Bennehan Cemetery

This cemetery is a short walk from the house on the Stagville plantation.  It is very small and was reserved for the family only.  Enslaved workers were buried elsewhere.

 

Susie

The only decorated grave in the small churchyard was this one.  Who decorated Susie's grave?  Looking at the dates, she was only 17, so probably not a great-grandmother.

 

Memorial Day

The view from the House of Memory in Oakwood's Confederate Cemetery.

This cemetery was started in 1869 to inter North Carolina's Confederate dead. 

 (see here).

Dawn Redwood

The trunk of a dawn redwood.  A deciduous tree related to the coastal redwood and sequoia.  It was thought to be extinct until one was found in China in the 1940's.  (see here) And here's one in Raleigh!

Fierce protectors

In the Long family plot, two fierce relatives seem to be protecting Hester.

Stair steps

Times were hard for families in the old days.  This family plot had stair stepped headstones.  The first two only said "Infant."  The last, tallest one was for Emmie age 10 in 1866.

One last angel

This little angel bowl was sitting on a bench in front of a much bigger statue.  She was collecting treasures.

Angels

I found a lot of headstones, crosses and obelisks, but only a few angels in the Oakwood cemetery. I found this one twice.  It must have been a common choice at the time.

This one seemed a bit creepy.  She was stroking a disembodied face.

And this one was unbearably sorrowful.  Someone had left a string of shells around her neck.

Oakwood Cemetary

Oakwood cemetery began in 1869 on the outskirts of Raleigh, now a few blocks from the center of downtown.  It's a quiet peaceful place for a stroll.

Cemetary in the park

Scattered around Raleigh you will find small family cemeteries.  This one, for the Buffaloe family is near the picnic area at North Hills park.

The cemeteries are remnants of family farms in the area.  This one has graves from the 1850-1900's.