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| Petteway brothers Odell (L) & Lee (R) |
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| Each served with honor during WWII. Lee was recipient of Bronze Star |
Largest all African American "Family" Cemetery within Onslow County, North Carolina. Established ca.1885,
it is still in use today by the direct descendents of former slaves, George Washington and Cecilia Ann White 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 "passing on" stories
of his ancestors' histories, to the next generation of the Petteway name.
Odell Petteway, the remaining grandson of George Washington & Cecelia Ann White Petteway, recently emphisized that
there is no longer a male heir to the Petteway surname, after his sons pass away. He told his family this revelation,
during the family reunion which was held on the grounds of the original Edney Chapel school yard (est.1870) in
June 2009.
| Trees along logging road,background, are now gone. |
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| Dalton Odell Petteway. Grandson of former Slaves George Washington & Cecelia Ann White Petteway |
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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 dominated their cemetery from civilization, is slowly being encrouched upon by developement and "progress."
Today nearly all trees in-between the cemetery and primary local roads have been removed, 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,
and business properties.
Luckily, by the fore-sight of Odell Petteway, his ancestor's final resting place, in time his too, will be protected.
He has worked with the surrounding property owners to ensure his family cemetery is well marked and is registered properly
in official county records.
Jack has given his word that people will not "forget" what Odell's grandfather and -mother, George Washington and Cecilia
Ann (both former slaves) did, not only for their family but, for the local African American community.
| 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 (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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