In Danville, Virginia, the relocation of the remains of hundreds of African American tenant farmers from an old plantation has stirred varying reactions among their descendants. While some express concerns about the disturbance of these graves—belonging to individuals once exploited and enslaved—others see this as an opportunity for respectful reburials, potentially identifying the remains, and honoring them more than they were in life.
The graves are being exhumed from a location that was historically one of the most significant slaveholding sites in the U.S., now earmarked for industrial development. A new burial ground is being prepared to accommodate these remains less than a mile away. Descendant Cedric Hairston remarks on the transition from inhuman treatment to recognition, noting that these individuals are like “patriots” being granted rights posthumously by 2025.
Approximately 275 plots are under excavation, with some remains already relocated to a funeral home, to await transfer to their new resting place. Descendant consultations have included genetic testing discussions and the design of the new cemetery, featuring a memorial archway.
Jeff Bennett, whose ancestor was interred on the plantation, recognizes the complexity involved in moving ancestors’ graves. However, he appreciates the respectful process allowing input on cemetery design and memorials. Historically, African American cemeteries have faced neglect, but recent initiatives aim to revitalize these critical heritage sites.
While Cedric Hairston supports the relocation, he is troubled by the indignity of uprooting the graves of individuals who suffered under slavery and sharecropping. “It seems there’s still no rest for them, even over a century later,” he reflects.
The Oak Hill plantation was part of a vast network of 45 operations across several states, known for enslaving thousands. Samuel Hairston, the owner, was identified as a major enslaver in the South. Although the grand plantation house was destroyed in 1988, its land has stood largely unused since the decline of sharecropping.
The people who remained as tenant farmers after emancipation often faced economic hardship and exploitation. Some descendants trace their surnames to the Hairston lineage, lacking a family name from Africa. Cedric Hairston notes that because many women bore children of the plantation’s namesake under duress, they carried the Hairston name without acknowledgment of their circumstances.
Among these tenant farmers was Fleming Adams Sr., thought to be a towering figure at 7 feet tall, whose descendant Jeff Bennett hopes to locate his grave through distinct markers such as an outsized coffin. Adams and his family were interred at Oak Hill, but identifying precise graves is challenging, with many markers mere stones without inscriptions.
A public authority acquired land including the former plantation and plans a substantial industrial development by Microporous, projected to generate numerous jobs. A state-issued permit to relocate the graves aligns with descendant wishes, with visits being conducted in December at the original sites.
During visits to the burial grounds, silence prevailed as descendants absorbed the gravity of the situation. For community leaders like J.D. Adams, marking the site historically remains critical, with discussions ongoing about what form these memorials should take.
Funds for the cemetery relocation were raised through logging revenue and are managed by WSP, an engineering consultancy. The firm’s archaeologist, John Bedell, emphasizes care in transferring even minute grave contents to their new location, with project completion aimed by March.
From the uncovered graves, artifacts like eyeglasses and dated coins tell stories of past lives. Unique markers, such as a grave lined with bricks (indicating wealth) or curiosities like an electrical fixture, will be incorporated in the new site’s design. Descendants, with assistance, review funeral records to piece together identities of the interred. If identification proves too challenging, they may honor all who lived in the region.
Bennett expresses that this project rejuvenates the legacy of their forebears, emphasizing historical importance to newer generations. He states, “Rediscovering their stories allows us to share them, continuing their legacy forward.”