(MURFREESBORO) “Gone But Not Forgotten” is the wording across the top of a monument that was dedicated in Section M of the Evergreen Cemetery at 10:00 o’clock Saturday morning (6/24/2023). The monument was created by local Stone Mason David Harper.
African American Historical Society of Rutherford County’s President Mary Watkins told WGNS,
Middle Tennessee State University began the ground penetrating radar (GPR) study of the cemetery’s Section M on Oct. 18, 2021. An electronic device was slowly rolled over the earth and it detected where the earth had been disturbed over the past two-centuries. Flags were placed in the ground along with the recording of a precise longitude and latitude marking.
Watkins noted that the study showed there were possibly 30 to 40 burials in the area.
She also said that studies continue to determine what the decaying metal monument signifies that is about 100-feet away from the new monument.
Watkins commented, “I began to research that in 2001. Only the word CARRIE is decipherable on the metal structure. She encouraged anyone with information about this monument, to contact the African American Historical Society of Rutherford County.”
Oaklands Mansion Executive Director James Mansion and Audrey Creel, author of The Untold Story of the Maney Family Slaves concluded the program with the reading of names believed to be buried in Section M.
These names were compiled using the 1870 United States Census and other records left by the Maney family.
It is assumed that African Americans living in Murfreesboro with the last name “Maney” and older than
the age of ten by 1870 were enslaved by the Maney family prior to emancipation.
Aaron “Anthony” – Andrew “Anthony” – Anthony – Benj. Sr. – Benj. “Ben” – Betsy – Calvin – Catherine – Charles – Cherry – David – Dempsey – Dinah – Dinah’s daughter – Eli – Eliza – Elizabeth – Ellen – Falid – Fanny – Ferdy – Fred – Gelis/Giles – George –
George Porter – Hardy – Harriett – Hester – Henderson – Henretta/Henrietta – Henry – Henry Curren – Jack – James – Jerry – Jo – John – John Wesley – Joseph – Joseph – Laima – Lenna – Levinia – Lizzie – Lizzie – Lovena – Luckey Porter – Lucy – Lucy – Martha – Martha – Martha – Mary – Matilda “Tilda” – Matilda – Matilda – Matilda – Matilda – Melinda – Minerva – Mogga – Mogga’s daughter – Nance – Nat – Nat’s son – Nathan – Nathan – Peggy – Polly – Sallie – Sam – Selvey – Selvey’s child – Selvey’s wife – Silas – Spence – Sylvia – Tim – Tinney – Tinney’s child – Wally – Warrick – Warrick’s son – Willie – Willis – Wm – Zabell
Click below to listen to WGNS' complete interview with Mary Watkins at the Dedication Service of the Section M Monument on June 24, 2023:
