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

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. Ramsey, Cross   (b. Abt 1868 - d. 2 Apr 1912)
Age 44 years
2. Ramsey, Roxanna   (b. Abt 1882 - d. 3 May 1912)
Age 30 years. 216 Clinton St.
3. Ray, Annie May   (b. Jun 1927 - d. 27 Oct 1927)
Daughter of Alex Ray and Hannah McDowell. Age 4 months
4. Ray, Ben   (b. Abt 1872 - d. 16 Dec 1912)
Age 40 years
5. Ray, Charles W.   (b. Abt 1873 - d. 14 Jan 1934)
Husband of Rosa Ray. Son of Frank Ray and Jannie Leathers Ray.
6. Ray, Edith   (b. Abt 1888 - d. 18 Aug 1918)
Age about 30 years
7. Ray, Isaac   (b. Abt 1855 - d. 13 Jul 1932)
Age 77 years
8. Ray, Mary Eliza   (b. Abt 1903 - d. 5 Jan 1921)
Age 18 years
9. Ray, Mose   (b. 1865 - d. 1912)
On same marker with Parish Ray. Another view. - Another view.
10. Ray, Moses L.   (b. 15 May 1878 - d. 23 Aug 1917)
11. Ray, Nancy   (b. Abt 1882 - d. 28 Nov 1934)
Wife of Isaac Ray.
12. Ray, Parish   (b. 1864 - d. 1886)
On same marker with Mose Ray. Another view. - Another view.
13. Ray, Robert   (b. 12 Mar 1862 - d. 1 Oct 1912)
Age 50 years
14. Ray, Sadie   (b. Abt 1888 - d. 12 May 1912)
Age 24 years
15. Ray, Sarah   (b. Abt 1855 - d. 25 Aug 1911)
Age 56 years
16. Ray, Walker   (b. Abt 1867 - d. 20 May 1915)
Widowed. Son of Stanford Ray and Jane Lipscomb Ray.
17. Ray, William   (b. Abt 1859 - d. 7 Sep 1929)
Son of Anthony Ray and Julia Rice. Age 70 years
18. Raye, Elviva   (b. Abt 1852 - d. 3 Nov 1913)
Age 61 years
19. Reade, Priscilla   (b. Abt 1865 - d. 29 Mar 1920)
Age about 55 years
20. Reaves, Annie   (b. Apr 1876 - d. 19 Apr 1913)
Age 37 years
21. Reves, Calvin   (b. Abt 1834 - d. 29 Dec 1928)
Age 94 years
22. Reynolds, Infant   (b. 21 Apr 1927 - d. 21 Apr 1927)
Son of Frank Reynolds and Swannie Thomas. Stillborn.
23. Richardson, Infant   (b. 9 Jan 1921 - d. 9 Jan 1921)
Stillborn.
24. Richardson, Pauline Harris   (b. Abt 1913 - d. 15 Apr 1942)
Wife of Sam Richardson. Daughter of L.C. Harris and Lizzie Roberts Harris.
25. Richardson, Susan E.   (b. 8 Dec 1867 - d. 26 Mar 1919)
Wife of Bert Richardson. "As a Wife, devoted. As a mother, affectionate. As a friend, ever kind and true."
26. Richmon, Eddie   (b. 6 Oct 1926 - d. 8 Oct 1926)
Age 2 days
27. Richmond, Nash   (b. Abt 1829 - d. Oct 1909)
Age 80 years
28. Rigsby, Mamie   (b. Abt 1874 - d. 30 Mar 1910)
Age 16 years
29. Roberson, Maggie   (b. Abt 1885 - d. 16 Jul 1927)
Daughter of S. Knighten and Maggie Knighten. Age 42 years
30. Roberson, Otho   (b. Abt 1913 - d. 11 Mar 1927)
Son of Armetis Roberson and Mary Jones. Age 14 years
31. Roberson, William   (b. Apr 1926 - d. 9 Mar 1927)
Son of John and Maggie Roberson. Age 11 months.
