Durham County North Carolina Cemeteries Other NC County Cemeteries
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252    GEER CEMETERY [CITY CEMETERY]   -   Surname starts with C

Location - on Colonial Street between McGill Place and Camden Avenue.

Coordinates: 36d 00m 37.0s N; 78d 53m 04.0s W Click here for Online Maps

This cemetery was known by the names Geer Cemetery, City Cemetery, Old City Cemetery, East Durham and Mason Cemetery.

This is an abandoned, overgrown cemetery. There are approximately four acres of graves of African-American people. There are many stone markers present, some very unusual. Many of the markers have been damaged. The earliest known burial was in the 1870's and the last burial occurred in 1944. This is one of the earliest African-American cemeteries in Durham and many black prominent people are buried there.

The cemetery was started in 1876 with the burial of an 11 year old black farm hand of Jesse B. Geer, who was killed accidentally after being dragged by a horse on the Geer plantation. On March 28, 1877 a deed was written selling two acres of land for fifty dollars to three men, the land to be used as a burial ground. The three men were Willie Moore, John Daniel and Nelson Mitchell. The deed was signed by Jesse Geer and his wife Polly. The deed stated that the land was to be used for burials and that the heirs of Moore, Daniel and Mitchell were to be responsible for the property. The cemetery was closed in 1939 after the health department inspected the cemetery and found that the cemetery was overcrowded.

Canvassed by Denise Lawson and the Durham Service Corps in 1992, they listed about 100 markers. In 2003, Carrie McNair and several volunteers extracted burials from the death records located in the Vital Records office. Durham County began issuing death certificates in 1908 and North Carolina law has required death certificates only since 1913. Thus, there were over 35 or more years of additional burials that were unrecorded except for whatever tombstones have survived.

Pictures of gravestones by Allen Dew in 2003, 2004 and 2008. Additional pictures by Jessica T. Eustice in October 2008 and Sarah Cook in October 2012 and Wayne Lee in 2019 & 2020.



