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

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. Wade, Dicey   (b. Abt 1869 - d. 25 Jun 1918)
Age about 49 years
2. Wade, Henry   (b. Jun 1910 - d. 10 Sep 1911)
Age 1 year 3 months
3. Wade, Infant   (b. 5 Jan 1925 - d. 5 Jan 1925)
Child of Fannie Wade. Stillborn.
4. Wade, Lee   (b. 26 Jan 1928 - d. 26 Jan 1928)
Son of Leo Wade and Ethel McCray. Age 5 hours
5. Wade, Lonnie   (b. Abt 1907 - d. 9 Mar 1920)
Age 13 years
6. Wade, William   (b. Abt 1845 - d. 2 Jan 1925)
Age 80 years
7. Walden, Carrie   (b. Abt 1894 - d. 29 Dec 1915)
Single. Daughter of Samuel Walden and McKensie Hoskins Walden.
8. Walden, Lessie   (b. Abt 1895 - d. 15 Dec 1915)
Single. Daughter of Samuel Walden and McKensie Hoskins Walden.
9. Walker, Amelia J.   (b. Abt 1872 - d. 1 Sep 1908)
Age 36 years. 1st wife of T.V. Walker
10. Walker, Bessie   (b. Abt 1852 - d. 23 Sep 1910)
Age 58 years
11. Walker, Chestina   (b. Abt 1868 - d. 18 Jun 1923)
Age about 55 years
12. Walker, Elisha   (b. 1900 - d. 8 Nov 1918)
Age 18 years
13. Walker, Ellen   (b. Abt 1876 - d. 7 Dec 1918)
Age about 42 years
14. Walker, Fannie   (b. Abt 1871 - d. 6 Feb 1929)
Daughter of John Stephen and Martha A. Vanhook. Age 58 years
15. Walker, Geneva   (b. Abt 1895 - d. 3 Jan 1913)
Age 18 years
16. Walker, Infant   (b. 16 Jun 1910 - d. 16 Jun 1910)
Child of Robert Walker. Stillborn.
17. Walker, Infant   (b. 6 Apr 1924 - d. 6 Apr 1924)
18. Walker, Infant   (b. 10 Sep 1928 - d. 13 Sep 1928)
Son of Walter Walker and Fannie Thorp. Age 3 days
19. Walker, Infant   (b. Unknown - d. 15 Oct 1927)
Son of W.J. Walker and Fannie Thompson
20. Walker, Infant   (b. 23 Mar 1925 - d. 23 Mar 1925)
Child of Walter and Annie Walker. Premature.
21. Walker, Infant   (b. 2 May 1921 - d. 2 May 1921)
Child of William and Nora Walker. Stillborn.
22. Walker, Infant   (b. 8 Nov 1929 - d. 14 Nov 1929)
Child of Walter Walker and Fannie Thorp. Age 6 days
23. Walker, Jake   (b. Abt 1880 - d. 31 Jan 1928)
Son of Katie F. Lyons. Age 48 years
24. Walker, John   (b. 25 Dec 1918 - d. 25 Dec 1918)
Stillborn.
25. Walker, Laura O.   (b. Abt 1888 - d. 5 Mar 1923)
Age 34 years. 2nd wife of T.V. Walker
26. Walker, Lizzie   (b. 22 Nov 1886 - d. 9 Mar 1910)
Age 23 years. Another photo.
