19-02-2025
Book of Ancestry sheds light on Forgotten Ones of Oakwood Cemetery
Recently released, 'The Book of Ancestry: Forgotten Ones of Oakwood Cemetery' sheds light on the lives of African Americans buried in the High Point cemetery's 'Colored' section.
'These were individuals. They were humans. They had a life, just like I have a life, and we wanted people to recognize that and see that they were important,' Linda Willard said.
Their legacies and contributions were ignored for decades.
'A lot of people thought that the only Black cemetery was on Leonard Street, but it wasn't,' Phyllis Bridges said.
'Someone told me in a meeting that there was no such thing as a 'Colored' section of Oakwood Cemetery, and I said, 'I beg your pardon,' there is,' Willard said.
Willard and Bridges have proven there is far more to the story. They have worked diligently over the last 10 years to give the section proper recognition, including working with the City of High Point for a historical marker.
'It's roughly a total of 425 people in that small section of the cemetery.' Bridges said. 'Phyllis and I began to talk, and we said we've got to take this further. We've got to research, we've got to find out what is going on with these people, who they were.'
Relying on materials such as obituaries, newspapers, birth certificates, death certificates, and census records, they have been able to tell the stories of approximately 80 people. 'Annie Pitts was a really fascinating one,' Willard said.
'She was hired to be the nanny or mammie, I've seen both terms used, of J. Elwood Cox's daughter, Clara Cox, and she stayed [employed] with Mr. Cox for 38 years until her death. She was really more than a servant. He treated her as a family member,' Willard said. 'Another one is Jesse Edmondson. He is a fascinating man. He owned what is said to be the only Black opera house in the entire state of North Carolina, but believe me, they were not singing Madame Butterfly in his opera house. It was burlesque.'
Bridges says another fascinating story is that of Minnie Edmondson. She was considered the wealthiest Black woman in High Point around the time of her death.
Bridges was able to connect with some of Minnie Edmondson's descendants and others.
'Linda and I made contact with several families over the years and being able to give them a piece of their history they didn't know exists, that's it for me,' she said. 'These people deserve to be recognized. They shouldn't be forgotten anymore,' Willard said.
Bridges and Willard are scheduled to hold a public discussion about the book at High Point Public Library on Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Business Center.
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