Univ. of Richmond Honors Enslaved Buried On Campus

By Rosaland Tyler
Associate Editor
New Journal and Guide

On April 19 and April 23, the University of Richmond held two ceremonies that honored enslaved Blacks who are buried and rest in cemeteries on land that became known as the University of Richmond in 1910.

“There is much that we do not know,” the Rev. Craig Kocher said at the recent memorial ceremony. “We do not know exactly how the people who lie here came to be here. We do not know the specifics of their life stories. We do not even know their exact names. Yet, there is much that we do know. We know that they were human beings, people of sacred worth, who loved and grieved and dreamed and hoped as we do.”

The University of Richmond’s Black cemetery experienced changes long before it was recognized as an official burial site for enslaved Blacks who built the school. Records show the road leading to the cemetery was widened in 1947. Two graves were broken into by workers and their remains were reburied at a nearby university site. In the mid-1950s, the University of Richmond encountered a “series of graves” while upgrading steam tunnels at the site. Those remains were later reburied at an unknown location by the school.

“Clearly, there was a level of disrespect there,” said Devon Henry, CEO of Team Henry Enterprises, the firm that oversaw the memorial’s construction. “So to see that move forward today, where you have this beautiful symbol of remembrance and reflection – and for that to be done in a very thoughtful and meaningful way – it just means so much for me and my team to be the people to be able to bring it to life.”