The Madison County African American Historical Association (MCAAHA), together with Graves Mill Farm owners Kemp and Tommy Hill, hosted a ceremony to commemorate a cemetery for the enslaved on October 19th in Graves Mill. The event, entitled “Silent Ground: Community Memorial in Remembrance of the Enslaved,” included a reception followed by a ceremony at the burial ground. After introductory remarks by MCAAHA President Mesha Jones, Kemp Hill welcomed guests, including descendants, and read an original poem. Viola Fields, associate pastor of the Emmanuel Christian Center, then read the names of approximately 50 people known to have been enslaved in the Graves Mill area. Dr. Patricia Frye offered remarks to commemorate soil collected from the burial ground, and James Daniels of Culpeper gave a stirring performance of the song “Glory.”
The MCAAHA is extremely grateful to the Hills, Shannon and Nathan Carter, and Virginia Humanities for their generous support. Through this memorial event, we sought to honor the lives and legacies of those laid to rest in this cemetery. We look forward to continuing to work with the Hills as we prepare plans for the ongoing maintenance and preservation of this sacred site, to include the installation of an interpretive marker.