Helping Hand Cemetery

Aerial View

125th Anniversary Celebration

You are invited to attend

Helping Hand Cemetery’s Anniversary Ceremony

Featuring Our

“Telling Their Stories” Project

SATURDAY, MAY 28, 2022

9:00 – 12:00 Rawls Museum Arts

22376 Linden St. Courtland, VA 23837

12:00 – 1:00 Helping Hand Cemetery Tour

21448 Main St. (Rte. 35), Courtland, VA

1:00 – 2:30 Anniversary Meet and Greet Luncheon

Courtland Community Center 25499 Florence St. Courtland, VA

GUEST SPEAKERS

Ms. Ann Chinn - Middle Passage Ceremonies and Port Markers Project (MPCPMP)

Chief Lynette Allston - Nottoway Indian Tribe of Virginia

Mr. Elwood Cephus Stith-Southampton County Genealogist and Local Historian

COME OUT AND MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS, KIN, AND HONORED GUESTS…

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE HELPING HAND CEMETERY AND COURTLAND’S HISTORIC AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

PRESENTED BY THE HELPING HAND CEMETERY CLUB TRUSTEES

SPONSORED BY VIRGINIA HUMANITIES ` THE 400 YEARS COMMISSION ` VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HISTORIC RESOURCES ~ VA. Department of Forestry

For further information: Contact Alton Darden, helpinghand612@gmail.com

Limited space available. Please RSVP helpinghand612@gmail.com

*Covid-19 Safety Precautions will be followed.

Volunteer Cemetery Clean-up **March 26 & 27, 2022

Thanks to all the volunteers who came out to help us clean up for two days.

Volunteers came from Florida, Delaware, New York & North Carolina. Virginia was well represented with volunteers from Norfolk, Suffolk,Courtland and other Southampton County towns.

This cleanup project is in preparation for our 125th cemetery anniversary

in May when we will tell the history of the cemetery and the stories of the people who contributed to the success of the early black community of Courtland.

HHC Approved for Historical Marker

The Virginia Department of Historical Resources has approved our historical marker that denoted the establishment of the cemetery in 1897. The image that you see is a replica which will be viewed at our May 28th ceremony with the actual marker delivered in a few months.

Thanks to VDOT for coming and identifying the permanent spot for our marker.

Board members Bob Barnes and Dolores Peterson assisted the VDOT Representatives with the location.