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1. Cadlette, Mary   (b. Abt 1849 - d. 30 Dec 1909)
Age 60 years
2. Cain, Annie   (b. Abt 1874 - d. 21 Feb 1921)
Age 47 years
3. Cain, Bessie   (b. 25 Dec 1886 - d. 19 Oct 1903)
Age 17 years. 'At Rest'
4. Cain, Hawkin   (b. Unknown - d. 26 Oct 1918)
"Departed this life". "Asleep in Jesus, peaceful rest."
5. Cain, Joe   (b. 1 Dec 1891 - d. 27 Jul 1911)
Age 19 years. Son of Wilson Cain and Eliza Street Cain. View of marker with his brother John's marker.
6. Cain, John T.   (b. Abt 1899 - d. 27 Apr 1929)
Age 30 years. Son of Wilson Cain and Eliza Street Cain.
7. Cain, Joseph F.   (b. Abt 1885 - d. 18 May 1921)
Age 36 years
8. Cain, Julius   (b. Abt 1897 - d. 28 Sep 1922)
Age about 25 years
9. Cain, Mollie   (b. Abt 1888 - d. 11 Nov 1932)
Age 44 years
10. Caldwell, Mary Canady   (b. Abt 1890 - d. 3 May 1936)
Age 45. Widowed wife of John Caldwell. Daughter of Josh Canady and Rith Carter Canady.
11. Camby, Lucy M.   (b. Abt 1894 - d. 20 Jul 1913)
Age 19 years
12. Cameron, Celia   (b. 15 Mar 1869 - d. 23 May 1921)
Age 52 years
13. Cameron, E. J.   (b. 16 Mar 1862 - d. 22 Nov 1910)
Age 48 years
14. Cameron, Ida   (b. Abt 1899 - d. 25 Jan 1921)
Age 22 years
15. Cameron, Lessie   (b. Jun 1909 - d. 29 Apr 1918)
Age 8 years
16. Cameron, Levvis   (b. Abt 1882 - d. 11 Sep 1913)
Age 31 years
17. Cameron, Purcella   (b. Mar 1927 - d. 23 May 1927)
Age 2 months 18 days
18. Cameron, Susan   (b. Abt 1878 - d. 19 Nov 1917)
Age about 39 years
19. Cameron, Zac   (b. Abt 1865 - d. 31 Jul 1928)
Son of Slaughton Cameron and Violet Jordan. Age 63 years
20. Canada, Latta   (b. Abt 1897 - d. 11 Oct 1915)
Age about 18 years
21. Cane, Lula   (b. Dec 1893 - d. 22 Jun 1924)
Age 30 years 6 months
22. Carlton, Sarah J.   (b. Abt 1892 - d. 8 Jul 1924)
Age 32 years
23. Carnigan, Junnie   (b. Abt 1882 - d. 3 Mar 1922)
Age 40 years
24. Carrington, Della   (b. 24 Aug 1896 - d. 28 Dec 1910)
Age 14 years
25. Carrington, Dora   (b. May 1904 - d. 10 Dec 1910)
Age 6 years
26. Carrington, Emma   (b. Abt 1898 - d. 17 Jun 1920)
Age 22 years
27. Carrington, Infant   (b. 2 Apr 1923 - d. 2 Apr 1923)
Atillborn.
28. Carrington, James   (b. Abt 1893 - d. 10 Sep 1926)
Age 33 years
29. Carrington, Maggie   (b. 29 Jun 1895 - d. 9 Aug 1929)
Daughter of James Winfield and Ada Holman. Age 34 years
30. Carter, Walter   (b. Abt 1911 - d. 31 Jul 1927)
Age 16 years
31. Carver, Daiha R.   (b. 1923 - d. 14 Jun 1924)
Age about 1 year
32. Carver, Infant   (b. 23 Mar 1923 - d. 23 Mar 1923)
Stillborn.
33. Cash, Lee   (b. Abt 1860 - d. 13 Feb 1930)
Son of Henry Cash. Age about 70 years
34. Cash, Lizzie Street   (b. Abt 1863 - d. 29 Oct 1933)
Wife of Lee Cash. Daughter of Jefferson Street.
35. Cash, Richard   (b. 22 Nov 1888 - d. 3 Nov 1916)
Age 28 years
36. Castle, Infant   (b. 15 Oct 1923 - d. 15 Oct 1923)
Stillborn.
37. Cates, Ernestine   (b. 2 Aug 1924 - d. 11 Sep 1924)
Age 1 month 7 days
38. Cates, Infant   (b. 28 Nov 1928 - d. 28 Nov 1928)
Son of Alexander Cates and Cora Gattis. Stillborn.
39. Cates, James Erwin   (b. Aug 1923 - d. 18 Apr 1924)
Age 8 months
40. Cates, James L.   (b. Abt 1918 - d. 14 Sep 1925)
Age 7 years
41. Cates, Nancy   (b. Abt 1858 - d. 4 Jan 1912)
Age about 40 years
42. Cates, Ted D.   (b. Jun 1922 - d. 15 Sep 1922)
Age 2 months 20 days
43. Cates, Thomas   (b. May 1931 - d. 30 Jun 1931)
Son of Charlie Green and Mammie Cates. Age 1 month
44. Cattled, Della   (b. Abt 1905 - d. 21 Jun 1911)
Age 6 years. Some question about surname.
45. Cave, Ester   (b. 15 Jun 1876 - d. 25 Nov 1922)
'She was a kind and affectionate mother.' Another view of marker.
46. Chambers, Harriet   (b. Abt 1946 - d. 2 Aug 1911)
