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048    FITZGERALD, PAULI MURRAY FAMILY

Location - Durham near the intersection of Kent Street and Morehead Avenue next to Maplewood Cemetery.

Coordinates: 35d 59m 35.0s N; 78d 55m 12.0s W Click here for Online Maps

The cemetery was established circa 1879, held by family until 1996 when the City of Durham annexed it to Maplewood Cemetery. Fence between the two came down in 1998

This cemetery has over 100 graves, although many of the markers have been stolen or vandalized. Canvassed by C. C. Malone, Jr., Harry Wyatt, and Bobby Richardson (1982). Citation updated in 2011 by the Pauli Murray Project at the Duke Human Rights Center.

This cemetery contains the graves of several pioneering African American citizens of Durham including Robert G. and Richard B. Fitzgerald. Both brothers served on behalf of the Union in the Civil War. Robert came to North Carolina to teach newly freed African Americans and also operated a brickyard and tannery. Robert convinced his parents, Thomas Charles and Sarah Ann Burton Fitzgerald, brothers Richard and Billy and sisters Mary Jane and Agnes to follow him from Pennsylvania to North Carolina.

Robert and his wife Cornelia Smith Fitzgerald are grandparents to the nationally known lawyer, writer, poet, human rights activist and Episcopal priest, Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray. Pauli Murray wrote eloquently of the family and early Durham history in her 1956 book, Proud Shoes: The Story of an American Family. Richard Fitzgerald became very wealthy as one of Durham's first brickmakers. He operated a kiln next to the cemetery and many tobacco warehouses and Erwin Mill in Durham and Central Prison in Raleigh are made of Fitzgerald brick. In addition, Richard Fitzgerald was a founder and the first president of Mechanics and Farmers Bank.

Since the City of Durham did not record deaths until 1908 and the State of North Carolina until 1913, there are possibly many others buried there for whom there is no public record. Jean Anderson searched the deaths recorded in Durham County and found the names of 104 whose burial place was given as Fitzgerald Cemetery. There is no way to tell how many additional burials there were in the several decades before deaths began to be recorded in 1908. No burials were recorded there after 1941.

1. Adams, Lucy   (b. 1921 - d. 3 Feb 1920)
Age 5 months. Daughter of Ernest Lawson and Lucy Adams.
2. Allen, Infant   (b. - d. 21 Nov 1930)
Stillborn. Son of James and Lucile McNeal Adams. Rebecca Bourghs was midWife.
3. Allen, Mary   (b. Abt 1863 - d. 25 Dec 1918)
Age about 55 years. Daughter of Plumer and Rebecca Wright.
4. Allen, Sam   (b. Abt 1895 - d. 25 Mar 1922)
Age 26 years. Son of Phillip and Mary Allen.
5. Alston, Charles A.   (b. - d. bef. 1933)
Spouse - Mabel Henderson Alston. 'Gone but not forgotten'
6. Alston, Frank   (b. Abt 1877 - d. 18 May 1928)
Age about 51 years. Son of Lisbon Alston.
7. Alston, Infant   (b. 13 Aug 1926 - d. 13 Aug 1926)
Stillborn. Daughter of Charles Alston and Mabel Henderson. Death certificate shows 25 Aug 1926.
8. Alston, Mabel   (b. 1924 - d. 16 Mar 1924)
Age 3 weeks. Daughter of Charles Alston and Mabel Henderson.
9. Alston, Mabel Henderson   (b. Abt 1890 - d. 5 Jan 1933)
Spouse - Charles Alston. Age 42 years. Daughter of John Henderson. Widower at time of death. Last name on death certificate is spelled Austin.
10. Andress, J. L.   (b. 16 Jun 1898 - d. 1 Nov 1930)
11. Atwater, Floyd   (b. Abt 1885 - d. 4 Oct 1927)
Age about 42 years.
12. Atwater, Infant   (b. - d. 20 May 1922)
Stillborn. Child of Walter McCloud and Perly Atwater.
13. Baine, Charlie   (b. Abt 1908 - d. 29 Nov 1927)
Age 19 years. Son of Carr Hester and Lona Baine.