32. Roberts, Emma   (b. Abt 1850 - d. 11 Jul 1920)
Age 70 years
33. Roberts, Infant   (b. 18 Jun 1917 - d. 29 Jun 1917)
Child of Percy and Lola Roberts. Age 11 days
34. Roberts, Jennie   (b. Abt 1870 - d. 10 Feb 1921)
Age about 51 years
35. Roberts, Katie Brown   (b. Abt 1867 - d. 11 May 1929)
Daughter of Deeman Sparkman and Katie Cain. Age 62 years
36. Roberts, Lucy Moore   (b. Abt 1877 - d. 21 Sep 1929)
Age about 52 years
37. Roberts, William   (b. Oct 1928 - d. 1 Jan 1929)
Son of Robert Miller and Carrie Carlton. Age 3 months
38. Robinson, Florence   (b. Abt 1876 - d. 25 Apr 1912)
Age 36 years
39. Robinson, Hughie   (b. Abt 1866 - d. 25 Apr 1936)
Widowed Husband of Nannie Robinson. Son of David Robinson. He was a blacksmith by trade.
40. Robinson, Infant   (b. 11 Feb 1928 - d. 11 Feb 1928)
Son of Willie Robinson and Berth. Stillborn.
41. Robinson, Luna H.   (b. 16 Aug 1902 - d. 8 Dec 1917)
42. Robinson, Mabel   (b. Abt 1897 - d. 27 Oct 1915)
Single. Daughter of Sam Robinson and Mary White Robinson.
43. Robinson, Mary Sowell   (b. Abt 1885 - d. 17 Mar 1919)
Age 34 years
44. Robinson, Sam   (b. Abt 1878 - d. 11 Jan 1911)
Age 33 years
45. Rodgers, Armanda   (b. Abt 1867 - d. 25 Jun 1919)
Age about 52 years
46. Rodgers, Henry   (b. Abt 1846 - d. 4 Sep 1911)
Age about 65 years
47. Rodgers, James Edward   (b. Jul 1923 - d. 10 Nov 1923)
Age 4 months
48. Rodgers, John H., Jr.   (b. 1 Sep 1935 - d. 26 Mar 1936)
Infant Son of John H. Rodgers, Sr. and Viola T. Elliott Parker.
49. Rodgers, Margaret   (b. Feb 1921 - d. 6 Jul 1921)
Age 5 months
50. Rodgers, Mary   (b. Abt 1816 - d. 24 Mar 1921)
Age about 105 years
51. Rodgers, Mary B.   (b. Abt 1852 - d. 24 Sep 1912)
Age 60 years
52. Rodgers, Nettie   (b. Abt 1867 - d. 25 Jun 1912)
Age about 45 years
53. Rodgers, Robert   (b. Abt 1884 - d. 1 May 1911)
Single. Son of Washington Rodgers and Harriett Rodgers.
54. Rodgers, Virgie C.   (b. Jan 1920 - d. 14 Jun 1920)
Age 6 months
55. Rogers, Amanda   (b. Abt 1864 - d. 20 Jun 1919)
Age 55 years. 'In loving rememberance of". 'Gone but not forgotten'
56. Rogers, Bettie   (b. Abt 1848 - d. 5 Aug 1918)
Age about 70 years
57. Rogers, Charles   (b. Abt 1849 - d. 16 Dec 1911)
Age 62 years
58. Rogers, Ella   (b. Abt 1899 - d. 29 Jun 1923)
Age 24 years
59. Rogers, Grace   (b. Abt 1850 - d. 2 Dec 1924)
Age 74 years
60. Rogers, Harriett   (b. Abt 1867 - d. 13 Mar 1918)
Age about 51 years
61. Rogers, Joe   (b. Abt 1842 - d. 15 Jun 1917)
Age about 75 years
62. Rogers, Lewis   (b. Abt 1864 - d. 19 Jun 1917)
Age about 53 years
63. Rogers, Maggie   (b. 13 Oct 1884 - d. 5 Mar 1923)
Age 38 years
64. Rogers, Nellie Freeland   (b. Abt 1898 - d. 18 May 1921)
Age 23 years
65. Rogers, Thelma   (b. May 1920 - d. 1 Jun 1921)
Age 1 year 1 month
66. Rogers, William T.   (b. Abt 1882 - d. 6 Aug 1918)
Age about 36 years
67. Rogers, Willie Louise   (b. Abt 1907 - d. 19 Feb 1926)
Age 19 years
68. Rollins, Infant   (b. 12 Jan 1921 - d. 12 Jan 1921)
Stillborn.