Age about 65 years
47. Chambers, Scott   (b. Abt 1839 - d. 16 Oct 1909)
Age 70 years
48. Chancey, Martha   (b. 10 Dec 1927 - d. 10 Dec 1927)
Premature.
49. Chapman, Willie   (b. Abt 1905 - d. 2 Mar 1927)
Age 22 years
50. Chavis, Alex   (b. Abt 1884 - d. 25 Dec 1931)
Son of Missouri Chavis. Age 47 years
51. Chavis, Ammie   (b. 11 Nov 1927 - d. 11 Nov 1927)
Stillborn.
52. Chavis, Andrew   (b. Abt 1872 - d. 17 Mar 1919)
Age 47 years
53. Chavis, Infant   (b. 10 Nov 1928 - d. 10 Nov 1928)
Daughter of Alex Chavis and Lucy Scott. Stillborn.
54. Chavis, Infant   (b. 19 Apr 1925 - d. 19 Apr 1925)
Stillborn.
55. Chavis, James V.   (b. Nov 1928 - d. 25 Jan 1929)
Son of Alex Leo Durham and Evaline Holloway. Age 2 months
56. Chavis, Lester   (b. Abt 1918 - d. 5 Apr 1924)
Age 6 years
57. Chavis, Lucy   (b. 3 Sep 1926 - d. 3 Sep 1926)
Stillborn.
58. Chavis, Rosa   (b. Abt 1887 - d. 3 Apr 1918)
Age about 31 years
59. Cheatham, Joe   (b. Abt 1891 - d. 5 Mar 1913)
Age 22 years
60. Chestnut, A. C.   (b. Oct 1926 - d. 13 Jul 1927)
Age 9 months
61. Chestnut, Leslie   (b. Jul 1911 - d. 28 Sep 1928)
Daughter of June Chestnut and Ang[e]line Pearson. Age 17 years 2 months
62. Christmas, Candace   (b. Jun 1859 - d. 29 Aug 1938)
Wife of Mathew H. Christmas. Daughter of Cornelius Jordan and Phyllis Banks Jordan. Mother of: Sadie Christmas-Escoffery (Oct 1882-1964), Matthew Douglas Christmas (Dec 1887-1962), Henrietta Christmas (Sep 1893).
63. Christmas, M. H.   (b. Unknown - d. Unknown)
No dates on marker
64. Clark, Annie   (b. Abt 1888 - d. 22 Oct 1925)
Age 37 years
65. Clark, Levi   (b. Abt 1837 - d. 28 Mar 1911)
Married. Son of Charles M. Clark and Debra Williams Clark.
66. Clark, Maria   (b. 22 Nov 1845 - d. 22 Nov 1908)
Age 63 years. Wife of Thomas Clark. "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God."
67. Clark, Minnie   (b. Abt 1871 - d. 28 Sep 1923)
Age 51 years
68. Clarke, Clim   (b. Abt 1872 - d. 14 Jan 1923)
Age 51 years
69. Clay, Beddie   (b. 1918 - d. 14 Jun 1919)
Age 1 year. Clay Family marker.
70. Clay, John E.   (b. Abt 1905 - d. 29 Jun 1917)
Age about 12 years. Clay Family marker.
71. Clay, Joseph   (b. Abt 1870 - d. 24 Jan 1933)
Age 62. Husband of Jennie A. Jenkins Clay. Son of Green Clay and Nancy Clay.
72. Cleg, John W.   (b. Abt 1860 - d. 26 Aug 1895)
Age 35 years
73. Clegg, Phoeba   (b. Abt 1842 - d. 27 May 1915)
Age about 73 years
74. Clemmons, William C.   (b. 30 Aug 1885 - d. 7 Mar 1923)
Age 37 years
75. Coakley, D. C.   (b. 1900 - d. 1925)
Age 25 years. Gone bu not forgotten.
76. Coakley, Infant Daughter   (b. 17 Sep 1915 - d. 6 Oct 1915)
Daughter of J.T. Coakley and Zelma Evans Coakley.
77. Cogdell, Infant   (b. 30 Dec 1927 - d. 30 Dec 1927)
Child of Offie Cogdell. Premature.
78. Cokley, Dee   (b. Abt 1895 - d. 23 Jan 1925)
Age 30 years
79. Coleman, Emanuel   (b. Abt 1908 - d. 27 Jun 1932)
Age 24 years
80. Coley, Emeline   (b. Abt 1837 - d. 1 Jun 1912)
Age 75 years. 'Honored, beloved and wept. Here mother lies.' Marker in 2020.
81. Coley, Emerline   (b. Abt 1828 - d. 25 Mar 1910)
Age about 82 years
82. Coley, Hattie   (b. Abt 1897 - d. 12 Jul 1927)
Age 30 years
83. Colley, Abia Bennett   (b. Abt 1894 - d. 17 Jul 1918)
Age 24 years
84. Colley, John   (b. 1916 - d. 28 Jul 1918)
Age about 2 years
85. Colley, William F.   (b. Abt 1857 - d. 30 Nov 1919)
Age about 62 years
86. Collins, Margettle L.   (b. Mar 1924 - d. 8 Sep 1925)
Age 1 year 6 months
87. Colman, Harriett   (b. Abt 1870 - d. 19 Nov 1915)
Widowed. Daughter of Daniel Colman and Amey Warren Colman.
88. Compton, Joseph   (b. Abt 1897 - d. 25 Feb 1913)
Age 15 years
89. Conyers, Sap   (b. Abt 1904 - d. 13 Nov 1923)
Age 19 years
