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

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. Sanders, Monroe   (b. Jul 1923 - d. 24 Sep 1923)
Age 2 months
2. Sanford, Adolphus   (b. Abt 1902 - d. 7 Nov 1928)
Son of Tom Sanford and Carrie Barnes. Age 26 years
3. Sanford, Cedar Belle   (b. 25 Feb 1909 - d. 1 Jul 1910)
Age 1 year 4 months
4. Satterfield, Chesley   (b. Abt 1867 - d. 21 Oct 1917)
Age about 50 years
5. Satterfield, Penny   (b. Abt 1881 - d. 27 May 1922)
Age 41 years
6. Sattifield, Agnes   (b. Abt 1864 - d. 28 Aug 1932)
Age about 68 years
7. Saubee, Samuel   (b. 15 Mar 1872 - d. 9 May 1928)
Age 56 years. 'O Death where is thy sting. Grave where is thy victory?'
8. Savoid, Robert   (b. Abt 1872 - d. 2 Feb 1928)
Son of Ruffin Savoid and Henrietta Mills. Age 56 years
9. Scarbrough, Infant   (b. 19 May 1928 - d. 19 May 1928)
Son of Arthur Scarbrough and Vera Chaplin. Stillborn.
10. Scott, Ella   (b. Unknown - d. 4 Nov 1911)
Age unknown.
11. Scott, Infant   (b. 16 Jul 1922 - d. 16 Jul 1922)
Child of Wheeler? or Scott? Stillborn.
12. Scott, Lela   (b. Abt 1897 - d. 16 Feb 1920)
Age about 22 years
13. Sears, Dora (Mrs)   (b. Abt 1874 - d. 4 Nov 1917)
Age about 43 years
14. Sellars, Walker King   (b. Feb 1926 - d. 10 Mar 1926)
Age 21 days
15. Sellers, Julia   (b. Abt 1867 - d. 29 Nov 1917)
Age about 50 years
16. Sellers, Minnie   (b. Abt 1888 - d. 24 Nov 1918)
Age about 30 years. Died from flu.
17. Selma, Robert   (b. Abt 1868 - d. 16 May 1920)
Age 52 years
18. Settle, Dora   (b. Abt 1883 - d. 16 Aug 1911)
Age about 28 years
19. Shanklin, William   (b. 1928 - d. 9 Jul 1930)
Son of William and Leola Shanklin. Age 2 years
20. Sharp, Infant   (b. 16 Jul 1928 - d. 16 Jul 1928)
Son of John Lane and Nellie B. Sharp. Stillborn.
21. Shaw, Asbury A.   (b. 19 Jul 1888 - d. 30 Sep 1907)
Son of R.M. Shaw and Mary Shaw.
22. Shaw, Mary   (b. Abt 1865 - d. 7 Aug 1917)
Age about 52 years. Wife of R.M. Shaw.
23. Shearin, Gussie B.   (b. 29 May 1879 - d. 3 Feb 1922)
Wife of W. Henry Shearin. Daughter of Haywood Beverly and Amanda Myers Beverly. "At Rest"
24. Shearin, William Henry   (b. Abt 1870 - d. 22 Feb 1934)
Husband of Augusta Gussie Graham Beverley. Son of Haywood Shearin and Betsy Twitty Shearin.
25. Shepard, Annie   (b. Abt 1883 - d. 24 Sep 1920)
Age 37 years
26. Shepard, Augustus, Rev. Dr.   (b. 2 Feb 1847 - d. 18 Nov 1911)
Husband of Hattie E. Whitted Shepard. Father of James Edward Shepard, founder of NCCU. Served as pastor of White Rock Baptist Church from 1901 to 1911. Founded what is now Oxford Central Orphanage, Oxford, NC.
27. Shepard, John   (b. Abt 1906 - d. 18 Jun 1910)
Age 4 years
28. Short, Esau   (b. Abt 1871 - d. 2 Dec 1926)
Age about 55 years
29. Simmons, Grace L.   (b. 27 Nov 1922 - d. 13 Dec 1922)
Age 16 days
30. Simmons, Lucy   (b. Abt 1866 - d. 21 Mar 1931)
Daughter of Reuben Bailey and Katie Ragley. Age 65 years
31. Simmons, Maggie   (b. 5 Aug 1910 - d. 29 Jun 1911)
Age 10 months
32. Simmons, S. A., Rev.   (b. Abt 1864 - d. 3 Sep 1914)
Age 50 years. 'Now his labor's done! Now, now the goal is won.'
33. Simmons, Thomas   (b. Abt 1893 - d. 1 Jun 1912)
Age 19 years
34. Simms, Albert   (b. 1910 - d. 10 Jan 1912)
Age 2 years
35. Simms, Cora Whitfield.   (b. Abt 1883 - d. 3 May 1911)
Widowed. Daughter of Harvey Whitfield and Sophia Ellison Whitfield.
36. Sleight, Eveline   (b. Mar 1927 - d. 12 Aug 1927)
Daughter of Oran Sleigh[t] and Blanch McClay. Age 5 months
37. Smith, Annie M.   (b. Abt 1893 - d. 15 Jan 1915)
Single. Daughter of William Smith and Mary McCown Smith.
