Sad and Creepy Open Grave In Forgotten African American Cemetery

In this Adventures Into History video, Cecil and I continue our exploration of Marion County, Georgia's forgotten cemeteries. This time, we encounter a deeply disturbing sight in an old African American cemetery: a grave that has been busted open due to vandalism.
While our aim is never to focus on the morbid or creepy aspects of cemeteries, this is an unsettling and distressing discovery. This cemetery was once the site of a church, now long vanished except for a few small pieces of debris and the old back steps that once led into the church.
Documenting these sites is crucial-not only to preserve their history but also to raise awareness about the vandalism and destruction that tragically occur in these sacred grounds. Join us as we uncover and document the stories of these forgotten cemeteries, shedding light on both their historical significance and the importance of protecting them.

[@AdventuresIntoHistory]

Documenting these sites is crucial-not only to preserve their history but also to raise awareness about the vandalism and destruction that tragically occur in these sacred grounds. Part 3 of a Marion Co Georgia cemetery tour Cecil and I did. Tip Jar For Gas: www.paypal.me/rwrightphotography Follow me on my old farm: kzbin.info/door/56vh2L-M0czmoTRLhSMaxg eBay Shop: www.ebay.com/usr/oldbyrdfarm Join The Official Sidestep Adventures Fan Group: facebook.com/groups/561758371276581/?ref=share_group_link My flashlight link: www.olightstore.com/s/UPTJSG Save 10 percent: SAIH10 (not valid on sales items and X9R) Mail: Sidestep Adventures PO BOX 206 Waverly Hall, Georgia 31831

[@idamcmullen6114]

😢

[@I-canMakeTheGlobeShift]

"Black American" cemetery.. Come on by now. Get it right y'all!..

[@SondraD7676]

I agree, sad number one, more shameful then creepy in that someone would break the crypt open and then throw trash in it. If one does not respect the dead, there is no respect for the living. Beyond the negative, the cacti blooming bring beauty to this forgotten place. I hope these people have found peace on the other side. Thank you Cecil, and always, Thank you, Robert. You bring to the world encouragement with your belief in what you do, your warm heart and caring ways. You always make the videos special and well worth the watch. 👍👍❣❣

[@AdventuresIntoHistory]

Well said!

[@Carolina_Tripping]

People are the worst.

[@brandysellers1445]

I lived down that dirt road for years and always went up to that graveyard to try to get some of it cleared out as much as I could. The local inmates at the jail would come out maybe once every 2 years to get it cut back as much as they could. I believe the grave was busted open after an inmate tripped and dropped a weed eater on it. After that it has slowly gotten worse after storms come through and time passes. Thank you for making a video about this little forgotten cemetery and church down an old dirt road in marion county Georgia. I always called them "the stairs to nowhere". Also from time to time I would see a woman at one of thr children's graves placing teddy bears and things for them. I'm almost certain that one of the bears that woman left for a child she knew and loved was probably blown into the busted grave unintentionally by a storm. I've never seen anyone up there doing anything malicious and disrespectful. Besides the county not properly maintaining the cemetery like they should.

[@wandadorsey8895]

Thank you for sharing the information you remembered. Surely there are some relatives left alive that have more information on this cemetery. It sure would be nice to know more about this cemetery and the church.

[@cindywomack2789]

Tell Cecil that we sure appreciate him and what he does! Thanks for sharing!!

[@karenwright9123]

I hope whoever smashed that grave open has burning ears right now,shame on them!!! People can really do some strange things..there's just no purpose to such destruction. I liked the pretty cactus flowers,they add a sweet touch. Thank you,Robert and Cecil ,for your heartfelt kindness on behalf of all those who can no longer speak for themselves. ❣💯

[@SolarEclips86]

Someone above says it happend due to a worker falling dropping a weed eater on it so my guess it was something he was not trying to do but it never got fixed.

[@marypettitt9150]

Robert and Cecil, you two sure make a good team for finding, exploring and recording lost cemeteries in Marion County, GA.

