Progress within the Brick Mill Cemetery Preservation project

Resurrection Mission-Cemetery Preservation

Progress within the Brick Mill Cemetery Preservation project

Brick Mill Cemetery, located on the outskirts of Richlands, Onslow County, North Carolina appears to be the largest all African American Cemetery in the County. To date, thirty former slaves and not less than twenty-five veterans of four foriegn wars are among the indviduals buried within this graveyard.

Once thought to maintain an area of 250 feet by 65 feet has expanded through the efforts of the exclusive caretaker and historian, Jack Robinson. His research suggests the current overall space is closer to 350 x 90 feet, with yet a larger area of the thickest surrounding overgrown foliage still remaining to be explored.

As of March 2008, confirmed burials total not less than 900 but, Jack and other local historians feel that a more accurate account will be closer to 1100. This would include nearly forgotten children who died under the age of three, such as still born, TB and other sicknesses, or from an untimely accident.

Jack's independent work, hopefully, will in time expose the thickest of foliage overgrowth area, and if present, expose some of the oldest of graves, which may pre-date 1900.

Help support this ongoing project, if you can. This gravyard along with his other ongoing preservation projects dealing with cemetery preservation are now associated with a 501c organization (I.A.C.P., Inc.-Florida). Brenda Cheney, mother of Ssgt. Anthony Goodwin, (U.S. Marine Corps), Iraq War, KIA, Bronze Star receipient plays a significant role in supporting and promoting Jack's work.

Brenda's son, Anthony, initiated within Onslow County, his personal desire to locate abandoned cemeteries and then stablilize them. Special attention was always given to graves of former veterans, slaves and individuals who played vital roles within their local communities.

Anthony had often stated that these long over due preservation projects needed to be done "...to give respect, honor, and credit to all individuals buried within the cemeteries."

As veterans of our nation's wars are confirmed within the abandoned or neglected cemeteries, an American flag is placed beside the grave (many without headstones) and a few moments of prayers are said. Anthony did this and his tradition is being carried on to this day--in his honor.

Together, Brenda and Jack are continuing his mission...Please join us in our efforts.

Brick Mill Cemetery appearance during first visit.

Date: December 2006

Another section of BMC at time of first visit.

Date: December 2006

For the most part, Jack has cleaned Brick Mill Cemetery by himself, at his own expense and physical labor. One day direct descendents of the Farrow ancestry, laid to rest within the cemetery, came to help with the cleanup (see image below).

The Farrow family have always taken great pride in caring for their ancestors' graves. Family members come often to the B.M.C. to maintain their real and artificial flowers, neatness of their plot, and to say a few words to their loved ones.

Note: Since the below image was taken the area behind the two gentleman has been 80% cleared through Jack's efforts. He has removed much of the visible foliage over growth seen in the background of this photograph and reclaimed an area that evidence suggests may contain an excess of one hundred graves (confirmed by a second historian).

Two direct descendents help cleanup BMC.

Date: February 2007

Brick Mill Cemetery as it appears February 2008.

"Before and After" images of the Brick Mill Cemetery.

Additional Onslow County cemeteries being cared for and researched exclusively by Jack Robinson:

Petteway Cemetery--largest all African American "Family" cemetery within Onslow County.

Diggs Cemetery--Second largest all African American "community" cemetery within Onslow County.

Parker/Mills Cemetery--All African American family cemetery.

Petteway Cemetery--Small, all Caucacian family cemetery {adjacent to African American Petteway family cemetery and were the original Plantation owners of African American Petteway ancesters}.

Montford Cemetery--All African American family cemetery (Swansboro, N.C.).

Toutle Cemetery--All African American family cemetery containing the only known African American Spanish-American War veteran known to exist, from Onlsow County. Located on outskirts of Swansboro, N.C., deep within a section of thick over grown forest.

"Chevey" Cemetery"--Small Caucacian family cemetery just outside the town of Richlands, N.C. Within the cemetery, it is believed, the first Mayor of Richlands and the first females (sisters) who graduated from now Duke University (ca.1880) are buried. There is over six inches of mulch and debris needing to be removed before any fallen headstones can be recovered to substatiate these claims.

Books written by Jack Robinson dealing with southeastern N.C. history.

Financial donations, to include gift cards, may be sent to the address listed below.

Resurrection Mission-Cemetery Preservation

If you wish to send a financial gift (possibly-tax deductable) towards preservation projects being conducted exclusively by Jack, please use the following address:

% Jack Robinson
Researcher of local History
P.O. Box 1501
Richlands, North Carolina 28574