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After Emancipation, many freed Black families began purchasing land in the area, forming self-sufficient communities where they could thrive. It was this community that formed Mt. Olive Baptist Church in 1874 and had been the driving force behind the church’s success. According to local historians, when Mt. Olive moved to its three-acre site in 1909, graves had already been on the land for decades. The spot had been known as “Rocky Mount Cemetery.” At their new site, the community built a 1909 white frame church building. Church members began maintaining the cemetery, forming the Mt. Olive Cemetery Association to oversee the grounds.
The earliest markers are those of Amanda Holmes (1855-1877), Samuel Handy (1831-1884) and Gerry Jones (d. 1878, age 92). In 1975, the cemetery association voted to purchase additional land from the S.F. Thorne Estate. Additional Thorne land has been generously donated to the cemetery. Due to this transaction, the Thorne family has a large representation in the cemetery.
Among those interred at Mt. Olive Evergreen Cemetery are veterans of World Wars I and II, Korea and Vietnam. Branches represented are the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. Many Mt. Olive Church members and leaders are buried at the cemetery. Other graves are of longtime educators and community activists. Most are descendants of early landowners in the area. Mt. Olive Evergreen Cemetery remains a source of pride and strength for generations of descendants. (HTC - 2022) |