[@Lorriann63]

The open grave and stairs were a bit creepy, but more sad that it's let go to what it is. I'm curious to what happened to the church. The graveyard was active up to the 80s. Thank you Robert and Cecil for all your caring and work.

[@spacehonky6315]

The last burials i noticed were 1997 and 2001.

[@XRoyalStampedeX]

The church must've been torn down between the 80s and early 2000s is my best guess.

[@brandysellers1445]

I used to live down that dirt road for about 10 years and from what I was told the church burned down a couple decades ago and was never rebuilt.

[@sluggytube]

That whole section of hand-inscribed children’s graves 😭💔💔😭 It’s like you can picture the person writing the stones and their grief is being etched into the very stone 😭💔

[@AdventuresIntoHistory]

Yes

[@kathysmith4274]

Cecil is masterful with his talents in finding out history and hidden figures. Great job sir ❤

[@IOSARBX]

Sidestep: Adventures Into History, This is fantastic! I subscribed right away!

[@cindys.9688]

Welcome! 🙂

[@robmcelwee389]

I cleaned up a cemetery like that back in 1992 as my first job and took care of it for the next 26 years until i was fired by the new trustees. They took the money and abandoned it again. The cacti is Opuntia compressa.

[@AdventuresIntoHistory]

That’s sad

[@robmcelwee389]

@AdventuresIntoHistory It is called the Howe Cemetery. I wrote the names of those buried there down. Not as old as some of your cemeteries. Dickson, E. B. February 23, 1856 - March 15, 1917, shares marker with Ella P. Dickson, Ella P. Routon February 4, 1861 - January 17, 1940 Wife of E. B. Dickson Dickson, Jessie James August 24, 1888 - July 3, 1908 Dickson, Bertha Mae December 18, 1900 - June 28, 1901 Dickson, Pinkton November 21, 1896 - November 21, 1896 Dickson, Carrie * March 18, 1889 - June 13, 1889 Dickson, Theodore E. * October 11, 1878 - April 13, 1886 Dickson, Dottie E. * November 18, 1879 - February 22, 1881 Jones, Bernice * November 5, 1893 - August 17, 1898 Daughter of A. F. and R. A. Jones Hammett, R. R. April 25, 1858 - September 3, 1883 Husband of E. M. Hammett Unknown Unknown Jones, Keet August 25, 1907 - September 17, 1907 Taylor, Mary Nora March 18, 1857 - June 6, 1925 Unknown Howe Double Marker Howe, Judie A. Stone April 2, 1835 - September 17, 1908 Howe, Ebenezer B. August 9, 1815 - Janurary 16, 1874 Unknown Jones, Bernice November 5, 1895 - August 17, 1898 Taylor, Enas March 1851 - December 30, 1878 Tombstones marked with asterisks were replaced after vandalism.

[@brendahogue5487]

Love your videos and enjoy watching them. May the lord bless and protect you Robert and Cecil and bringing out the past history

[@wendyhenschel.]

Why is it that a beautiful state like Georgia has no problem with throwing Cemetary's away? It is so sad to see so many lost graves and Cemetaries overgrown to the point no one knows they exist. Sad part about this one is it is full of people who have died within at least 50 years. Heck that one at 2001 is just sad. I go to my grams grave regular and planted flowers on it in her memory as she loved flowers. Our Cemetaries are well maintained up here. new and old. No one is forgotten or lost.

[@debrafricano1486]

Such a sad state for a cemetery that has graves that are not so old. The vandalism is maddening.

[@catwoman2596]

⚫ culture...They're convinced that they're victims. Brainwashed by social media and forgetting their roots.

[@nadineveitch5837]

Always amazes me how quickly things can disappear back to the forest. Would be really interesting to find out how long that church has been gone, and barely a trace.

[@trudychartrand3585]

Cecil your so amazing. I find these so interesting. Thank you for what you do . Also to Robert thank you for videoing them. Your so passionate about what you do.

