OBERLIN VILLAGE CEMETERY
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Background Information:
This 142 year old cemetery was established as a final resting place for members of the Oberlin Village community. Oberlin Village was an African American community that was founded by James E. Harris, a former slave who relocated to Raleigh after having attended Oberlin University in Ohio. He named the Village after the university that he attended because of it staunch opposition to the institution of slavery.
Over the years, the cemetery appears to have been forgotten by most. Many of the graves have blank headstones or epitaphs that are so old the inscription is unrecognizable.
There are a few modern headstones, one as recently as 2002.
One must navigate the cemetery with caution as there are sunken headstones and sunken graves throughout the 3 acres. Today this graveyard appears dilapidated and is very much in need of maintenance and repairs. Tombstones are pushed over, cracked and broken, and there is debris such as glass bottles scattered about the forgotten graves.
The one bench that is there for visitors leans over, the only thing holding is in place is a yellow chain that attaches the leg of the bench to a pine tree.