38. Smith, Ara   (b. Oct 1922 - d. 1 Jan 1923)
Age 2 months 16 days
39. Smith, Bill   (b. 1865 - d. 27 Feb 1919)
Age 54 years
40. Smith, Erma   (b. Abt 1891 - d. 24 Nov 1919)
Age 28 years
41. Smith, Irene   (b. 24 Aug 1910 - d. 30 Nov 1910)
Age 3 months
42. Smith, Janet Ruth   (b. 5 Jan 1928 - d. 6 Mar 1928)
Daughter of James P. Smith and Mattie G. Powell. Age 2 months 1 day
43. Smith, John   (b. Abt 1852 - d. 21 Aug 1922)
Age 70 years
44. Smith, Lois E.   (b. Mar 1920 - d. 23 Jan 1921)
Age 10 months 22 days
45. Smith, Lonnie   (b. Abt 1889 - d. 21 Sep 1919)
Age about 30 years
46. Smith, Marvin   (b. Dec 1925 - d. 4 May 1926)
Age 4 months 14 days
47. Smith, Mary   (b. Mar 1924 - d. 7 Apr 1924)
Age 1 month
48. Smith, Mary   (b. Abt 1874 - d. 4 Nov 1919)
Age 45 years
49. Smith, Peter   (b. Abt 1865 - d. 11 Jun 1928)
Son of Peter and Cellie Smith. Age 63 years
50. Smith, Samuel   (b. Abt 1886 - d. 31 Aug 1923)
Age 37 years
51. Smith, Turner   (b. Abt 1900 - d. 1 Feb 1932)
Age 31 years
52. Smith, William O.   (b. Abt 1869 - d. 20 Oct 1931)
Son of John Smith and Catherine Joyce. Age 62 years
53. Sneed, Bryant   (b. Abt 1874 - d. 28 Jan 1915)
Widowed. Son of Sydney Sneed. Drayman by trade.
54. Sneed, Eva   (b. Abt 1868 - d. 13 Dec 1911)
Age 43 years
55. Sneed, Marrisa   (b. Abt 1822 - d. 2 Jul 1919)
Age 97 years
56. Snipes, Annie   (b. Abt 1885 - d. 14 Mar 1910)
Age 25 years
57. Snipes, Nannie   (b. 16 Apr 1913 - d. 16 Apr 1913)
Infant.
58. Southerland, Edgar, Jr.   (b. Abt 1910 - d. 31 Jan 1930)
Son of Edgar Southerland and Laura McDade. Age 20 years
59. Sovoery, David   (b. Abt 1893 - d. 10 Jan 1911)
Age 18 years
60. Sowell, David   (b. Abt 1885 - d. 14 Feb 1917)
Age 62 years
61. Sowell, Infant   (b. 15 Jul 1910 - d. 16 Jul 1910)
Child of Mary Sowell. Age 1 day
62. Sowell, Joseph   (b. Abt 1878 - d. 16 Sep 1930)
Son of Lemuel Sowell and Katie Sparkman. Age 52 years
63. Sparkman, Burrel   (b. Abt 1865 - d. 21 Jan 1911)
Age 46 years
64. Sparkman, Graham   (b. Abt 1880 - d. 11 Apr 1931)
Son of Harry and Emily Sparkman. Age 51 years
65. Sparkman, Jessie   (b. Abt 1893 - d. 26 Nov 1915)
Single. Daughter of Burl Sparkman and Amanda Bumpass Sparkman.
66. Sparkman, Mary   (b. Unknown - d. 26 Mar 1915)
"by Mr. and Mrs. B. N. Duke, whom she served faithfully." Another view of marker.
67. Sparkman, Ritta   (b. Abt 1890 - d. 28 Jul 1912)
Age 22 years
68. Spence, Florence Johnson   (b. Abt 1897 - d. 9 Jun 1915)
Married. Daughter of George Johnson and Carolina Trice Johnson.
69. Spencer, Florence   (b. 31 Mar 1870 - d. 1 Oct 1918)
70. Spencer, Maggie   (b. Abt 1854 - d. 9 Jan 1927)
Age 73 years
71. Spenson, James   (b. Jan 1924 - d. 4 Jul 1924)
Age 6 months
72. Splann, Othis   (b. Abt 1893 - d. 30 Sep 1928)
Age 35 years
73. Springs, Arthur   (b. Abt 1883 - d. 2 Feb 1928)
Son of Simon and Schannie Springs. Age 45 years
74. Stallings, Addie Stamps   (b. 3 Oct 1889 - d. 28 Jul 1916)
Age 27 years. Daughter of Mrs. Lula Stamps. 'Asleep in Jesus'. Another photo from February 2008.
