also held an office in the Segar Makers Association. Sidney died in Florida but I think that he was brought back to be buried in Zion with his wife and family. My mother attended the funeral of her aunt Henrietta Rodrigues in 1952 and said that the cemetery was in bad shape then."
"If possible I would like to see these graves for myself. I could not find them when I went into there a few years ago. Thanks so much to you and the Gullah Society for doing this."
(Rovena Owens Aug 6, 2017)
"I am excited that someone has interest in this cemetery. It took me a while to find it and I was so unhappy to see its condition. I have found death certificates that say that they [eight relatives] were buried at Zion Presbyterian Cemetery. I have not found one for Sidney Eckhardt yet. He was my Grandfather's uncle. He was in the state legislature during reconstruction. He was referred to by the family as "The Senator". I did read that he partook in a streetcar sit-in I think during the 1860s. He also held an office in the Segar Makers Association. Sidney died in Florida but I think that he was brought back to be buried in Zion with his wife and family. My mother attended the funeral of her aunt Henrietta Rodrigues in 1952 and said that the cemetery was in bad shape then."
"If possible I would like to see these graves for myself. I could not find them when I went into there a few years ago. Thanks so much to you and the Gullah Society for doing this."
(Rovena Owens Aug 6, 2017)
LATEST NEWS...
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Discovering the dead: Gullah Society takes on preservation of black burial grounds in Charleston, article in the Post and Courier by Adam Parker
Published: Aug 19, 2017 NEWS 2' Ashley Osborne interviews Gullah Society archaeologist, Jeremy Miller about the Monrovia Street burial grounds. Published: July 18, 2017 |
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Gullah Society work featured on the Center for Family History, International African American Museum (IAAM) website
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We will keep you informed about the many wonderful happenings in the Gullah Geechee world.
We will keep you informed about the many wonderful happenings in the Gullah Geechee world.
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