Over 100 interred in unmarked graves
Contributed by Tricia Johnson
Members of the West Bottom Baptist Church and the West Bottom community hosted a memorial dedication and unveiling on Saturday, June 28, marking the culmination of five years of collaborative preservation efforts and recognizing the more than 150 years of history present in Oak Hill Cemetery.
The engraved rough stone memorial, intentionally designed to evoke the field stone grave markers found in many older Black cemeteries, lists the names of over 100 people buried there in unmarked graves. Community historians conducted research in funeral home records, death certificates, and obituaries to identify the names of those at rest. This ceremony recognized them as well as those whose names have not yet been recovered. The dedication program honored the contributions of all who lie at rest on that wooded hillside.
“This headstone will serve as a place of peace and remembrance, where we all can come to feel close to our ancestors and find comfort in their memories. It is a reminder that while they are no longer with us in body, their spirit and influence remain ever present in our hearts. It is a legacy of Love, Faith, and Honor to us all.” – excerpt from comments by Nadine Armstrong.
Dozens of descendants, church and community members, and supporters gathered for the dedication. In song and story, the program both recognized the strong community foundation laid by the efforts of those at rest there, and honored their strength, perseverance, and persistence in building better lives for those they left behind.
This ceremony was the result of more than five years of efforts led by the community and facilitated by the Fluvanna Historical Society. Nadine Armstrong, Melissa Hill, Mahalia Johnson-Woodie, and William Woodson met weekly, conducting research, and directing and organizing efforts of volunteers, professionals, and students who participated in the work. The historical society helped the community to secure grant funding from the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation, BAMA Works, and Virginia Humanities to support archaeological work and the creation of the memorial; the African American Cemeteries Fund of the Virginia Department of History issued grant funds to support ongoing maintenance of the cemetery, as well as the use of ground penetrating radar in the more modern part of the cemetery to locate lost burials.
The earliest documented burial at Oak Hill occurred just after Emancipation in 1866, when Aggy Smith, formerly enslaved at nearby Bremo Plantation, was laid to rest. It is believed that the cemetery originated as a final resting place for men, women, and children enslaved at Glen Arvon and Cleveland Plantations. In 1959, the community cemetery was deeded to West Bottom Baptist Church.
The ceremony also recognized professionals who donated their services, including Ben Ford, Nick Bon-Harper, and Susan Palazzo of Rivanna Archaeological Services; Lamont Hill of Elite Ground Maintenance; Rashard Rush for his work on the stone foundation. William and Tricia Johnson were also thanked for their efforts.
Horace Scruggs is creating a documentary on the five-year process: the screening will happen soon.