69. Ross, Frank   (b. 15 Dec 1875 - d. 8 Mar 1925)
'May the resurrection find thee on the bosom of thy God.' Another view.
70. Ross, William   (b. Abt 1897 - d. 10 Mar 1925)
Age 28 years
71. Roudge, Raney   (b. Sep 1910 - d. 7 Jan 1911)
Age 4 months
72. Roundtree, Fred   (b. 30 Jul 1912 - d. 30 Jul 1912)
Female. Stillborn.
73. Roundtree, Katie   (b. 10 Mar 1865 - d. 6 Jan 1927)
Daughter of Douglas Roundtree and Minna Dortch. Age 62 years. Another view 2020.
74. Roundtree, Ruth   (b. 6 Feb 1929 - d. 6 Feb 1929)
Daughter of Fred Roundtree and Shellie Hayes. Age 30 minutes
75. Rowland, William   (b. 11 Jun 1924 - d. 11 Jun 1924)
Stillborn.
76. Rowlette, Lizzie   (b. Abt 1874 - d. 28 Oct 1924)
Age 50 years
77. Royal, Infant   (b. 6 Apr 1924 - d. 6 Apr 1924)
Stillborn.
78. Royster, Annie   (b. 28 Jun 1913 - d. 28 Jun 1913)
Stillborn.
79. Royster, Bailey   (b. Abt 1880 - d. 12 Jan 1918)
Age about 38 years
80. Royster, Charlie   (b. Abt 1867 - d. 11 Jun 1927)
Son of William and Estella Royster. Age 60 years
81. Royster, Infant   (b. 20 Apr 1917 - d. 20 Apr 1917)
Child of Sudie Royster. Stillborn.
82. Royster, Infant   (b. 1 Jul 1919 - d. 1 Jul 1919)
Stillborn.
83. Royster, Jessie   (b. 6 Apr 1920 - d. 6 Apr 1920)
Stillborn.
84. Royster, Louise   (b. Abt 1875 - d. 10 Mar 1930)
Daughter of John and Mary Sparkman. Age about 55 years
85. Royster, Margaret Louise   (b. 1908 - d. 20 Jul 1917)
Age 9 years
86. Ruffin, Frederick W.   (b. Abt 1913 - d. 24 Mar 1918)
Age about 5 years
87. Ruffin, Mary (Mrs)   (b. Abt 1868 - d. 6 Dec 1928)
Daughter of Mary Allen. Age 60 years
88. Ruffin, Nannie Chavis   (b. Abt 1875 - d. 22 Nov 1915)
Married. Daughter of Henry Chavis and Louise Chavis.
89. Ruffin, Robert   (b. Abt 1883 - d. 18 May 1931)
Age 48 years
90. Ruffin, S. M., Jr.   (b. 11 Aug 1910 - d. 21 Aug 1910)
Age 10 days
91. Ruffin, Samuel M.   (b. 15 Aug 1858 - d. 27 Aug 1916)
Age 58 years. Carving of ivy and boat anchor on marker.
92. Rush, Calvin   (b. Abt 1881 - d. 15 May 1927)
Son of John Push (sic) and Lucy Bostick. Age 46 years