Staunton, va. (WHSV) – Fairview Cemetery is Staunton's largest African -American cemetery, and the restoration work is underway in a historic house on the property.
Susie King, the project manager of the Fairview Cemetery and President of the African American Research Society from Staunton-Augusta County, said this was one of the largest African American cemeteries in Virginia. The Shea House on the Fairview Cemetery was built in 1871 and was originally owned by Edward Shea. Now the Mount Zion Baptist Church and the Augusta Street United Methodist Church have the property.
“We founded a community committee,” said King. “We have been working on it since August 2023.”
King said the foundation and the house had been cleaned, but there is more work. The estimated costs of the restoration project are 200,000 US dollars and will be completed in four phases. On June 28th there will be a “season for Shea”, King added.
King said she enjoyed seeing the progress in the house. Ilia Desjardin, event planner in the Shea House Restoration Committee, said that things still have a lot to do.
“It's nice that the community crept in,” said Desjardin. “I think it will be fantastic when it's done.”
Tampa Stuart, pastor of the Mount Zion Baptist Church, said when she found out about the project, she found it properly.
“I remember the people who lived here and when she had the idea of using her for the cemetery, I thought it was great,” said Stuart. “There are many people who don't know exactly where their loved ones are buried.”
After the fundraiser, said King, the work inside the house is done.
“We go back two or three, maybe four generations and return to the 1800s that you can find your loved ones from,” said King.
The donation goal of the event is around 5,000 US dollars, and King said that the support of the community has so far been beautiful. The event begins on Saturday, June 28th, at 8:00 a.m. at the Staunton High School.
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