News Summary
The Oak Grove Baptist Church in Williamsburg recently held a dedication ceremony for headstones honoring the graves of 10 children rediscovered in a cemetery. The graves, dating back to the 1930s to 1960s, included infants and victims of miscarriages. Following the ceremony, attendees decorated the gravesites with flowers, and ongoing restoration efforts aim to enhance the cemetery that serves as a historic burial site for local Black families.
Williamsburg – The Oak Grove Baptist Church organized a dedication ceremony on Monday for headstones honoring the graves of 10 children buried in a cemetery rediscovered in the area. The graves, which date from the 1930s to the 1960s, included children who died during infancy and through miscarriages.
Located less than half a mile from the church behind a Dominion power plant on Waller Mill Road, the cemetery holds the remains of the following children: Baby Boy Roots, Baby Girl Roots, Baby Boy Robinson, John K. Wynne, Vincent Tyrone Piggott, Larry Brown, William Haggins, John Haggins, Joseph Hundley, and Baby Paul. During the ceremony, their names were read aloud as church historian Collette Roots and Daughters of the American Revolution Regent Sherril Buckner rang the church bell in tribute.
In remembrance, attendees decorated the gravesites with forget-me-nots and baby’s breath following the ceremony. The cemetery, established in the 1940s, served Black families from the York County village of Magruder during a challenging era when local families were being dispossessed of their land. The Henderson family deeded a portion of their land to allow church members a designated burial site after families faced difficulties accessing graves at what is now Camp Peary.
After the 1970s, the cemetery fell into disrepair and became overgrown with underbrush and trees. In 2021, a timber company rediscovered the site, leading to restoration efforts spearheaded by Collette Roots, who had previously collaborated with various organizations to restore another cemetery belonging to the church on Rochambeau Drive. She is now working alongside York County and Dominion Energy to implement further improvements, such as constructing a road, building a protective brick wall, and installing an official plaque.
The ceremony received support from multiple groups, including the church’s Family and Friends group and the DAR. State Sen. Danny Diggs and York County Board Vice Chair Douglas Holroyd have both voiced their support for ongoing access to the cemetery. The honor and remembrance of the lost children extend not only through the headstone installation but also through the community’s efforts to maintain the site.
In addition to the dedication, Robin Doucette, the honorary regent of the DAR Williamsburg chapter, spoke about the efforts to locate the cemetery, the chapter’s commitment to its cleanup, and the funding for the headstones, which totaled $2,500. Church member Janice Mitchell, who has family members interred in the cemetery, expressed that the dedication honors the memory of their children, underscoring the significance of recognizing their lives.
For those wishing to contribute to the restoration of the cemetery, donations can be made at givebutter.com/NP7hww. More information can be obtained by contacting James W. Robinson at 757-799-0621 or via email at [email protected].
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Tom Hanks Award Ceremony Cancelled Amid Political Controversies
Colonial Williamsburg Marks 250 Years of the Powder Magazine Incident
Additional Resources
- WAVY News
- Wikipedia: Cemetery
- Daily Press
- Google Search: Williamsburg Cemetery dedication
- ABC News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Cemetery
- WTKR
- Google News: Williamsburg cemetery children
Author: STAFF HERE WILLIAMSBURG WRITER
WILLIAMSBURG STAFF WRITER The WILLIAMSBURG STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREWilliamsburg.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Williamsburg, James City County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Williamsburg Farmers Market, Yorktown Market Days, and Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce and Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, plus leading businesses in education and hospitality that power the local economy such as College of William & Mary, The Williamsburg Winery, and Sodexo. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREVirginiaBeach.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Virginia's dynamic landscape.
