Minutes of the Friends of the Geer Cemetery 12/06/04

Mr. R. Kelly Bryant Jr. had a prior commitment at White Rock Baptist Church and asked Ms. Jessica Thompson Eustice to lead the meeting in his place.

• The Meeting convened at 5:00 in the conference room at the Downtown Durham County Library. Members present were Mr. Allen Dew; Mrs. Carrie McNair; Ms. Jessica Thompson Eustice; Mr. William Lucas; Ms. Chantae Bohannon Mangum; Ms. Sharon Laisure, Assistant City Manager; Mr. Jay Reinstein; Mr. Frank Hyman.

Report on the clean-up work by TROSA on and about October 29, 2004:

• TROSA conducted their second Clean-up on or about Oct 29, 2004. We do not have the next work date. Mr. Jay Reinstein said that he would be happy to get an update on the clean-up from Guillo Rodriguez. He will clarify when the next scheduled clean-up will happen, and what they will be doing. Mr. Frank Hyman (Horticulturist) agreed to work with Mr. Reinstein and TROSA to determine the best procedure for preventing weed re-growth. Mr. Reinstein also asked that Mr. Bryant give him a reminder call about a copy of the City contract with TROSA. Sharon Laisure, Assistant City Manager pointed out the final up-keep date is coming up, and suggested that our committee needs to be thinking about funding for further projects.
  
  
• (Update: by 12/09/04 Mr. Reinstein has made a copy of the contract and is sending it to Mr. R. Kelly Bryant Jr. )

Ownership of the Cemetery:

• Ownership of the Cemetery still needs to be clarified. It was noted that the majority of the Death Certificates reviewed by the Research Committee indicate the name “City Cemetery” or “Old City Cemetery.” Some indicate “Mason Cemetery” and some “Durham County Cemetery”. The Historic Preservation Society has agreed to set up a fund for the Cemetery, but monies need to be raised. Sharon Laisure asked if grant funds are available for historic Cemeteries. The Historic significance of this Cemetery was discussed. It was an elite cemetery. People buried there include Margaret Faucette, founder of White Rock Baptist Church; Augustus Shepard, founder of the Oxford Orphanage and father of Dr. James Shepard, and Edian Markham, founder of the Hayti area in Durham. Mr. Frank Hyman asked for approval to talk with city council members about the Geer Cemetery as an advocate for city ownership of the Cemetery. Jessica made a motion to give Mr. Hyman this approval. It was seconded by Mrs. Carrie McNair. The FOGC approved the motion unanimously.

Tour of the cemetery:

• We have talked about a tour of the site and the work done following the recent clean-up. It was decided that the Friends of the Geer Cemetery would schedule a walk-through of the Cemetery this month or next month. Dates discussed were Dec. 20; 21st or Jan. 3rd or 4th. Jessica agreed to arrange a date by phone or email, when most of the committee could be present.

Cemetery sign, entrance, lanes and/or gate:

• Sharon Laisure suggested that if our organization is able to obtain grant money and or raise funds for maintenance of the Cemetery, the city may be able to help with supplies for things like a gate, a sign, a path, and so forth. She expressed interest in the Cemetery as a part of the Historic nature of the City of Durham. Jessica agreed to research available Grant funds. Mrs. McNair asked about the possibility of smoothing the lane and growing grass in the Cemetery. Mr. Frank Hyman proposed that something like Chapel Hill Gravel or Screenings may be put down upon the lane in order to improve walking conditions there. A Donation may be sought from Nello Teer, Carolina Sun Rock, the Rock Shop, or some other sand and gravel vendors. One of the objectives of the upcoming FOGC Tour of the Cemetery is to determine what needs to done in the Cemetery, and what, given State Laws and Archeology Guidelines, is possible.

Mapping the cemetery:

• Mr. Bryant has started planning for the mapping of the cemetery in a way that we might have an authentic map of the known graves there. It has been suggested that Mr. Bryant get together with a surveyor or someone in the city administration on getting advice and help in accomplishing this. One way would be to layout a grid to cover the site in numbered 50-foot squares and list all identifiable graves and lanes in each square. Allen Dew and others suggested 25 foot squares might be advisable. Small stakes and flags could be used and we may be able to borrow some flags from the city or someone or find sources. The number needed will have to be determined. Chantae Bohannon-Mangum offered to donate the stakes and flags. 200 to 400 may be needed.
  
  
• There are “sewer line” and “water line” flags already in the cemetery. Jessica agreed to call the City to clarify the meaning of these markers, and to obtain sewer line or water line maps if these exist.

Orange County Library documents on Geer Cemetery:

• Chantae Bohannon-Mangum offered to pick up a second copy of the wills available at the Orange County Library from Volunteer Genealogist Nat Clark. Jessica is to email Nat Clark’s contact information to Chantae.
  
  
• Mr. Bryant looks forward to having a further report at the next meeting.

Committee Reports and Updates:

• - Committee on Ownership and Authority—see above
  
  
• - Committee on Graves --(Again thanks and appreciation are offered to Mrs. Carrie McNair, William Lucas, Chantae Bohannon-Mangum, Deidre Barnes, Jean Anderson, Allen Dew, and the Research on Graves Committee on the identification of over 1500 burials since 1908. A project is in the works now to make a study on the causes of death of those 1500+ individuals.)
  
  
• - Committee on Funding – see comments above. Grant Funds and other funds need to be sought.
  
  
• - Committee on Volunteers – The Historic Preservation Society expresses interest here.
  
  
• - Committee on Geer Cemetery history
  
  
• - Committee on Families of those buried in the Cemetery: Some Family members have been located: Emmit Strudwick, Chantae Bohannon Mangum, Kelly Bryant, Bill Lucas.
  
  
• - Committee on Publicity: We need to get in touch with Larry Hester to ascertain his interest in publicity at this time.

Other Agenda Items:

• Meeting on the Second Monday may be more practical for City Employees who have Council meetings on the first Monday. It is dark at 5:00 at this time of year, limiting attendance to those who can drive at night. Frank Hyman will contact Jean Anderson about car pooling to meetings. Our next meeting will be scheduled on the second Monday in January.

Next meeting to be held at 5:00 , January 10, 2005 in the Conference room at the Durham County Library. Jessica will contact Lynn Richardson to reserve the conference room.

--Minutes humbly submitted by Mrs.Eustice, Secretary