In The News...
August 21 2023
We are pleased to announce the publication of Sharon Pajka's new book, "Souls Close to Edgar Allan Poe: Graves of his Family, Friends and Foes". As might be expected, much of the book is focused on the graves of so many at Shockoe Hill who were connected to Poe.
Sharon is a college professor and longtime cemetery and Poe enthusiast, and a great advocate of Shockoe Hill Cemetery.
March 4 2019 -
Members of the Friends of Shockoe Hill Cemetery have been working for some time to explore the African-American history of Shockoe Hill Cemetery, Richmond’s oldest city-owned cemetery. Indeed, educating the public on the cemetery’s place in community life is one of the group’s missions. Research has revealed the burial of three African-American women--Lucy Taylor, Lucy Armstead and Judy Jones--prior to the end of segregation in public cemeteries. In two of these instances, the families for whom the women worked appeared before the Richmond City Council to obtain an exemption to allow their burial at Shockoe Hill. It is the desire of the Friends of Shockoe Hill Cemetery to obtain a new marker for Ms. Lucy Armstead and to mark the grave of Ms. Judy Jones. To accomplish that, your generosity is needed. The goal for this project is $3000. You can follow the progress of this project on our Facebook page.
UPDATE: Success! Markers for Judy Jones and Lucy Armstead were obtained and placed in 2020, thanks to the generosity of our supporters:
October 10, 2018 - In 2016 there was significant storm damage at the cemetery. Little of the damage has been repaired due to the lack of funds for the work. Take a look at the damage here. Perhaps you can help fund the repairs.
August 5, 2018 - That Hidden Place - Our sincere thanks go out to Melissa Scott Sinclair and Richmond Magazine for this article.
January 24, 2018 - 176th anniversary of Dr. Daniel Norton’s death - Thanks to Bill Lohmann and The Richmond Times-Dispatch for this article.
August 28, 2016 - Lohmann: New Life for an old cemetery - Thanks to Bill Lohmann and The Richmond Times-Dispatch for this article.
These past newsletters are still available
September, 2016
March, 2016
December, 2015
September, 2015
March, 2015