GOOD HOPE CHURCH BLACK CEMETERY

FOUNDED: Around the 1880s

ADDITONAL NAMES: Good Hope Colored Cemetery

AFFILIATION(S):

• Newton County Community Remembrance Project

HISTORY:

The 119 year old cemetery lies on three acres of land in Good Hope Mississippi, in Newton, County Research found over 500 burials in the cemetery. I remember as a child I remember during church service, twice a year, the pastor would announce community clean-up dates for the cemetery. Clean -up days happened each Saturday before Memorial Day and the first Sunday in August in time for the annual revival meeting at the church. the men, women and children would clean and elder women would prepare food and drinks. These events were major community activities and served to renew community ties.

In recent years clen-up and restoration is done by the descendants of those laid to rest there; On the first Sunday in August many family members throughout the country journeys home to the almost deserted Good Hope Settlement to do as our ancestors did for the past hundred years, to care for the cemetery- to ensure it will continue to be a visual history for everyone. Black History: 1908 two Good Hope community members were lynched and is buried in the cemetery. With the help of the Equal Justice Initiative 2021 a memorial marker was placed in the Good Hope Church Cemetery.

BCN Contact Information:

Joyce Salter Johnson

joyceboggess39@gmail.com

https://salter-saulter.com/