14. Bracher, Edward   (b. Abt 1872 - d. 3 Apr 1927)
Age 55 years. Son of Solomon Bracher.
15. Bradley, James, Jr.   (b. 1925 - d. 16 Dec 1927)
Age 2 years. Son of James Bradley and Joseph [?] Bradley.
16. Brown, George   (b. Abt 1897 - d. 4 Dec 1926)
Age 29 years. Son of Sam and Mary Brown.
17. Brown, Jessie D.   (b. 9 Mar 1929 - d. 12 Mar 1929)
Age 3 days. Son of D.F. and Perlie Brown. Estelle Rogers was midWife.
18. Bullock, Maggie Jenkins   (b. Abt 1857 - d. 18 Mar 1927)
Age 70 years. Daughter of Alex Jenkins.
19. Bullock, Matthew   (b. Abt 1851 - d. 19 May 1921)
Age 70 years. Son of Luther and Mady Bullock.
20. Burnett, Infant   (b. Aug 1926 - d. 9 Oct 1926)
Age 2 months. Son of Charlie and Allie Burnett.
21. Butler, Gertrude   (b. Abt 1902 - d. 27 Dec 1928)
Age 26 years. Daughter of William Welcher and Lucy Wilder.
22. Butler, Joseph   (b. 1927 - d. 28 Aug 1928)
Age 17 months. Son of Robert Butler and Gertrude Wilson.
23. Canady, Infant   (b. Aug 1923 - d. 18 Oct 1923)
Age 2 months. Daughter of Wheeler Canady (born in Franklinton) and Rowan Amey.
24. Canady, Uneeda   (b. Abt 1921 - d. 1 Feb 1923)
Age 2 years. Daughter of Wheeler Canady and Rosa Amie.
25. Clark, Harry   (b. Apr 1916 - d. 1 Jun 1916)
Age 2 months. Son of Lillian Clark.
26. Clegg, Agness   (b. Abt 1859 - d. 18 Aug 1920)
Age 61 years. Daughter of Thomas Fitzgerald and Sarah Burton.
27. Clegg, Richard B.   (b. Abt 1899 - d. 13 Mar 1921)
Age 22 years. Son of Robert Clegg and Agness Fitzgerald.
28. Clegg, Robert Humphrey   (b. Abt 1858 - d. 9 May 1930)
Age 72 years. Son of John Clegg and Bessie Moore.
29. Curtis, Annie L.   (b. Abt 1910 - d. 25 Sep 1926)
Age 16 years. Daughter of Alonzo Curtis and Emma Stroud.
30. Curtis, Hubert   (b. Abt 1902 - d. 16 Feb 1930)
Age 27 years. Son of Hubert Curtis and Mary.
31. Ellis, John   (b. Abt 1877 - d. 14 Oct 1926)
Age 49 years. Son of Marion Ellis.
32. Faucette, Ruth   (b. Abt 1898 - d. 28 Oct 1926)
Age 28 years. Daughter of Robert Clegg and Caroline Fitzgerald. Suicide, pistol ball in left chest.
33. Fitzgerald, Burke   (b. Abt 1887 - d. 4 Apr 1916)
Age 29 years. Brickmaker. Son of Richard Fitzgerald (born in Wilmington, Delaware) and Sallie Williams (born in Pennsylvania).
34. Fitzgerald, Cornelia Smith   (b. Abt 1844 - d. 9 Jul 1924)
Age 80 years. Daughter of lawyer Sidney Smith and Harriet Smith [a slave in the Smith family].
35. Fitzgerald, Daniel J.   (b. 25 Sep 1872 - d. 12 Oct 1872)
Son of RB-SA Fitzgerald. Age 17 days. Footstone D.J.F.
36. Fitzgerald, Richard B.   (b. Abt 1843 - d. 24 Mar 1918)
Freed slave and brick maker. Age about 75 years. Son of Thomas Charles Fitzgerald and Sarah Burton [white woman and Wife of Thomas]. Spouse - Sally A. Williams Fitzgerald.
37. Fitzgerald, Richard S.   (b. 10 Jan 1882 - d. 30 Sep 1886)
Son of Richard B. and Sally A.W. Fitzgerald. Age 4 yr 9 mo 20 da. Footstone R.S.F.