27. Walker, Lizzie   (b. Abt 1851 - d. 25 Jul 1911)
Age about 60 years
28. Walker, Phillis   (b. Abt 1854 - d. 6 Aug 1924)
Age 70 years
29. Walker, Richard   (b. Abt 1870 - d. 25 Apr 1930)
Age about 60 years
30. Walker, Robert   (b. Abt 1868 - d. 7 Apr 1920)
Age 52 years
31. Walker, Vernon   (b. Abt 1887 - d. 17 Nov 1911)
Age 24 years
32. Walker, William   (b. Abt 1868 - d. 6 Mar 1912)
Age about 44 years
33. Waller, Corinna   (b. Abt 1892 - d. 26 Jun 1920)
Age 28 years
34. Waller, Gertrude   (b. 26 Jun 1919 - d. 22 Jun 1922)
Age 3 years
35. Waller, Infant   (b. 21 May 1923 - d. 23 May 1923)
Child of Clara Waller. Age 2 days
36. Waller, Mary Jefferson   (b. 1916 - d. 21 Sep 1919)
Age 3 years
37. Warren, Annie   (b. Abt 1822 - d. 25 May 1919)
Age 97 years
38. Warren, Benjamin   (b. Abt 1872 - d. 15 Aug 1910)
Age 38 years
39. Warren, Ella   (b. Abt 1849 - d. 17 Apr 1914)
Age about 65 years
40. Warren, James   (b. 12 Mar 1852 - d. 28 Jul 1911)
Age 59 years 4 months 16 days. Closeup view of marker. - Another view.
41. Warren, Sandy   (b. Abt 1852 - d. 29 Feb 1904)
Age 52 years. 'In loving remembrance of our dear father'. Another view of marker.
42. Watkins, Lizzie Barbee   (b. Abt 1869 - d. 1 Feb 1920)
Age 51 years
43. Watson, Martha   (b. Abt 1887 - d. 23 Nov 1922)
Age about 35 years
44. Watson, Wilson   (b. Abt 1835 - d. 15 Nov 1911)
Age about 76 years
45. Watson, Zitphia   (b. Abt 1858 - d. 1 Dec 1925)
Age 67 years
46. Weaver, Annie   (b. Abt 1877 - d. 19 Sep 1917)
Age about 40 years
47. Weaver, Carrie   (b. Abt 1874 - d. 30 Apr 1918)
Age about 44 years
48. Weaver, David   (b. Abt 1841 - d. 12 Mar 1912)
Age 61 years
49. Weaver, Eugene   (b. Abt 1879 - d. 24 Sep 1921)
Age about 52 years
50. Weaver, Infant   (b. 10 Oct 1917 - d. 10 Oct 1917)
Stillborn.
51. Weaver, Isabella   (b. Abt 1862 - d. 30 Mar 1925)
Age 63 years
52. Weaver, Lillie L.   (b. Apr 1910 - d. 11 May 1910)
Age 1 month
53. Weaver, Sarah   (b. Abt 1872 - d. 18 Mar 1924)
Age 53 years
54. Weaver, Sarah   (b. Abt 1894 - d. 30 Nov 1921)
Age about 27 years
55. Webb, Amos   (b. Abt 1843 - d. 19 Dec 1913)
Age 70 years
56. Webb, Chester   (b. Abt 1881 - d. 21 Jan 1924)
Age 43 years
57. Webb, Connie Snipes   (b. Abt 1894 - d. 1 Jan 1933)
Wife of Robert Webb. Daughter of George Snipes and Mattilda Dunstan Snipes.
58. Webb, Frances   (b. Abt 1855 - d. 17 May 1913)
Age 57 years
59. Webb, Infant   (b. 28 May 1931 - d. 28 May 1931)
Son of Gemala Webb (illegitimate}. Stillborn.
60. Webb, Infant   (b. 12 Nov 1920 - d. 12 Nov 1920)
Stillborn.
61. Webb, Robert L.   (b. 1880 - d. 19 Feb 1920)
Age 40 years
62. Weldo, Geneva   (b. Aug 1912 - d. 16 Jun 1913)
Age 10 months
63. Wheeler, Hester   (b. Mar 1909 - d. 6 Jul 1911)
Age 1 year 4 months
64. White, Carl   (b. Jun 1922 - d. 30 Jan 1923)
Age 7 months
65. White, Claiborne   (b. Abt 1906 - d. 26 Apr 1926)
Age 20 years
66. White, Cora   (b. Abt 1897 - d. 10 Feb 1922)
Age about 25 years
67. White, Francis   (b. Abt 1860 - d. 8 Sep 1928)
Daughter of Smith Brandon and Mary E. Elliott. Age 68 years
68. White, Infant   (b. 26 Feb 1926 - d. 26 Feb 1926)
Child of Mary White. Premature.
