Sanders Plantation Slave Cemetery

Not forgotten: Unmarked graves of enslaved families discovered in woods of Johnston County. North Carolina

A swath of wooded land hides a few dozen graves marked with fallen and broken headstones -- and potentially hundreds of unmarked graves, some of which belonged to men and women once enslaved on that very land.

By Heather Leah / WRAL multiplatform producer
Posted 9:50 a.m. Yesterday - Updated 8:35 p.m. Yesterday

Nearly anything could be hidden in the undeveloped wooded areas of Johnston County – generations of lost history tucked away in the overgrowth.

If you've ever driven past a specific patch of woods along a rural stretch of Highway 210, you've driven right past a piece of this important history without ever realizing it.

A swath of wooded land hides a few dozen graves marked with fallen and broken headstones damaged by years of exposure to the elements -- and potentially hundreds of unmarked graves, some of which belonged to men and women once enslaved on that very land.

"Their graves would have been marked initially, but many times enslaved families used simple field stones to mark their loved ones burial sites," said historian Todd Johnson, executive director for the Johnston County Heritage Center. "They didn't have the means to create engraved headstones."

Many men, women and children who were enslaved in the 1800s were buried without their names engraved on a permanent marker – making it harder to track their history and their story. However, descendants of the families buried here are teaming up with local historians and members of the community to ensure their ancestors' stories are told and that their burial grounds are cleaned up and respected -- and not forgotten.

On Saturday, members of the public will be invited to see the cemetery, hear the stories, look at historic artifacts and listen to speakers and performances at an event focused on 'Reclaiming the Black Past' at the Johnston County Agricultural Center from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

THE CEMETERY WAS ONCE PART OF A PLANTATION
Why is a cemetery hidden a wooded stretch of land running alongside the highway – and directly adjacent to a modern day parking lot for the Johnston County Agricultural Center?

According to Johnson, the land was all once part of the Sanders plantation.

"Ashley Sanders owned this land, which was roughly a 1,500 acre plantation," said Johnson. "His father was one of the largest landowners, who owned probably around 10,000 acres total. He left plots of land to his children."

Because this land was once the Sanders plantation, the families enslaved here would have chosen a small area to bury their loved ones – and likely mark their graves with impermanent field stones that bore no record of the deceased person's name.

"The cemetery probably dates back to 1820 or earlier," said Johnson.

In a few places, the graves have no markers at all – but are recognizable by dips in the ground where the earth has sunk. Deeper in the woods, some grave stones appear to have been carved by hand.

One unpolished stone has what appears to be the name 'Jack' carved deep into the rock – perhaps a tender attempt to ensure the person's name was not lost to time.

After the families enslaved here were emancipated after the Civil War, one of the men that had been enslaved on the property bought 25 acres of the plantation -- including the cemetery.

"His name was Adam Sanders," said Johnson.

By purchasing the cemetery land, Adam Sanders helped preserve the burial ground for future generations of his family – and help protect those who were already interred there.

"His parents were likely buried here," said Johnson.

DESCENDANTS WORK TOGETHER TO PROTECT THEIR FAMILY HISTORY
More than a century after Adam Sanders bought the cemetery, his descendants are still continuing his work – visiting their ancestors, telling their stories and working to protect the cemetery.

More modern headstones show the cemetery remained in use for many years after the emancipation.

People like Sylvia Anjanette Wall and Rodger Creech, Jr. have been visiting the cemetery for years and telling the stories of their family history around the dinner table.

"My grandfather was buried here in 1960," said Creech Jr., who can trace his legacy back to local legends like Howard Creech, the right-hand man of the legendary Percy Flowers, known as 'King of the Moonshiners.'

Creech Jr., with a folder full of historic family photos, is proud of his heritage. He shows off an antique photograph of Bristol Creech, who was a prominent business man and had a 100 acre farm.

"I'm living proof of the love and the strength of our ancestors," he said. "Here we are just three generations from slavery, and I'm finding out we're part of history."

He said his great grandmother was a nurse during the war, and his other great grandfather served as a soldier for the Union army in the Civil War.

"We are all a part of American history," he said. "This is our American story, and it's here!"

Despite all this history, he said the cemetery wasn't listed when he checked in the 1980s. Even today, many people have no idea it's there – overgrown and hidden in the woods beside the Agricultural Center.

"They didn't realize there were enslaved people buried here," he said.

Sylvia Anjanette Wall, who also has generations of family buried here, had her own folder full of historic family photos and memories.

"This was my maternal grandmother Louisa Sanders Smith, and she married Alonzo Smith at Galilee Baptist Church," she said.

Wall has walked through the most overgrown parts of the cemetery, searching for lost and unmarked graves.

"This is so important. We talk about respecting our elders, honoring our ancestors, but when you look at the condition of this cemetery -- it puts a stab in my heart," she said. "I'd really like to see it restored and the history told. Because they made great contributions to Johnston County."

Photos show a loving family portrait: Her great grandmother, who was a teacher that educated generations of children in this area. Effie Mabel, who died of Spanish Flu. Pauline Smith Watkins, her grandmother.

"Louisa Sanders Smith was born in 1878 and died in 1928. She went to Hampton Normal School, which is now Hampton University. So when I think of the people here and the legacy and passing down values," said Wall. "I think of the value of education."

She says she'd love to see the entire cemetery cleaned up, and to have historic research on the people buried here – to ensure their names and stories are not forgotten.

"Maybe have a bench so we can come sit with our ancestors and talk to them," she said. "And a plaque that tells the stories about who they are and the contributions they made and the values they passed down to all of us."

COMMUNITY IS INVITED TO COME LEARN -- AND HELP
Creech and Wall say they've both visited the cemetery several times throughout their lives, and their families have tried to clean it up a little – but it's too big a job for just a few family members. They are hoping volunteers and community members will gather together to help preserve this history and heritage.

An event this Saturday will begin to help tell those stories.

'Reclaiming the Black Past' begins Saturday, Sept. 30 at 9:30 a.m. and runs until 2:30 p.m. There will be speakers, artifact displays, performances about African American history – and visitors can see the cemetery for themselves.

The event takes place at the Johnston County Agricultural Center. Lunch is also for sale at the price of $15, but an advanced ticket is required for lunch.
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