[@spacehonky6315]

Lets not conclude that vandals are responsible for the decaying grave lid. I'm guessing concrete is an excellent very cheap option in Georgia weather. Unfortunately, concrete poured that thin with no rebar or wire will eventually crack and fail. The stuffed animal could have come from any of the other graves, especially since living relatives of the woman buried in 2001 certainly exist.

[@AdventuresIntoHistory]

Welllll….. the folks Cecil busted out there messing with that very grave draw a pretty good conclusion…

[@joshuabeatty7406]

Where's the other Robert been ? Hope all is well 🙏

[@AdventuresIntoHistory]

He’s well!

[@lisawelch8197]

Thanks, Cecil, for all your hard work.

[@pdm1942]

That top on the damaged gravesite is very thin and may have been just stepped on and broken or maybe vandals but may also be fixed quite easily by removing the remaining of the concrete top and remove the objects from the water and then pump or bail out the water from the grave and refill with gravel or dirt . The headstone is in good condition, and the name is there and a relative may even be located locally just by chance , but not likely. That grave cover was not a good design for sure , but it has been there a very long time .

[@leannemossop]

Robert and Cecil, I’m sitting here all the way in Australia and I can’t believe what you found. I so enjoyed your clips. Thank you Leanne

[@monikameza4107]

Thank you both for sharing this cemetery. I really appreciate for all you do. ❤

[@sherrilee230]

Thank you boys for sharing that and watch out for those cactuses boy they can really mess you up

[@donnal.oglesby4806]

Good to see so many that are acutally marked graves, but so sad to see that one mans grave so distroyed, and trash just thrown in it, as if the person laying there had no meaning. Such disrespect is sickening.

[@Eldarwen999]

Hopefully the someone in the community could take an interest and start cleaning up the cemetery and maintain it. There are so many cemeteries that have been abandoned all over the US and across the globe. Grave Visitations and Serenity Sue go all over Ireland for these cemeteries.

[@GracieFleury-59]

It would be nice if somebody would clean it up and fix the broken grave🥲

[@debbieblaylock9997]

That is so sad.and shameful. Love your videos

[@ninaellyson814]

Thanks Cecil and Robert!!

[@cclyon]

I nearly fell into an unmarked grave today that was collapsing into itself. There were several like that in the cemetery and indentations in the soil here aren't as easy to notice as I'm used to. I love your graveyard videos.:)

[@sheilam4964]

Thx guys for doing this, filming it and sharing it with us.

[@diankelly6689]

Even as a youth we hung out in our local cemeteries and never once did anyone disrespect the stones. Our revolutionary cemetery they had open vault its creepy for sure. I think that they planned to take over it for a development and I think that they will be in for a surprise.

[@cherylradabaugh2720]

They've got the birds chirping to bring some nature to that old cemetery.

[@barbaraharshman9460]

So sad 😢 thank you Robert and Cycle

[@kepperMN]

Thanks!

[@AdventuresIntoHistory]

Thank YOU!

[@crbr1432000]

Bless you both Cecil and Robert for what you do. It's amazing the time and energy that you put into those that shouldn't be forgotten.

[@howardwest1347]

Iits surprising how some cemeteries are so spread out and in no order that makes any sense. Very random.

[@frankscarborough1428]

Enjoyed thanks Robert and Cecil. Awful that people desecrate cemeteries and graves

[@Melissa-pt2ik]

Thank you Cecil and Robert for sharing this

[@user-ki2je2di6i]

Wonder what they think hearing their names spoken out loud ,maybe got the first time in many years?

[@user-qg4cf5yg8z]

Thank-you, Robert and Cecil. Kate from OZ.

[@sharonthomas865]

Thank you Robert and Cecil

[@marcbrunson6986]

2001? That short time and it's grown up that bad? I'm one of those where the previous decade should still be the 80s ha ha. It's disgraceful people were putting trash in the open vault grave. More props to Cecil for finding these.

[@janefinley-english1051]

Thanks for the tour. Always wonder why some graves have no inscription.