90. Cook, Albert   (b. Abt 1856 - d. 31 Jul 1926)
Age 70 years
91. Cook, Ella   (b. Abt 1888 - d. 29 Nov 1915)
Daughter of Charlie Holman and Jennie Bumpass Holman.
92. Coon, James   (b. Abt 1889 - d. 20 Jul 1912)
Age 23 years
93. Cooper, Cain   (b. Abt 1897 - d. 26 Jun 1929)
Son of Eddie and Mary Cooper. Age 33 years
94. Cooper, Hannah   (b. 1897 - d. 31 Jul 1913)
Age 16 years. On same marker with Margaret Ruffin Faucette. Another view.
95. Cooper, John L.   (b. Abt 1867 - d. 12 May 1930)
Son of Rita Cooper. Age 62 years
96. Cooper, Ruth Violet   (b. 1915 - d. 5 Sep 1915)
Asleep with Jesus. On same marker with Margaret Ruffin Faucette. Another view.
97. Coopland, Dorathy L.   (b. Apr 1927 - d. 8 Dec 1927)
Age 8 months
98. Copley, Amer   (b. Abt 1856 - d. 29 Oct 1919)
Age about 63 years
99. Cornigans, Jennie   (b. Abt 1882 - d. 6 Mar 1922)
Age 40 years
100. Cotton, George   (b. Abt 1905 - d. 12 Nov 1915)
Son of Thomas B. Cotton and Winnie Trice Cotton.
101. Cotton, Henry   (b. Abt 1885 - d. 13 Apr 1927)
Age 42 years
102. Cotton, Lessie   (b. Abt 1888 - d. 26 Feb 1920)
Age 32 years
103. Cotton, Louisa   (b. Abt 1900 - d. 14 Dec 1917)
Age about 17 years
104. Cotton, Maggie   (b. Abt 1858 - d. 27 Dec 1920)
Age 62 years
105. Cotton, Nora B.   (b. 25 Jul 1911 - d. 13 Jun 1912)
Age 11 months
106. Cotton, Thomas   (b. Abt 1857 - d. 17 Sep 1917)
Age about 60 years
107. Cotton, Winnie   (b. Abt 1867 - d. 1 Jun 1912)
Age 45 years
108. Couch, Annie   (b. Abt 1871 - d. 19 Mar 1919)
Age 48 years
109. Council, Infant   (b. 4 Feb 1926 - d. 4 Feb 1926)
Stillborn.
110. Council, Mary N.   (b. Abt 1881 - d. 20 May 1931)
Daughter of Henry Patterson and Rebecca Couch. Age 50 years
111. Cousins, Infant   (b. 15 May 1925 - d. 15 May 1925)
Stillborn.
112. Covington, Chappie   (b. Abt 1874 - d. 23 Aug 1928)
Son of Handy Covington. Age 54 years
113. Covington, Dorothy   (b. Abt 1908 - d. 22 Aug 1927)
Age 19 years
114. Cowan, Ealianel M.   (b. Abt 1866 - d. 20 Jul 1921)
Age about 55 years
115. Cox, Cathenne   (b. 7 Oct 1911 - d. 12 Apr 1913)
Age 1 year 6 months
116. Cozart, Allen   (b. Abt 1877 - d. 26 Feb 1910)
Age 33 years
117. Cozart, Edward   (b. Abt 1865 - d. 4 Apr 1913)
Age 48 years
118. Cozart, Jim   (b. Abt 1874 - d. 21 Feb 1920)
Age 45 years
119. Craddock, Henry   (b. 2 Apr 1912 - d. 2 Apr 1912)
Stillborn.
120. Craddock, Rosa   (b. Abt 1905 - d. 8 Oct 1927)
Age 22 years
121. Craig, Frank   (b. Abt 1878 - d. 15 Sep 1917)
Age 39 years. Son of David and Eliza Craig. 'Gone but not forgotten'. Marker in 2020.
122. Craig, Major   (b. May 1909 - d. 11 Jan 1910)
Age 10 months
123. Crawford, Roscoe   (b. Apr 1926 - d. 21 Feb 1927)
Age 9 months 27 days
124. Crews, Bessie   (b. Abt 1906 - d. 19 May 1925)
Age 19 years
125. Crews, Joseph   (b. Abt 1860 - d. 16 Jan 1925)
Age 65 years
126. Crews, Lucille   (b. Abt 1912 - d. 22 Nov 1929)
Daughter of Joseph Crews and Mary Strudwick. Age 17 years
127. Cross, Sterling   (b. Feb 1920 - d. 10 Jul 1920)
Age 4 months 15 days
128. Crump, Madge   (b. Abt 1894 - d. 6 Jan 1911)
Age 17 years
129. Crumps, Floyd   (b. Aug 1910 - d. 2 Jul 1911)
Age 11 months
130. Cruse, Ester   (b. 1 Jan 1910 - d. 8 Nov 1911)
Age 1 year 10 months
131. Cruse, John H.   (b. 14 Mar 1921 - d. 30 Mar 1921)
Age 16 days
132. Cunningham, Lurvica   (b. Abt 1827 - d. 22 May 1912)
Age 85 years
133. Currysor, Otis (or Crump)   (b. Abt 1916 - d. 6 Mar 1920)
Age 4 years
134. Curtis, Alonza   (b. Abt 1879 - d. 28 Dec 1917)
Age about 38 years
135. Curtis, Annie (Mrs)   (b. Abt 1840 - d. 14 Mar 1936)
Scarborough and Hargett funeral marker.
136. Cutler, Henry   (b. Abt 1872 - d. 8 Aug 1922)
Age about 50 years. Could be Outlaw?