Current Effingham County Branch NAACP President Rev. Delmons White and the members of the branch announce that its annual wreath-laying event will take place at the African-American Cemetery on the perimeter of the Jerusalem Lutheran Cemetery, 2887 Ebenezer Road near the Ebenezer Retreat House on Feb. 26 at 2 p.m.

Leroy Lloyd, president of the Effingham NAACP from 2014-2018 and the person most responsible for making this an annual event during Black History Month to      memorialize the approximately 250 women men, and children buried there, reminds that they are buried without tombstones or any markers. The only indication is a plaque that reads: SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF THESE AFRICAN-AMERICANS WHOSE REMAINS REST IN THIS PLACE. 

     Lloyd, a deacon at Macedonia Baptist Church, Guyton, reports that the ceremony is short but complete with tradition, including prayer and music pertaining to the African tradition.

    Lloyd said that he first became aware of this African-American burial ground in 2009 when reading an article about it in The Effingham Herald. He immersed himself into a project to learn more about those buried there.

    A tragic event near the end of the Civil War at Ebenezer Creek resulted in the loss of about 100 African-Americans. African-American freed slaves followed Union soldiers to cross Ebenezer Creek to seek freedom. 

   At the same time, Confederate troops were in pursuit of the African-Americans. A temporary pontoon bridge had been constructed by the Union soldiers over Ebenezer Creek. As about 100 of the approximately 600 freed slaves in the group approached the temporary bridge, the span was cut. This resulted in the death of more than 100 African-Americans in attempting to cross the creek.

    The African-Americans were not aware of the depth and rapid nature of the water and tragically perished. It is very likely that some of the 100 or so that died in this tragedy are among the 250 African-Americans buried next to the cemetery.

    Lloyd incorporated the members of the Effingham County Branch NAACP in the effort to "create a more fitting and attractive site for the brave souls buried there." He received the full support of the members.

    Lloyd is a man of diverse interests. He is a member of the Master Gardeners of Effingham County. Since 2014, countless volunteer hours have been spent by NAACP and Master Gardeners in cleaning up this area. That clean -up has included the removal of tree limbs and dead trees, removal of unwanted vegetation and the planting of native trees, flowering trees and shrubs. Lloyd wants to replace the current wooden fence with a wrought-iron one.

     In doing this, Lloyd acknowledges the cooperation of the members of the Jerusalem Lutheran Church, who have given permission to work on this project and, ultimately, his vision for the African-American burial site.

     "Long-term, we will attempt to transform the area into a park-like setting with a monument near the center with benches, creating an area suitable for meditation     and reflection," Lloyd said.

     Throughout this project, Leroy Lloyd stated, "...my African-American ancestors kept calling me to visit the Cemetery again. I could hear the call of the ancestors."

      The current Effingham County Branch NAACP President, Reverend Delmons White, encourages the extended Effingham community to join with the members of the Effingham Branch members in  this annual memorial tribute.