McLemore Cemetery is a historic

cemetery A cemetery, burial ground, gravesite or graveyard is a place where the remains of dead people are buried or otherwise interred. The word ''cemetery'' (from Greek , "sleeping place") implies that the land is specifically designated as a buri ...

Meridian, Mississippi Meridian is the List of municipalities in Mississippi, seventh largest city in the U.S. state of Mississippi, with a population of 41,148 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census and an estimated population in 2018 of 36,347. It is the count ...

, United States. The cemetery was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

on December 18, 1979, and is the oldest surviving historic site in the city.

History

Richard McLemore, founder of the cemetery, was the first permanent settler of Meridian in the 1830s. In 1839, McLemore established the cemetery behind a

Baptist Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only (believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compete ...

Church he had built at 6th St and 16th Ave, just outside East End Historic District. McLemore is now buried in the cemetery, along with fatalities of the 1871 race riot and the 1878

Yellow Fever Yellow fever is a viral disease of typically short duration. In most cases, symptoms include fever, chills, loss of appetite, nausea, muscle pains – particularly in the back – and headaches. Symptoms typically improve within five days. In ...

epidemic. Masonic Lodge members reportedly helped treat victims of the outbreak, which explains the numerous Masons now buried in the cemetery. The cemetery contains around 100 gravesites, the earliest from the 1830s and the most recent from 1942. Since then, the cemetery has been in a state of degradation with overgrown grass and weeds and crumbling headstones. In 1971 Carol James, head of

genealogy Genealogy () is the study of families, family history, and the tracing of their lineages. Genealogists use oral interviews, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kins ...

research at Meridian Public Library, conducted a census of the identifiable gravesites in the cemetery, totalling 96. The census can now be viewed in the library. James reported about the cemetery's lack of upkeep, stating that

vandalism Vandalism is the action involving deliberate destruction of or damage to public or private property. The term includes property damage, such as graffiti and defacement directed towards any property without permission of the owner. The term f ...

of headstones had been a problem. By 2006 many headstones were in such bad condition that the names were no longer distinguishable. Others had been covered by weeds and other growth, or had moved significantly from their original locations.

References

External links

* {{NRHP Meridian, Mississippi Cemeteries on the National Register of Historic Places in Mississippi Protected areas of Lauderdale County, Mississippi National Register of Historic Places in Lauderdale County, Mississippi 1839 establishments in Mississippi

History

See also

References

External links