This cemetery is owned by the county and they want to move it so the land can be developed for other purposes.
This cemetery has relatives long forgotten. However, this doesn’t mean that those relatives should be moved from their final resting place. Especially, since this may be the oldest in Busnell, FL related to runaway slaves. The cemetery is more than likely over 100 years old and the fact that people were buried there as recent as 1956 would tell me that this little known cemetery is a family cemetery. A place where black folk have been laying their family to rest.
From my own experience, we placed our dead among family. We used the same area, same cemetery, same city to place our family members. The person buried there in 1956 would indicate to me that, those placed their before them were family. Not just a random black person.
Where is the city going to be moving the cemetery? We don’t know. But, according to the County Administrator, Bradley Arnold, they plan on placing it in a more appropriate location. What does that mean, and where is that exactly????
The sad part is, even if the development falls thru, Sumter County still plans on moving the cemetery. What kind of foolishness is that?? Where is the new cemetery going to be located??? These bodies have been resting here for possibly more than 100 years and the county wants to simply move them for possible finanical gain. That’s right POSSIBLE.
I hope and pray that the family members of those buried here speak out.