69. White, Infant   (b. 5 Dec 1910 - d. 5 Dec 1910)
Child of Ike White. Stillborn.
70. White, Infant   (b. 7 May 1924 - d. 7 May 1924)
Stillborn.
71. White, John   (b. Abt 1851 - d. 18 Oct 1917)
Age about 66 years
72. White, Simeon   (b. Abt 1853 - d. 13 Apr 1923)
Age 70 years
73. White, Suzie   (b. 20 Apr 1921 - d. 4 May 1921)
Age 14 days
74. Whitefield, Lela M.   (b. Mar 1923 - d. 9 Jul 1923)
Age 4 months
75. Whitted, Infant   (b. 6 Dec 1919 - d. 11 Dec 1919)
Age 5 days
76. Whitted, Mirandy   (b. Abt 1879 - d. 1 Nov 1919)
Age about 40 years
77. Whitted, Pearlie M.   (b. Abt 1889 - d. 2 Jun 1918)
Age about 29 years
78. Whitted, William   (b. Abt 1881 - d. 3 Jul 1926)
Age about 45 years
79. Wiggens, Lillie   (b. Abt 1883 - d. 29 Apr 1926)
Age 43 years
80. Wigings, Mollie   (b. Abt 1886 - d. 28 Jan 1911)
Age 25 years
81. Wilder, Henderson   (b. Abt 1862 - d. 29 Jun 1927)
Son of Adeline Wilder. Age 65 years
82. Wilder, Maggie   (b. Abt 1884 - d. 13 Apr 1911)
Married. Daughter of Luke Nobles and Annette Avery Nobles.
83. Wiley, Gladys Marie   (b. 1 Aug 1927 - d. 3 Oct 1928)
Daughter of Jow Wiley and Pattie White. Age 1 year 2 months 3 days
84. Wilkerson, Addie   (b. Abt 1882 - d. 15 May 1910)
Age 28 years
85. Williams, Charlie   (b. Abt 1868 - d. 17 Mar 1919)
Age 51 years
86. Williams, Clarence   (b. Apr 1926 - d. 10 Dec 1926)
Age 8 months
87. Williams, Ed   (b. Abt 1882 - d. 15 Oct 1924)
Age 42 years
88. Williams, Ednorah   (b. Dec 1924 - d. 2 Jun 1925)
Age 6 months
89. Williams, Edward   (b. May 1924 - d. 2 Jun 1924)
Age 1 month
90. Williams, Edward   (b. Abt 1881 - d. 29 Oct 1921)
Age 40 years
91. Williams, Florence   (b. Abt 1881 - d. 16 Apr 1921)
Age 40 years
92. Williams, Geneva   (b. Abt 1893 - d. 9 Jul 1923)
Age 30 years
93. Williams, Henrietta   (b. Unknown - d. 4 Nov 1909)
94. Williams, Ida   (b. Abt 1871 - d. 20 Jan 1931)
Daughter of Charles Baird. Age 60 years
95. Williams, Infant   (b. 31 Jan 1928 - d. 31 Jan 1928)
Daughter of Clarence Washington and Nellie Williams. Stillborn.
96. Williams, Infant   (b. 24 Jan 1927 - d. 24 Jan 1927)
Son of Charlie Williams and Bertha Debos. Age 17 hours
97. Williams, Joseph   (b. 5 May 1893 - d. 6 Feb 1902)
Age 9 years. Suffer the little children ...