[@AdventuresIntoHistory]

Yes, they probably could not afford and did the best they could

[@chicochi3]

Most unmarked graves are because the family didn't have the money. There is an old family plot up the road from me dating from the 1850's. All of the graves are marked with field stones except Mom. She has a beautiful professionally made headstone made in 1859.

[@thomascramer7485]

Good job again guys always interesting,who else would or could do this.

[@lisahatchett6125]

I live in KY, I can’t help but wonder if a related to anyone in the cemeteries you visit. Thank you for all you do. 😢💓

[@nancysimpson4246]

I really enjoyed this video. It was very very interesting. I like these kind of videos going back in time. Documenting things thank you for this video.

[@charlesthrawley5092]

Great video! Our family is new to south ga, just moved to Nashville off Mudd Creek RD. Its difficult finding much history on the area due to previous fires that destroyed records. So i really appreciate your digging into history

[@MillerMeteor74]

Very interesting. I enjoyed seeing the cactus and other things, like we have. It looked the like there was a lot of reindeer lichen there, which is common here. I just posted a bunch of pictures from one of our local cemeteries to the fan group.

[@debracole6587]

I will never understand why people - and I the word loosely - feel the need to vandalize gravesites and disrespect the dead. There needs to be stiffer penalties for these crimes

[@kentuckylady2990]

Very interesting.

[@dinaruiz52876]

This is why I want to be cremated . I don’t want to be bury and then have the land forgotten about. If I’m going to be reclaimed by nature then I’d rather be one with it when my ashes are spread. God bless each of these souls buried 🕊️

[@mannyortiz4814]

Robert,Cecil my cemetery explorers. It is sad that someone would destroy a grave. The plush toy makes me think it was a gift when new. So many graves in a forgotten cemetery. Those blessed lives nearly lost in a field of dreams. Robert you are guardian Angel, you and Cecil both. Until next time. Please, take care and stay safe. Love ya 🍺🍺😇🕊🇺🇸🌞👍🌹🌈❤️🙏

[@carrieann1640]

Seeing the scrub oaks was interesting - glad you gave an explanation.

[@howardwest1347]

I wonder why they went to the trouble of pouring the concrete but not putting any name on the grave?

[@AdventuresIntoHistory]

A lot of those are probably either the tops of vaults or a premade cap for the grave

[@ameliatoreson1590]

It would be nice to find a group of people that would go there and restore the cemetery. It’s very disrespectful to leave it like it is . Those people are part of someone’s family

[@cliffordtimpson9842]

I would like to say thank you for all you do. I was able to make family connection through one of your video, with The Hand Family!

[@dorenedaniels7493]

This is so very sad and I feel bad about the one, if I had the money I would get a new one to put back on it. God bless you both 🙏❤️

[@n.storey2390]

You guys are awesome !! I enjoy watching your videos. What was the name of the church and cemetery in this video ?

[@patriciaenriquez9062]

Thks Cecil!

[@sarahquinn5218]

I did find the name of this small cemetery.I did not want to publish this for fear of vandalism. What beautiful music must have once come from here.

[@royals24u]

Georgia has so much history. It's awesome. (I'm from Canada and I love American history)

[@MrsSajberry3]

I've really enjoyed watching some of your videos. I can't always watch the longer ones and my ancestors were in the counties surrounding Toombs County but it's so interesting. How does Cecil find them?

[@JohnMarciaShackelford]

By county records, old maps, aerial photos and word of mouth. Also alot of sleuthing.

[@Tla81]

Most small children’s (premies)graves about 1940’s and earlier were only marked with a plain stone. Especially when the parents were dirt poor. My grandmother’s premies, about three of them as I know of were marked this way. To this day, they were not given a grave marker other than the stones.

[@Azoreanislandgirl]

I can't understand how early those graves are from and the overgrowth of the vegetation. So the county doesn't take care of an abandoned grave site? I'm speechless.

[@charleswood2948]

Nice video. Btw where is your pal the other Robert, hope he is well? Best regards, Chuck the Canuck

[@GraveVisitations]

Sad to see vandalism to graves 😔

[@leekorten1791]

💞

[@zekesgirl100]

Marshall Moses was born on my birthday, but, several years previous.

