Southport Magazine

By: Elizabeth Flora

On a sunny June Saturday in Southport, folks gathered at the John N. Smith Cemetery where the Southport Historical Society hosted the Reflections of The Past in celebration and recognition of Juneteenth. In the opening statements made by Judy Gordon, it was noted that when the group organized the event, they had no idea that they would be celebrating it on what is now a federal holiday. Crowds of people came and listened, laughed, and learned as speakers regaled them with stories about their ancestors and historical figures that are laid to rest there. 

The John N. Smith Cemetery was established in 1880 and is known as Southport’s historical black cemetery. Standing at just three acres of land off Leonard Street, many incredible individuals have found their final resting place there. A restoration committee began its work in 2011, and in these ten years has been able to accomplish so much. With the hard work of the Historical Society’s talented volunteers, they have been able to do everything from erect new fencing, create and install a historical marker, and repair damaged grave markers. Most notably, they have been able to conduct a ground penetration radar study to locate 1,243 unmarked graves; there are 484 marked graves on the property. The crowd in attendance was treated to 10 of their stories.

Though one might expect a graveyard to be a solemn and sad location to host something described as a “celebration,” the speakers brought forth so much pride and joy in their subjects that laughter often rang through the crowd. Even the tales of those born into bondage had remarkable sparks of hope and happiness in them— stories like that of Mary Ann Galloway who lived to be the oldest woman in Southport (and possibly North Carolina) at the age of 118. 

The celebration highlighted stories of a lot of local “firsts,” such as the first African-American educator, Frank Gordon, and the first woman to own a car, Dollie Evans. All these stories were told from either direct descendants of these amazing figures or by family members who were well acquainted with them. Each speech aided in the goal of exploration and celebration of African American history and heritage in Southport. 

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, marks the anniversary of the date when all enslaved persons in the United States gained their freedom. Although it has been a recognized holiday for generations, it was only declared a federal holiday this year. On July 4th, 1776 the founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence, declaring that “All men are created equal,” but it wasn’t until June 19th, 1865 that millions of African American people took the first steps towards being treated as equal citizens in the nation they helped build. While Americans find the history of slavery abhorrent and shameful, Juneteenth marks the start of wrongs being righted, making it important to celebrate. 

Everyone is welcome to explore the John N. Smith Cemetery, and guests are encouraged to stop by and visit. Additionally, the restoration committee meets at the Harper Library on the fourth Thursday of every month at 4 pm. They hope to gain volunteers and raise funds to achieve goals they have set, including completing the perimeter fencing, identifying and placing markers on unmarked graves, and conducting regular public education opportunities. The overall goal is to discover, commemorate, and preserve the history of the black community in Southport so that it is not forgotten. 

The cemetery is located at 225 East Leonard Street, and more information can be found online at www.johnsmithcemetery.com Donations to aid in the restoration and preservation of the site can be mailed to PO Box 11241, Southport, NC 28461.