Minutes of the Friends of the Geer Cemetery 10/13/04

In attendance were: Mr. R.K Bryant, Jr. (Chair), Mrs. Carrie McNair (Research Chair) Mr. Allen Dew (Listserv and Web page designer), Mrs. Jessica Eustice (Sec.) Mr. Frank Hyman (Former City Councilman) Mr. Ernie Mills (Director Durham Rescue Mission) Mr. Bruce Richards (Interested Future Historian)

• 5:00 This October meeting in the Shannon Road Branch of the Durham County Library was called to order by Chairman Bryant. Mr. Bryant provided all present with the agenda for this October meeting.

Sign Design:

• Frank Hyman offered assistance. Mr. Hyman has a landscaping business, and past experience with cemeteries in Durham. He mentioned the book Sticks and Stones. Frank Hyman’s Brick Masonry Instructor was Mr. Turner, who has in the past been mentioned by Mr. Bryant. There was some discussion about the design for the sign. Mrs. McNair reminded the group that Deidre Barnes’ grandmother (Who was a Geer) had drawn a map of the Geer Plantation from memory. There had been some thought as to asking Deidre’s father, artist Ernie Barnes to create a rendering of that map on the Geer Sign.

Documentation Needed:

• We need to get a copy of the Blount Map for our records.
• We need to start putting together some kind of a brochure.
• We would still like to get a copy of the Contract Durham awarded to TROSA for the maintenance of the cemetery.
• Mr. Bryant agreed to follow up on the following information from Nat Clark, Volunteer Genealogist from the Orange County Library:
  
  We have the following on Geer 1769 - 1823:
  • 1. The will of John Geer dated 12 August 1769 naming sons: David, Frederick, William & John, daughters: Mimma, Tabitha, Mary, Siny & Sarah.
  • 2. Two deeds 10 August 1768: one to Son, Frederick "negro girl named Jean, four head of cattle, & one dark bay branded "7". And one to daughter, Tabitha, "negro girl named Judea, one feather bed & furniture" (Orange Deed Book 2, p. 585.
  • 3. History of the Geer Cemetery and 63 pages of persons buried there.
  • 4. Deed to David Greer (from Wake County) from James Durning, 14 Nov 1816. 137 acres on Third Fork Creek (Deed Book 26, page 45)
  
  Copies are available for $.10/each, plus postage. Please let me know whether you want copies.
  Nat Clark
  Volunteer Genealogist
  Orange County Public Library

Cemetery Maintenance Report:

• At the time of this meeting the wisteria and other weeds were growing tall in the cemetery. By the time of this writing (10/30/04) TROSA has weed-whacked the whole cemetery and it is again passable. With winter not far off, and the leaves falling, headstones are receiving more sunlight than they have in awhile.

Maintenance Plan for the Future:

• As of August 2003, Senator Jeanne Lucas was chair of our funding committee. She has expressed an interest in a perpetual maintenance plan for the Geer Cemetery.
  
  
• At Frank Hyman’s request we recapped all the work and research that has been done so far.
  
  
• Allen Dew and Jessica Eustice reiterated that: There are legal mechanisms in the County of Durham to manage “abandoned cemeteries” (PL 65-74, Research by Richard Ellington) if initial funds can be found to do so; if descendants were willing to contribute to a fund for perpetual care.
  
  
• Frank Hyman mentioned that the City of Durham did take over the care of the Fitzgerald Cemetery during his time on City Council. He stated that he had supported that. He wondered if the FoGC would support the idea of the City of Durham taking over the Geer Cemetery. Mr. Hyman said maintenance by a Government Agency would provide consistency.
  
  
• Allen Dew stated on the other hand that it would probably require an endowment of $200,000-$400,000 to maintain it.
  
  
• Mr. Hyman stated that it might not be that expensive given the style of the cemetery (containing trees, ground cover, and perennials, not grass to be mowed.)
  
  
• Mr. Bryant, Mrs. McNair and Mrs. Eustice stated that they strongly support having the city take over the cemetery. Mrs. Eustice pointed out that the City of Durham should take pride in maintaining this cemetery which is so historically significant to the City of Durham and its roots.
  
  

• Frank Hyman remembered from a previous FoGC meeting that trees are considered a positive part of African American cemeteries. He also stated that trees will help to prevent rapid re-growth of weeds. The style of burials in the Geer Cemetery prior to its closing was mentioned. This reminded Jessica of something she read at this website: http://histpres.mtsu.edu/tncivwar/aacem/significance.html
  

  Until the twentieth century, black cemeteries rarely feature elaborate monuments. Rather, simple monuments constructed of stone or wood predominate, many of which are made or inscribed by hand, indicating traditions of folk art and craftsmanship. Many graves are unmarked or are marked only with fieldstones set on end. The lack of grave vaults is typical. Deep depressions reveal the location of many otherwise unmarked graves. The use of simple, even temporary, markers suggests that it was not necessarily important for future generations to know the exact location of specific graves. Before modern health regulations brought more standardization to American burial rituals, this practice also ensured that space would always be available for those who desired to be buried with their kin.
  

• The group discussed signage; benches; perhaps plaques on trees; the possibility of initiating Historic Preservation walking tours of the Cemetery; The need for a map or Grid to locate burial sites and to be a permanent record. Frank Hyman informed the group about a Euopean burial style, the body remaining buried for about 20 years, and then the bones removed to a charnel house to make room for other burials in the same spot. (Something like this may have been practiced in the Geer Cemetery before it was closed by the health department).

Volunteer Activities--Educational Programs:

• It was stated by more than one member that it is to be hoped that History Clubs such as the Earlie E. Thorpe History Club at NCCU, if they become involved, might be involved as docents to lead tours and give talks.
  
  
• Our new FoGC member Bruce Richards stated that we really need a brochure which can be used to reach out to the 20 year old crowd—something like that would be valuable for Black History Month and other educational purposes.
  
  
• People who might give Oral Interviews about the cemetery were mentioned:
  
  
• A lady who is a Hester,
  
  
• Bruce has a friend who is a Whitted, and he says most of the Whitteds around here are related. Mr. Bryant’s great grandmother had a cousin who was a Whitted.
  
  
• There is a 96 year old lady who lives in Mr. Bryant’s neighborhood, and we wondered if we might talk to her.

Mr. Bryant’s Autograph Collection:

• As the meeting concluded, Allen Dew, Bruce Richards, and Jessica Eustice looked at Mr. Bryant’s autograph collection. (Mr. Bryant’s Autograph Collection is a great compliment to the Alex Rivera Legacy of Leadership photograph exhibit presently showing at the NCCU Art Museum.)

Our next meeting is scheduled for December 6 at the Downtown Library. Jessica is responsible for booking the room.

--Minutes humbly submitted by Mrs.Eustice, Secretary