38. Fitzgerald, Sally A. Williams   (b. Abt 1852 - d. 18 Jan 1931)
Age 78 years. Daughter of Samuel Williams and Leah Jacobs. Sally born in York, Pennsylvania. Spouse - Richard B. Fitzgerald.
39. Fitzgerald, Sara Lou   (b. Abt 1917 - d. 26 Jan 1919)
Age 2 years. Daughter of Sam B. Fitzgerald and Mary Harris.
40. Fitzgerald, William   (b. Abt 1891 - d. 1 Mar 1927)
Age 36 years. Son of Richard Fitzgerald and Sadie Tillie. [This should be Sarah Williams. Her nickname was probably Sadie.]
41. Foushee, Eugene   (b. - d. 26 Feb 1926)
Stillborn. Son of Eugene Foushee and Odessa McManus (born in Chesterfield, SC).
42. Haskins, Calvin   (b. Jan 1929 - d. 17 Feb 1929)
Age 20 days. Son of Clarence Haskins and Louise McCray.
43. Henderson, Catherine   (b. Abt 1865 - d. 5 May 1925)
Spouse - John Henderson. age 65. 'We will meet again'
44. Hinton, Ella   (b. 4 Jan 1920 - d. 21 Dec 1927)
Age 7 years. Daughter of Dave B. and Ada Johnson Hinton. 'Gone but not forgotten'.
45. Hinton, Emily   (b. Abt 1843 - d. 29 Jan 1929)
Age 85 years. Daughter of William Hinton and Rhodie Hinton. David B. Hinton informant.
46. Horton, John   (b. Abt 1888 - d. 29 Aug 1924)
Age 36 years. Son of Perry Horton and Harriet Burch.
47. Jeffers, Leon B.   (b. Jun 1870 - d. 10 Aug 1904)
Spouse - Mariah Fitzgerald Jeffers. 'Twas hard to give thee up, but the will o' God be done.' 'Gone but not forgotten'
48. Jenkins, Alexander   (b. 1892 - d. 26 Nov 1914)
Age 22 years. Son of Nelson Jenkins and Mary Shaw. [accidental gunshot wound to the head]
49. Jenkins, Nelson   (b. Abt 1859 - d. 10 Feb 1934)
Age 74 years. Son of Alexander Jenkins and Bettie Thompson.
50. Jenkins, Will   (b. Abt 1890 - d. 25 Jan 1912)
Age 21 years. Blacksmith. Son of Nelson Jenkins and Mary Shaw.
51. Jones, Minnie Stills   (b. Abt 1889 - d. 9 May 1936)
Age 47 years. Daughter of Charlie Stills and Annie. Spouse - William R. Jones.
52. Jones, William R.   (b. Abt 1885 - d. 22 Nov 1935)
Age 50 years. Son of Barney Jones and Frances Watkins. Spouse - Minnie Stills Jones.
53. Kerk, Cora   (b. Abt 1862 - d. 17 Mar 1927)
Age 65 years. Daughter of Efraim Leak.
54. Knox, Sherman   (b. Abt 1873 - d. 4 Dec 1918)
Age 45 years. Stonecutter. Son of Wallace Knox.
55. Lane, Mary A.   (b. Abt 1920 - d. 2 Apr 1927)
Age 7 years. Daughter of Lawrence Lynn and Hellen Lane.
56. Latta, Virginia   (b. Apr 1923 - d. 24 Jul 1924)
Age 15 months. Daughter of Chester Latta and Sarah Covelington [sic].
57. Lawson, Thomas J.   (b. Jan 1924 - d. 25 Apr 1924)
Age 3 months. Son of Scott Browning and Mary B. Lawson.
58. Leak, Leana   (b. Nov 1921 - d. 15 Apr 1922)
Age 5 months. Daughter of James Leak and Carrie Rogers.
59. Lyons, Anna   (b. Sep 1921 - d. 31 May 1922)
Age 8 months. Daughter of Reubin McCline and Blanch Lyons.
