Pastor Claude Gibson, Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church
Pastor F. R. Rush, New Zion Primitive Baptist Church
Pastor Larry Austin, Testerina Primitive Baptist Church
Saturday, February 21, 2009, 1:00 P.M.

Litany for the Old Hickory Hill Cemetery
Rededication and Commemorative Service
 
Leader: For the wisdom and foresight of our forefathers in making their spiritual hopes and aspirations a reality.
People: To You O Lord we give thanks.
Leader: For their many sacrifices, struggles and strong determination to persevere against all odds.
People: We give thanks, O God
Leader: For the dedicated leaders who labored in the vineyards winning souls, developing human dignity, providing educational training, sheltering, nurturing, while generously providing spiritual leadership.
People: We Give Thanks, O God.
Leader: For the souls of the beautiful people who have gone to rest and left lying on the sands of time their love gifts for us to treasure and preserve.
People: We give You The Praise, O God.
Leader: For the gifts, though plain and simple, that unlocked the doors to survive and opportunity during a period of great oppression.
People: We Give Thanks.
Leader: To those who considered working to make this day, and the restoration and preservation of the Old Hickory Hill Cemetery a reality-preserving cherished memories of the past.
People: We Give thanks, O God.

HISTORY OF THE HICKORY HILL CEMETERY

Hickory Hill Cemetery is located on present day Welaunee Plantation.  The Cemetery is shaded by a high canopy of pine and hardwood trees.  The graves, oriented east – west, are in parallel rows going north – south.  They are clustered in two sections.  The eastern group of markers has death dated from 1919 to 1947 and the western grouping has death dates from 1935 – 1946.

Hickory Hill is significant for its collection of grave markers that extend to the early and mid 20th century.  The markers provide information about some of the people who were members of tenant farm families who resided on Welaunee Plantation.  Some also reflect the African burial tradition of randomly arranged words that are meant to confuse evil spirits.

Hickory Hill is significant because it is the final resting place for members of tenant farm families who worked on Welaunee Plantation from the early 1900’s until about 1950.  Most families were connected to the land for several generations.

Today, we celebrate the Rededication of the Old Hickory Hill Cemetery - Restoration, Historic Marker and Preservation Project (cleanup and installation of a fence).  This project has been in progress since 2002, started by the Trust for Public Land, and gaining support and assistance from the Riley House, Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, New Zion Primitive Baptist Church and Testernia Primitive Baptist Church. 

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A SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Trust for Public Land
John Gilmore Riley Center/Museum Inc.
The Center for Historic Cemeteries Preservation-Sharyn Thompson
Sister Inez Dudley, Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church
Sister Rebecca Leon, Testerina Primitive Baptist Church
Sister Delories Sloan, New Zion Primitive Baptist Church

RE-DEDICATION PROGRAM
OF THE
HICKORY HILL CEMETERY
Elder F. R. Rush, Presiding

Refreshments following the Rededication Service