The Cemeteries Restoration Fund was launched on March 13, 2021 to support initiatives dedicated to restoring and repairing historically significant African-American burial sites in the Lowcountry. This fund is uniquely structured: monetary contributions are specifically used to cover expenses not provided by in-kind professional services or volunteers engaged in each restoration project.
Community Collaboration
Restoration efforts are a collaborative endeavor. Early support and community awareness are being fostered through partnerships with the Gullah Society, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Charleston, and the Mayor’s Office of the City of Charleston. These organizations work together to ensure that restoration projects receive the attention and resources needed for success.
First Restoration Projects
The initial restoration efforts focus on sections of the cemeteries at Morris Street Baptist Church and Union Baptist Church, both located on Oceanic Street in Charleston. These areas are currently overgrown with weeds, shrubs, and small trees, obscuring gravestones and diminishing the sites’ historical significance.
Historical Discoveries
Early research conducted by the Gullah Society and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Charleston, has uncovered gravestones of formerly enslaved individuals who served in the United States Colored Troops, established in 1863 by the U.S. War Department. These discoveries highlight the historical importance of preserving these burial sites and honoring the legacies of those interred.