60. Markham, Jerry   (b. Abt 1840 - d. 11 Nov 1940)
Age about 100 years. Son of Henry Markham and Adeline Markham. 'An old slave and a friend to all.'
61. McAdams, Catherine   (b. Abt 1888 - d. 12 Sep 1923)
Age 35 years. Daughter of David Wilson and Mary Wright (both from Fayetteville, NC).
62. McAdams, George   (b. Abt 1880 - d. 13 Apr 1930)
Age 50 years. Son of Benjamin McAdams and Julia Gordon.
63. McAdams, Isaac   (b. Abt 1889 - d. 3 Apr 1935)
Age 46 years. Son of Julia Lyons. Spouse - Lillie McAdams.
64. McAdams, Martha Williams   (b. Abt 1898 - d. 14 Aug 1936)
Age 38 years. Daughter of Allen Williams and Harriet Williams Rone.
65. McCaskill, Rueben   (b. Abt 1819 - d. 9 Sep 1927)
Age 108. Born in Rockingham County, NC. 'May the Resurrection find thee on the bosom of thy God.'
66. McCauley, Fronie   (b. Abt 1901 - d. 21 May 1924)
Age 23 years. Daughter of Frank Kirk. This may be Saphronia Jones McCauley who married John McCauley.
67. McCauley, Margaret   (b. 1922 - d. 3 Apr 1924)
Age 2 years. Daughter of John McCauley (born in Philadelphia) and Saphronia Jones (born in Wake County).
68. McClaim, Oscar, Jr.   (b. Jan 1927 - d. 29 Feb 1928)
Age 13 months. Son of Oscar McClaim and Helen McDay.
69. McColey, Renzalie   (b. Jan 1924 - d. 26 Mar 1924)
Age 2 months. Daughter of John and Fannie McColey (born in Winston-Salem, NC).
70. Mitchell, Emeline   (b. Abt 1844 - d. 28 Dec 1924)
Age 80 years.
71. Mitchell, Sidney   (b. Abt 1844 - d. 30 Apr 1917)
Age 73 years. Son of Mike Ward and Dellie Mitchell.
72. Moore, Celious E.   (b. Sep 1926 - d. 12 Mar 1927)
Age 6 months. Son of T.L. Moore and Lillie L. Johnson.
73. Moore, Infant   (b. 17 Nov 1930 - d. 21 Nov 1930)
Age 4 days. Son of Samuel and Carrie Moore.
74. Moore, Infant   (b. Oct 1922 - d. 23 Nov 1930)
Age 1 month. Son of T.L. Moore and Lillie Johnson. [A second death certificate gives the mother's name as Lettie.]
75. O'Neil, Odis William   (b. Jul 1922 - d. 11 Jul 1923)
Age 1 year. Son of James O'Neil and Susie Wilder (both from Georgia).
76. Perry, Dorothy May   (b. Jan 1925 - d. 23 Feb 1925)
Age 1 month. Daughter of James Perry and Flossie Curtis.
77. Ray, Roland   (b. Sep 1924 - d. 15 Oct 1924)
Age 1 month. Son of Ander Thorbs and Estelle Ray.
78. Reddick, Infant   (b. - d. 25 Jan 1926)
Stillborn. Daughter of Frank Reddick and Nannie Carrington.
79. Riddick, Infant   (b. - d. 20 Sep 1923)
Stillborn. Son of Benjamin Riddick and Laura Covington.
80. Rigsby, Robert   (b. 1880 - d. 15 Nov 1916)
Age 36 years. Son of Frank Rigsby and Loretta Carlton.
81. Rivers, Creasie   (b. Abt 1885 - d. 9 Nov 1925)
Age 40 years. Daughter of Warrex [sic] and Pross Davis.
82. Rogers, Elnora   (b. Abt 1883 - d. 31 May 1922)
Age 39 years. Daughter of Frank Rogers and Maggie Wyche.
83. Shaw, Caroline   (b. Abt 1873 - d. 22 Feb 1926)
Age 53 years. Daughter of Baker Bumpass and Jane Walker. Spouse - Fred C. Shaw.
84. Shaw, Fred C.   (b. Abt 1868 - d. 3 Sep 1923)
Age 55 years. Son of Catherine Shaw. Spouse - Caroline Shaw.
