Town of Mount Jackson works to preserve historic Black cemetery

MOUNT JACKSON, Va. (WHSV) - Mount Jackson officials are working to preserve a historically significant Black cemetery that dates back to before the Civil War after new research revealed far more burials at the site than previously known.

The Mount Jackson Colored Cemetery, tucked away just off the town’s railroad tracks, has long gone unnoticed by many who pass it daily, Town Manager Olivia Hilton said. However, for descendants and town leaders, the land represents generations of local history. Hilton said descendants emphasized the importance of preserving both the cemetery and its name.

“Speaking to the descendants in the area, it was important to them that we maintain the Mount Jackson Colored Cemetery name, because that’s where their ancestors were buried,” Hilton said.

Preservation efforts began several years ago through a partnership between the town and the Shenandoah Valley Black Heritage Project. Ground-penetrating radar conducted in 2022 revealed a startling discovery.

“There are about 54 headstones, there were known to be about 70-75 burials,” Hilton said. “After that radar was completed, it found that in this space, which is not very large, there was close to 400 sites.”

Hilton, who began her role in August 2023, said uncovering the cemetery’s history reinforced the town’s commitment to preserving it. The findings prompted town leaders, historians, descendants and community advocates to form a board of trustees to guide future decisions for the site.

Hilton said the goal is to honor the space without rewriting or minimizing its history.

“It’s important that we are not whitewashing that story or making decisions on behalf of descendants when it’s their story to tell,” Hilton said. “We’re here as advocates to listen, learn and preserve the space.”

Plans for the cemetery include fencing, landscaping, a reflection path and symbolic markers representing those buried there. While research continues to identify individuals buried at the site, more than 50 additional names have already been recovered.

“These are descendants. These are members of the Mount Jackson community,” Hilton said. “These are citizens of Shenandoah County.”

Town officials will host a Black History Month event in February called “Roots and Resilience,” inviting residents to engage with the cemetery’s history, even when it is difficult.

“Hopefully this will far outlive my time here,” Hilton said. “This has stood here before the Civil War, and it will continue to.”

The town has allocated $15,000 for revitalization efforts and plans to launch a matching capital campaign next year to ensure the cemetery and its history are preserved for future generations.