‘The freedom they never knew in life, they found in death.’
By Lorrie Ross
Staff Writer
Some important history is buried at the end of a quiet street not far from downtown Hayesville. Freedom Cemetery, where 27 souls were laid to rest more than 150 years ago, has recently been restored to preserve the memory of those buried in what was known at the time as a slave graveyard.
It seems their names were not recorded in any permanent fashion and the stones which remain have no legible markings. Larger flat stones mark where the heads of the coffins were laid, with smaller stones at the base. Even some of the stones have been displaced over the years. The land which was still part of Cherokee County at the time, belonged to Dr. Samuel Caldwell Tate, who was a slave owner. While United States census records reflect the number of slaves the Tates owned, no names are recorded; nor are the records of their deaths. Only the numbers, age and sex of the slaves are mentioned in census records.
Harold Holbrook, pastor of Fort Hembree Baptist Church in Hayesville, wants people to visit and understand the importance of the cemetery. “What I am hoping we can do is let the community know the project has been completed and that we appreciate all of the support that we received,” Holbrook said. “It is not just part of African-American history. It is part of Clay County history and part of all of our history.”
He first got involved with the work at the cemetery in 2018, when he became pastor at Fort Hembree. “At the time, ours was the only predominantly black church in the county. Now we are about half African-American,” he explained. As he and his church members learned more, they wanted to ensure the cemetery was preserved for others. To help make that possible, Clay County Rural Development Authority deeded the land to the church.
“But this was not just a church effort. The fact is a lot of Clay County residents contributed,” Holbrook said. “We did not do this by ourselves and were only able to get to this point with the help of the Clay County commissioners, especially Clay Logan. Betty Bradley was a tremendous help with the landscaping design and getting the group working together. The landscaping crew led by Lewy Dennison and Rick Wheldon, were able to secure many donations of materials and equipment to help with the project.”
In addition, Clay County Commissioner Randy Nichols donated the dirt to level and fill the area. Seven Springs Stone donated the rocks and sand and Rental Source donated the use of equipment needed for the project.
Many people who have lived in the area for a few generations, knew about the graveyard at the end of Slave Drive, but it was almost forgotten until several years ago. In mid-2015, Guinnell Hunter contacted Clay County Historical & Arts Council about preserving the graveyard. She and her husband, Donald, had bought the adjoining property in 1978 and were told about the graveyard by the former property owners.
Several board members of CCHAC visited the site, which was heavily overgrown by brush and weeds at the time. However, when a couple of them ventured into the weeds, they were able to find large flat stones, likely to be grave markers.
Personnel from Western Carolina University brought out ground-penetrating radar to determine the number of graves. A cadaver dog was also brought in. Around the same time, CCHAC placed a stone marker and a bench to commemorate those buried there. “The freedom they never knew in life, they found in death,” reads the inscription on the stone bench placed by Clay County Historical & Arts Council and friends of the community.
In February 2016, CCHAC held a dedication of the cemetery, which included local African-American historian Ann Woodford, some Fort Hembree Baptist Church members, several CCHAC board members and Hunter and some of her family members. There are pictures and YouTube links of the event on the Clay County Historical & Arts Council Facebook page.
Holbrook said they plan another celebration sometime in the spring, after the grass is hydro-seeded. Eventually, the group would like to place a kiosk with education about the cemetery’s history, as well as local slave history. In the meantime, an ornamental fence and landscaping have been added, which frames the cemetery attractively and respectfully. The group also hopes to obtain official historical recognition for the site.
Visitors are encouraged to stop to sit on the bench and perhaps contemplate what life may have been like for slaves in the mountains almost 200 years ago. In the words the late Guinnell Hunter used when she asked for help marking the graveyard, “It is essential that their burial ground be recognized. These people lived, died and their lives mattered.”
From Hayesville, follow Tusquittee Road and take the right fork onto Moore Hill Drive. Turn right onto Slave Drive to Freedom Cemetery at the end of the road.
For details about the cemetery, call Fort Hembree Baptist Church at (828) 542-1727.