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Largest all African American "Family" Cemetery within Onslow County, North Carolina. Established ca.1880,
it is still in use today by the direct descendents of the former slaves, George Washington and Cecilia Petteway.
Their grandson, Dalton Odell, is now the Patriarch and caretaker of the family's heritage, Edney school (and
Church) along with having the reponsibility of "telling" the stories of his ancestors to the next generation of
the Petteway name.
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The Petteway cemetery is currently three-forths of a mile from a main throughway within Onslow County. Already
the forest which once separated their cemetery from civilization is slowly being encrouched upon by developement and "progress."
Today nearly all trees in-between the cemetery and road are gone, making way for someone's wealth and "urban sprawl."
Construction has already commenced at the entrance of the once logging trail. Recently a contractor informed Jack that
within the next two years the rest of the lands surrounding the Petteway cemetery will be developed into housing, manufacturer,
or business properties.
Luckily, by the fore-sight of Odell Petteway, his ancestor's final resting place, in time his too, will be protected.
Jack has given his word that people will not "forget" what Odell's grandfather and mother, George Washington and Cecilia (both
former slaves) did not only for their family but, for the local African Americans.
| Oldest "visible" Headstone. |
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| Sunken graves without headstones suggest an additional twenty graves. |
| Partial view of Petteway Cemetery. |
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| Notice debris in background that does hold additional graves. |
| Sunken grave in-between to tree limbs. |
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| Many African American graves are marked with small stones, sea shells or, wood. |
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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
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