[@adamkimberling6609]

These churches out in the middle of nowhere are always in danger of abandonment there's a couple of them in the surrounding towns of where I live. Just because there's less of a congregation and the church is not part of a national or international church organization and are independent churches. Just sad.

[@dTrout-mo2rp]

Very sad cemetery. The idea of someone throwing trash in to a broken crypt is horrible !! If I can make a suggestion, since there are a few burials 1980 and up call the local funeral home and ask who the caretaker/or trustee for that cemetery to find out a good guess how many burials . Thanks for taking Us along Robert and Cecil Appreciate you both. ✌️🌹

[@susanthompson2278]

I have heard that some people sell old tomb stones the older it is the higher the price and that's sad😢

[@suziedebolt6619]

So sad

[@demitrimarlin2463]

Is there anything that can be done about the busted open vault, that is so sad and depressing that it’s in such a state

[@selenaannesmith1604]

Aww this is really awful and very sad 😢😢😢😢

[@lsarlls3049]

I never knew that prickly pear cactus grew in Georgia. We have loads of it down here in Texas.

[@Sirshackleton]

Why would anyone enjoy breaking open graves? Sickening.😢

[@deepipkins4571]

Can't believe no one taking care of that grave site. Government should step in. Sad , reason most people want to be cremated.

[@susangreasby8741]

It's. Amazing. It's. A. Shame. About. All. The. Graves. In. There.

[@dawndeany9645]

Very sad

[@oleradiodudea.m.4735]

Does the Veterans Administration maintain a list of soldiers who have received either military burials or government paid headstones? This would be a way to partially locate forgotten burials.

[@user-randi1987]

Very sad and shameful behavior of the people who broke that grave open and dumped stuff into it. What if someone did that to one of thier family members graves?

[@bobb1870]

What's going to happen to the cemetery? Is there hope to save this site from further damage?

[@robcates2383]

Heck Robert. it's kind of creepy, that there are so many "NEW" graves in there, it's so primitive!!!!!!!!!

[@empressvogt]

Three videos in three days? Am I tripping??

[@AdventuresIntoHistory]

Nope. Special series 👀

[@kimforte6557]

You have to be very careful walking through the old cemeteries. As they age they become weaker you could walk over a grave just when the casket collapses and they do! Never walk on the vault stones and be careful walking across the grave!

[@melissawilredge2713]

Its probably Non-Perpetual Graveyard, that's means it's not the city's responsibility to take care of the properties. Regardless it's a shame because there are technically no grave records...

[@philomenadennehy8585]

They look for rings Its terrible

[@tonypike5785]

Can you fox that broken grave ?

[@rosepreston8692]

Love see your video,s you are grarte

[@deepipkins4571]

Hard to believe even as early as 2006 that Africa does not take better care of a cemetery.

[@barbarajohnson268]

Don't ever pick the prickly pear blooms! They're beautiful but you'll spend a long time pulling out stickers😣

[@chevy266nova]

It is sad that there was to a fund set up to care for this cemetery.

[@dianelawrence1087]

Church records must be somewhere local. Also, town records ???

[@MAC46802]

Why are people so disrespectful?

[@mimzy4319]

It had a good run. At least they haven't been bulldozed out of the ground so they can build another mcmansion neighborhood

[@sandramulholland9975]

Y r the graves do far apart?

[@tomgiorgini9154]

don't suppose you pulled the debris out of that vault

[@Gfysimpletons]

Yeah. No

[@skyhigh6]

An old miser hoarded his money. On his death-bed he told his wife to put all the money in his casket when he died. After the funeral the wife was asks, did you comply with your husband's wishes? Yes, I wrote a check for the entire amount and put it in his casket. Many time rumors abound about wealthy people being buried with gold, expensive items etc. This is often the case of grave robbery.

[@catwoman2596]

They don't take care of their own.

[@susangreasby8741]

Robert. And. Your. Friend.