District No. 13 of South Carolina Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in America Helps with Historic Cemetery Clean-up

District No. 13 of South Carolina Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in America                             Helps with Historic Cemetery Clean-up

On Saturday, August 17, The Darlington Memorial Cemetery Association lead by Mr. Joel Dargan and with the assistant of Darlington City Council Woman Sheila Baccus had organized a historic cemetery community clean-up day for the Darlington Memorial Cemetery that is located within her Ward, on D Avenue in Darlington, South Carolina.

The Darlington Memorial Cemetery is listed as one of the oldest and largest private burial sites in the Pee Dee region, as it is known to contain over 1,900 interments both marked and unmarked. It was established in late nineteenth century as an African American cemetery by the descendants of Macedonia Baptist Church, Bethel AME Church, and St. James Methodist Church on just 5 acres in 1890 which now covers 13 acres. The Darlington Memorial Cemetery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as it has served as the only African American cemetery within the city limits of Darlington until 1946.

The Darlington Memorial Cemetery Association sent out a S.O.S to all cemetery family members, groups, fraternal Orders which several of the members of District No. 13 of South Carolina Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in America answered the call to service.

Doing the clean-up there were family members who sought out their long-forgotten family graves, veterans came out up to four days to try to restore some of the veterans’ plots who have fought in Confederate States of America Army, the Spanish American War, World War I and II, Korean War, Vietnam War, and every other war or conflict in which American troops have fount and died in.

For the members of the District No. 13 of South Carolina Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in America it was even more special day as by accident found some of graves  of our members of our Order. Just as the work began, we also came across one of state past leaders Rev. Isaac .P. Brockington, founder of Macedonia Baptist Church. His monuments in the cemetery stands as pillar to mark his grave.  Rev. Isaac .P. Brockington was also the founder of the Knights of Pythias in the Darlington as well as, and Mason.

Following the success of this clean-up the Darlington Memorial Cemetery Association and  Darlington City Council Woman Sheila Baccus has scheduled the next clean-up to be October 19, 2019 starting at 6:30 am.

With no one government organization having jurisdiction over the cemetery. The Darlington Memorial Cemetery Association needs our support as it also is soliciting donations to fund the ongoing maintenance needs of the property to assist in the saving of this historic cemetery. District Grand Lodge No. 13 of South Carolina Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in America is asking all to send kind of donations financial domination or other items that can help upkeep this historic landmark to the Darlington Memorial Cemetery.

For information or questions on how you can get involved with this project, call Darlington City Council Woman Sheila Baccus at 843-307-2287 or email shelabig@yahoo.com