The challenges facing African-Americans in tracing their ancestry have been widely publicized in recent years and among them is the absence of marked graves in cemeteries dating from the days of slavery well into the Jim Crow era. Groups like the Black Cemetery Network are working against time to research and document these important resources.
Dunwoody Cemetery, in a patch of palmetto and oak beside Interstate 95 near Darien, is a perfect example of such a place. The beautiful vernacular headstone of Rena P. Wilson, who was born just after slavery’s end, is the only memorial I could locate here. Most of the earlier markers were made of wood and are long lost to the elements.
The land where Dunwoody is located was originally part of a grant from King George II to Sir Patrick Houston dating to 1757. When the land was purchased by James Smith upon Houston’s death in 1798, it was named Sidon and became part of Smith’s network of profitable rice operations along Cathead Creek. A tabby plantation house, slave dwellings, and this slave cemetery made up the main part of the plantation, which was operated by Smith’s daughter, Elizabeth Dunwoody. All traces of the plantation are now gone, except this cemetery.
Hi Brian,
Not sure when I began this email below, as I found it today in my Draft. I have no clue when it was that I saw Alice. Maybe it was late last fall because a Mr. Bryant was in there that day also, buying food to feed the football players.
“Hey Brian, This is Josh Sheffield. Sorry I haven’t reached out to you sooner, but my dad, Max died July 27, 2023. I saw your Aunt Alice at HL Cleghorn’s Grocery in Fitz Thursday, and I realized you may not have known. She told me Blake’s son is at GSU where I’m working now. I’ve been working at GSU 4 years….. Keep up your good work. Ttyl.”
Anyway I am moving back to Fitzgerald this weekend. Going to be working for GDOT out of Tifton.
Cheers, Josh
On Wednesday, August 23, 2023, Vanishing Georgia: Photographs by Brian
The whole Dunwoody Cemetery is this spot. The entire paved gas station..the oval .35 people put in there .when the building of the mall covered over the skeletons under it …please update..I have the county book.all monuments torn down..graves concreted over..to make the dead mall..including Guale, Moccomo,and Yamassee native burials closer to the river..some burial bundles dumped in tree area you named…total disrespect for all buried…by the county.