Taylor Black Cemetery
Our cultural heritage
is our identity.
Taylor Black Cemetery was formed to secure funding for the long-term preservation of this unique cemetery. We are dedicated to restoring, preserving and maintaining Taylor Black Cemetery, located in Bull Head Township, Snow Hill, Greene County, North Carolina for the benefit of the descendants of the interred and the surrounding community.
Official member of the Black Cemetery Network
About Us
Taylor Black Cemetery had been overgrown for many years. There was a group of people collecting funding to clean the front section of the cemetery but over 3/4 of the cemeterey was completely abandoned. A small group of descendants got together in early 2020 and donated the funding to clean and maintain the entire cemetery and its been upkept every since.
The Earliest Known Burial
Lucinda Edwards Taylor - 1893
From a 1939 Cemetery Survey that was performed across every county in North Carolina, for both black and white cemeteries, we know that Lucinda Edwards Taylor is the earliest documented burial. When Lucinda Edwards was born in 1849 in North Carolina, her father, Aaron, was 20, and her mother, Elizabeth, was 14. She had one son and five daughters with Lewis Taylor between 1874 and 1881. She died on October 2, 1893, at the age of 44.
Cemetery Statistics:
+300 souls interred (documented & verified)
+175 headstones
Over 240 unmarked Graves!
Family Names: Edwards Rouse, Shephard, Swinson, Taylor and many more
Fundraisers
Double Good Popcorn Fundraiser
- Thank you everyone who donated to our popcorn fundraiser! We raised over $1500. This money will go to fund a road sign and our scholarship program.
Taylor Black Cemetery 100
Annual Giving Campaign
- 100 people donate $100
- Receive a Taylor Black Cemetery T-shirt
- $25 of your donation will go to our scholarship fund and
- the balance goes directly to help us meet our goals and objectives
- Tax deductible donation
Donation
- Make a tax-deductible donation
- pay via Apple Pay, GooglePay, PayPal, Venmo, Credit Card, Bank Transfer and Direct Debit via the website.
- We also accept payments via Zelle. Send your Zelle payment to taylorblackcemetery@gmail.com.
- Email us for instructions on mailing in a check
What we do
The board of directors has been appointed to ensure that the following objectives are met. Our #1 priority is maintenance and upkeep of the cemetery. Our purpose is to secure funding for the long-term preservation of this unique cemetery.
Cemetery Maintenance & Upkeep
We are committed to keep the cemetery maintained and cleaned. Since the initial cleanup in April 2020, the lawn is mowed once per month during the months of April thru October. We also plan to fix all the broken headstones.
Private Road Marker
The cemetery is located on Griffin Road in Snow Hill, Greene County, North Carolina, and sits back in the middle of a field. Access to the public is via a dirt path on private property. We would like to purchase a marker to indicate the exact location of the cemetery.
We want to honor our ancestors by giving back to the community. A portion of each donation we receive will go to a scholarship fund, to provide scholarships to our future generations. We aim to award 2- $1000 scholarships in 2023, to descendants of those interred in the cemetery, based on funding availability.
Gravesite Mapping
Ground Penetrating Radar will allow us to map the location of every grave in the cemetery. We can then use software to store the mappings and catalogue all grave locations for the community and future generations.
Fencing
Fencing serves both practical and aesthetic purposes. It defines the boundaries of the cemetery and it will keep animals out, protecting graves and headstones. Also, it will be a sign of respect to our loved ones buried there and make the cemetery more attractive.
2022-2024
Board of Directors
Jeannie Gardner - Chair
Pamela Gardner - Vice Chair
Torance Gardner - Secretary
Charlene Gardner - Treasurer
Wanda Taylor - Director
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"Taylor Black Cemetery, we just don't know how we can express our gratitude. We appreciate you for cleaning the cemetery! We can now buy a headstone for our Dad."
-Descendant of interred
"We typically go out to Taylor Black Cemetery twice a year to clean our loved ones graves. To our surprise the last time that we were out there, the cemetery was clean! We were shocked and find out who did this. I got the number and called right away! I'm so thankful and grateful to the committee for doing this."
-Descendant of interred
Photo Gallery
Your donations are hard at work. Through donations and support we are able to keep the cemetery in top shape for the last 2 year. In April 2020, the cemetery was overgrown with weeds, vines, and bushes. After the cleanup, it took some time for grass to settle in but look at how nice it is now! Descendants are visiting, placing flowers and some have been able to purchase headstones for their loved ones. We pride ourselves on keeping this place beautiful, so that you can enjoy the memories of your loved ones.
"Thank you Taylor Black Cemetery! Since the cleanup, we have been able to purchase a headstone for my Mom and Dad! Now when I or any family members are in the area, we can go and properly pay our respects to our loved ones. What you are doing is amazing and I thank you from the bottom of my heart!"
-Descendant of interred
News & Events
We are a Member of Black Cemetery Network!
Black Graves Matter. We would like to announce that we are an official member of the Black Cemetery Network! The BCN was founded in response to the national call to action to raise awareness about the issue of erasure and silencing of black cemeteries throughout the U.S. These cemeteries contain stories about people, place, and families which are often missing from the larger public narrative. Our network connects living records of forgotten histories through research, advocacy, and collaboration.
www.blackcemeterynetwork.org
Check Out our September Newsletter
Letter to the Editor: Taylor Black Cemetery - Culture, Heritage, Identity - A story of Restoration
Burial Catalogue
Thanks to family research, we have been able to compile a listing of over 300 souls who are interred in Taylor Black Cemetery. If you have information on any persons not listed in our catalogue please click the link below to add a person to our database. Records collected include photos, death certificates, headstone photos and more.
If there is incomplete or inaccurate information, please send us an email, with the correct information. We would also like to collect life stories and photos of your loved ones.
Coming Soon: Cemetery Mapping so that you can see the location of every grave in Taylor Black Cemetery
Email us: taylorblackcemetery@gmail.com
Contact us
Taylor Black Cemetery
taylorblackcemetery@gmail.com
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