98. Williams, Lucy   (b. Abt 1852 - d. 2 Dec 1927)
Age 75 years
99. Williams, Lula   (b. Abt 1885 - d. 12 Feb 1925)
Age 40 years
100. Williams, Melvin   (b. Abt 1899 - d. 24 May 1919)
Age about 20 years
101. Williams, Rena   (b. Abt 1872 - d. 5 Jun 1912)
Age 40 years
102. Williams, Vernon T.   (b. 1 Jan 1928 - d. 3 May 1928)
Son of Rev. Vernon T. Williams and Nettie Brewington. Age 4 months 2 days
103. Williams, William Henry   (b. Jul 1920 - d. 7 Dec 1920)
Age 5 months
104. Williamson, Joseph   (b. 8 Jul 1913 - d. 12 Sep 1913)
Age 2 months
105. Williamson, Mary   (b. Abt 1891 - d. 6 Jul 1927)
Age 36 years
106. Williamson, Rufus   (b. Abt 1862 - d. 1 Feb 1911)
Age 48 years
107. Wills, Alice P.   (b. 28 Mar 1914 - d. 6 Jul 1914)
daughter of Edd and Olivia Wills. Another photo from February 2008.
108. Wills, Annie O.   (b. 8 Sep 1918 - d. 10 Sep 1918)
daughter of Edd and Olivia Wills. Another photo from February 2008.
109. Wills, Duncan   (b. 28 Mar 1914 - d. 24 Dec 1914)
son of Edd and Olivia Wills. Another photo from February 2008.
110. Wills, Eugene D.   (b. 10 Jul 1918 - d. 6 Oct 1918)
son of Edd and Olivia Wills. Another photo from February 2008.
111. Wills, Marion   (b. 25 Jun 1907 - d. 10 Mar 1908)
daughter of Edd and Olivia Wills. Another photo from February 2008.
112. Wills, Olivia   (b. 7 Dec 1896 - d. 8 Sep 1927)
Spouse - Edd Wills. Another photo from February 2008.
113. Wilson, Bessie   (b. Abt 1894 - d. 17 Feb 1911)
Age 17 years
114. Wilson, Emeline   (b. Abt 1849 - d. 16 Apr 1912)
Age 63 years
115. Wilson, Infant   (b. 22 Sep 1911 - d. 22 Sep 1911)
Child of Lee Wilson. Stillborn.
116. Wilson, Malinda   (b. Abt 1870 - d. 2 Feb 1927)
Daughter of Daniel Goodloe and Mariah Justice. Age 57 years
117. Wilson, Martha A.   (b. 1920 - d. 14 Feb 1921)
Age 1 year
118. Wilson, Sammie   (b. 1917 - d. 3 Aug 1918)
Age 1 year
119. Wilson, W. H.   (b. Nov 1865 - d. 30 May 1910)
Age 44 years
120. Winston, Fannie   (b. Abt 1848 - d. 28 Feb 1920)
Age 72 years. 'Gone but not forgotten'. Marker in 2020.
121. Winston, Fannie M.   (b. Abt 1907 - d. 12 Nov 1911)
Age 4 years
122. Winston, Thomas   (b. Abt 1899 - d. 27 Aug 1928)
Son of Joseph Winston. Age 29 years
123. Woodard, Infant   (b. 21 May 1923 - d. 21 May 1923)
Child of Henry Woodard.
124. Woods, Harry   (b. Abt 1884 - d. 5 Apr 1924)
Age 40 years
125. Worthy, Lottie Bell   (b. Abt 1905 - d. 10 Sep 1927)
Daughter of Prince Worthy and Annie McDonald. Age 22 years
126. Wright, Ernest   (b. Abt 1894 - d. 27 May 1920)
Age 26 years
127. Wright, Infant   (b. 2 Dec 1922 - d. 2 Dec 1922)
Stillborn.
128. Wyatt, Nathaniel   (b. 4 Oct 1923 - d. 20 Oct 1923)
Age 16 days
129. Wyche, William, Jr.   (b. 26 Apr 1927 - d. 10 May 1927)
Son of William Wyche, Sr. and Maude Jones. Age 15 days
130. Wyette, Jasper   (b. Dec 1922 - d. 20 May 1923)
Age 6 months