Narcoossee Arthur Fell Cemetery
Site Brief:
Founded: 1911
Location: St. Cloud, FL
Additional name(s): Whitted Historic Community
Affiliate group(s): St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church (Narcoossee)
History:
The Arthur J. Fell Memorial Cemetery, commonly known as the Narcoossee Cemetery, is a historic burial ground located in St. Cloud (Narcoossee), Florida. The cemetery property was originally platted in September 1892, and on October 16, 1911, Arthur J. Fell formally deeded the land “for use forever as a public cemetery for and by the people of Narcoossee and vicinity.” Since that time, the cemetery has served as the final resting place for generations of local residents, preserving the history of one of Osceola County’s oldest communities. Today, the cemetery remains active and is maintained by Osceola County.
The cemetery holds particular significance to Black History in Narcoossee because it contains the graves of African American pioneers, laborers, church leaders, veterans, and families whose contributions helped build the community through work in the citrus, sugar cane, and turpentine industries. Many of these families were associated with the historic St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church (Narcoossee) and established deep roots in the area following their migration from North Carolina in the late nineteenth century. The cemetery serves as an important cultural and historical resource, preserving the stories and legacies of Black families, including members of the Paul, Whitted, and other pioneering families, whose lives and contributions are an integral part of Narcoossee’s history and the broader African American heritage of Central Florida.
BCN Contact Information:
Jessica Paul