75. Stamps, Lula   (b. Abt 1877 - d. 20 Oct 1919)
Age about 42 years
76. Stanfield, Evelyn   (b. Abt 1871 - d. 7 Feb 1925)
Age 54 years
77. Stanfield, Richard   (b. Abt 1863 - d. 8 Mar 1921)
Age 58 years
78. Stanley, Thomas   (b. Abt 1880 - d. 17 Feb 1910)
Age 30 years
79. Starks, Jennie   (b. Abt 1881 - d. 24 Apr 1923)
Age 42 years
80. Starks, John   (b. Abt 1885 - d. 30 Aug 1925)
Age 40 years
81. Steele, Infant   (b. 15 Jul 1925 - d. 15 Jul 1925)
Premature.
82. Stephens, William   (b. 18 Feb 1923 - d. 28 Feb 1923)
Age 10 days
83. Steven, Infant   (b. 25 Jul 1911 - d. 1 Aug 1911)
Child of King Steven. Age 7 days
84. Stewart, Infant   (b. 15 May 1930 - d. 15 May 1930)
Son of William Stewart and Mary Herndon. Stillborn.
85. Stewart, Infant   (b. 25 Dec 1924 - d. 25 Dec 1924)
Stillborn.
86. Stone, Catherine   (b. 29 Mar 1920 - d. 29 Oct 1920)
Age 7 months
87. Strayhorn, Mary   (b. Abt 1821 - d. 20 Feb 1915)
Age 93 years. (Fallen tombstone)
88. Street, Agness   (b. Unknown - d. 1 Sep 1934)
Base of marker from February 2008.
89. Street, Alex   (b. Abt 1868 - d. 25 Nov 1928)
Age 60 years
90. Street, Clarence W.   (b. Abt 1899 - d. 26 Jun 1916)
Age 17 years. 'God gave, he took, he will restore. He doeth all things well.' Based of monument. Another photo from February 2008.
91. Street, Katie   (b. Abt 1829 - d. 15 May 1921)
Age 92 years
92. Street, Millie Roberts   (b. Abt 1870 - d. 24 Oct 1915)
Married. Daughter of John Roberts and Eva Lockhart Roberts.
93. Strickland, Nellie   (b. Abt 1878 - d. 11 Jan 1923)
Age about 45 years
94. Stroud, Bella   (b. Abt 1861 - d. 21 Aug 1918)
Age about 57 years
95. Stroud, Catherine Banks   (b. Abt 1901 - d. 15 Jan 1935)
Wife of George Stroud. Daughter of Ben Banks and Maggie Shaw Banks.
96. Stroud, Emiline   (b. Abt 1872 - d. 18 Jul 1922)
Age about 50 years
97. Stroud, Emma   (b. Abt 1891 - d. 28 May 1911)
Single. Daughter of Henry Stroud and Polly Mason Stroud.
98. Stroud, Horace   (b. Abt 1889 - d. 7 Apr 1919)
Age 29 years
99. Stroud, Infant   (b. 22 Aug 1920 - d. 22 Aug 1920)
Child of Horace and Bertha Stroud. Stillborn.
100. Strowd, Gracie   (b. 1 Dec 1915 - d. 6 Feb 1916)
Age 1 month
101. Strudwick, Amos   (b. Abt 1859 - d. 20 Dec 1921)
Age 62 years
102. Strudwick, Arranna Stanly   (b. 1852 - d. 14 May 1924)
Age 72 years. Wife of Henry Strudwick. Daughter of William Stanly and Judie Stanly. Another view. - Plot view.
103. Strudwick, Henry   (b. 1848 - d. 20 Jul 1924)
Age 76 years. Husband of Arranna Strudwick. Son of Jack Strudwick and Ester Cain Strudwick. - Plot view.
104. Strudwick, Infant   (b. 5 May 1910 - d. 5 May 1910)
Child of Frank Strudwick. Stillborn.
105. Strudwick, James   (b. Abt 1873 - d. 16 Dec 1933)
Age 60. Single. Son of Roman Strudwick and Lizzie Lowen Strudwick.
106. Strudwick, Lizzie   (b. Abt 1854 - d. 27 Dec 1924)
Age 70 years. Widowed. Wife of Roman Strudwick.
107. Strudwick, William C.   (b. Abt 1884 - d. 2 Jan 1932)
Age about 48 years. Husband of Mabel Strudwick. Son of Henry Strudwick and Arranna Stanly Strudwick.
108. Sturdevant, Mary   (b. Abt 1899 - d. 23 Jul 1917)
Age 18 years
109. Suitt, Essie   (b. Abt 1904 - d. 2 Nov 1923)
Age 19 years
110. Swain, Jasper   (b. Abt 1876 - d. 4 Mar 1911)
Married. Age 34.
111. Swan, Daphia   (b. 19 Jun 1924 - d. 20 Jun 1924)
Age 1 day
112. Swan, Infant   (b. 17 May 1923 - d. 17 May 1923)
Child of Luther Swan.
113. Swann, Fannie   (b. Abt 1885 - d. 26 Feb 1921)
Age 36 years
114. Sweezy, Eugene   (b. Abt 1920 - d. 28 Feb 1923)
Age 3 years
115. Swepson, Commilels   (b. 1841 - d. 1918)
Age 88 years.
116. Swepson, Ida   (b. Abt 1868 - d. 15 Mar 1928)
Age 60 years