85. Shaw, Katie   (b. Abt 1877 - d. 13 Aug 1927)
Age about 50 years. Daughter of William Shaw and Catherine Patterson.
86. Shaw, Mozella   (b. 1910 - d. 26 Dec 1923)
Age 13 years. Daughter of Oscar Shaw and Dora Lyons.
87. Shaw, Rebecca   (b. Abt 1902 - d. 6 Aug 1923)
Age 21 years. Daughter of Jim Shaw (born in Harnett County) and Dora.
88. Small, John S.G., Jr.   (b. 29 Apr 1917 - d. 30 Apr 1917)
Age 1 day. Son of John S.G. Small and Sarah A. Fitzgerald.
89. Smith, Infant   (b. - d. 3 Sep 1924)
Stillborn. Daughter of Augustus Smith and Minnie Hopson.
90. Smith, John   (b. Abt 1863 - d. 28 Nov 1918)
Age about 55 years. Son of Joe Smith and Mary Jones.
91. Smith, Minnie Hopson   (b. 1895 - d. 3 Sep 1924)
Age 29 years. Died during childbirth. Daughter of Jennie Hopson.
92. Staley, Charlie   (b. 1905 - d. 17 Jan 1917)
Age 11 years. Son of William and Bell Staley.
93. Staley, Lillie Myrtle   (b. 1919 - d. 26 Jun 1920)
Age 1 year. Daughter of Wilson Staley and Lola Cavaness.
94. Staley, Walter L.   (b. 1922 - d. 18 Sep 1926)
Age 4 years. Son of Ed Staley and Laura Coleman.
95. Steel, Annie   (b. Abt 1870 - d. 24 Apr 1922)
Age 52 years. Daughter of Charlie Autry Ferguson and Annie King.
96. Still, Charlie   (b. Abt 1851 - d. 21 Nov 1926)
Age 75 years.
97. Stroud, Sallie   (b. Abt 1883 - d. 7 Jul 1920)
Age 37 years. Daughter of George Stroud and Vicie Ramble.
98. Swan, Tom   (b. Abt 1877 - d. 4 Jul 1922)
Age 45 years. Son of Alex Swan and Annie Stewart.
99. Thompson, Herman Lee   (b. 1907 - d. 1 Jul 1923)
Age 16 years. Son of Charlie Rountree.
100. Weaver, Lee   (b. 1906 - d. 9 Nov 1925)
Age 19 years. Son of John Weaver and Charlette Gillespie.
101. Welcher, Melton, Jr.   (b. - d. 18 Dec 1927)
Minutes old. Son of Melton and Sophie Welcher.
102. Wilcher, Kate Miller   (b. Abt 1910 - d. 2 May 1926)
Age 16 years. Daughter of William Wilcher and Sallie Wiley.
103. Wilcher, William   (b. Jul 1927 - d. 20 Jun 1928)
Age 11 months. Son of Henry Wilcher.
104. Williams, Arthur   (b. Abt 1896 - d. 12 Feb 1924)
Age 28 years. Son of Frank Patterson and Betty Jacobs. Spouse - Luna Williams.
105. Williams, Bertha   (b. Abt 1874 - d. 16 Sep 1924)
Age 50 years. Daughter of Lydge Merrick.
106. Williams, Jessie   (b. Abt 1899 - d. 16 Oct 1933)
Age 34 years. Daughter of Wash Thompson and Jennie Strowd.
107. Williams, Thomas Clay, Sr.   (b. 15 Aug 1903 - d. 20 Aug 1903)
108. Willis, John   (b. 1903 - d. 16 Oct 1924)
Age 21 years. Son of John Willis and Laura Becton.
109. Wooten, Infant   (b. Aug 1922 - d. 31 Oct 1923)
Age 14 months. Daughter of David Wooten.
110. Wright, Walter   (b. Abt 1874 - d. 19 Nov 1926)
Age 52 years.
111. Yarborough, Alma   (b. Abt 1896 - d. 15 Nov 1941)
Age 45 years. Daughter of Richard Fitzgerald. Spouse - Dan Yarborough.