Sandfield Cemetery (Columbus, Mississippi)
Sandfield Cemetery is a cemetery for African-Americans built in the late 19th-century in Columbus, Mississippi, United States.[1][2]
| Sandfield Cemetery | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Details | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 33°29′50″N 88°24′13″W / 33.49720°N 88.40360°W |
| Type | Public and Private |
| Size | roughly 14 acres |
| No. of graves | approximately 250 |
| Find a Grave | Sandfield Cemetery |
History
editThe Sandfield Cemetery was started in the late 19th-century (the exact date is unknown) and is thought to be the oldest African-American cemetery in the city of Columbus.[1] Many 19th and early 20th century leaders in the local Black community are buried at this cemetery.[1] The city has celebrated the Emancipation Day holiday at this location, to remember the cities African American leaders.[1][3]
Local historian Chuck Yarborough, believes this cemetery may have been once called a "Potter's Field", and some of the former soldiers may have been re-interred at Corinth National Cemetery.[4]
The historic portion of the cemetery is on roughly 10 acres and is owned by the city of Columbus, and there are 4 acres of connected cemetery that is privately owned (however as of 2022, the private owner is unknown).[2][5][6] As a result of not knowing the land owner for the eastern portion, that section of cemetery has historically suffered from maintenance issues and local people have gotten involved in helping clean up.[2]
Other local African American cemeteries nearby include Starkville Odd Fellows Cemetery, and Union Cemetery.[4]
Notable burials
edit- Jesse Freeman Boulden (1820–1899), Baptist minister, politician, editor[7]
- Robert Gleed (1836–1916), Mississippi State Senator[4][8]
- Richard D. Littlejohn (1855–1903), publisher and businessman[8]
- Simon Mitchell, justice of the peace during the Reconstruction era[8]
- William Isaac Mitchell (1855–1916), educator, first Black principal of Union Academy school, and president of the “Penny-Savings Bank”[9]
- Jack Rabb (?–1882), businessman[8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d Mathews, Desmone (2022-05-10). "Late African American leaders Columbus celebrated Sandfield Cemetery". WCBI TV. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
- ^ a b c Jones, Brian (2022-09-25). "Maintenance woes, ownership questions plague part of Sandfield cemetery". The Dispatch. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
- ^ Fallows, James (2019-05-08). "Our Towns: On Emancipation Day, Back to Mississippi". The Atlantic. ISSN 2151-9463. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
- ^ a b c Browning, William (March 9, 2014). "Starkville cemetery may find place on register". Hattiesburg American. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
- ^ "New developments arise in discussion about Sandfield Cemetery". WCBI TV. 2022-11-10. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
- ^ Lindsey, Jessica (2022-09-30). "City explores eminent domain for portions of Sandfield Cemetery". The Dispatch. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
- ^ "Jesse Freeman Boulden". Against All Odds. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
- ^ a b c d "Sandfield Cemetery". The Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
- ^ "Mississippi city's earliest Black leaders celebrated". AP News. 2022-05-10. Retrieved 2023-02-17.