Press Release: Lexington committee to host official dedication of slave gravesite on Juneteenth
On Thursday, June 19, 2025, 6 PM, the slave gravesite in the
Lexington City Cemetery on North State Street will be dedicated.
The entrance to the site is located across from the Pastor’s
Pantry.
“In this large vacant space before the Civil War, Negro slaves
were buried by their masters” is the inscription at the current
marker that is surrounded by the graves and markers of
Confederate soldiers.
In 2020, Tyrone Terry, a community activist, mentioned the site to
his pastor and on the third Sunday in February at 3 PM, the
pastor and members of St. Stephen United Methodist Church held
a service of Christian Committal for the unknown persons buried
in the site.
This burial site was no secret, but little attention was given to it.
In the 1980s, 4H students were brought by their teacher to the
site for history lessons.
Since 2020, each third Sunday in February at 3 PM has been a
time of commemoration for the 32 men, women and possibly
children who were buried here.
The second commemoration in 2021 featured songs that depicted
the life, sorrows, trials and tribulations of enslaved people. Each
year a Commemoration Service has been led by the Omega Psi
Phi Fraternity, Inc., The Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., The
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority,
Inc. Members of the City Council, local pastors and churches and
citizens have attended these services.
The City of Lexington had an examination of the site using ground
penetrating radar and it was determined that there are 32
recognizable graves in this site. The names of those buried here
are unknown as are their descendents.
A group of concerned citizens gathered to discuss ways to make
this site more widely known and as a place for pilgrimage for
history buffs, students and visitors to Lexington.
The committee members include: Rosalind Baker, Reverend Arnetta Beverly, Robert Craven, Garrett Holloway, Reverend Ed Kelaher, Clarence Hargrave, Tyrone Terry, Chevon Burton, Donetta Roberts and Chuck Miller.
With generous support from the members of Grace Episcopal
Church and others in the community, funds were raised to make
the site memorable with benches, flower urns, 32 markers with a
cross and a granite marker with the inscription, “These are
they...” taken from Revelation 7:14.
It is fitting that this dedication will take place on Juneteenth, a day
of freedom for enslaved people in America.
