The Need for the Cemetery
As mentioned earlier, the Jermantown Cemetery was created on August 24, 1868 with the purchase of a deed by Alfred Whaley, Thomas Sinkfield, and Milton Brooks. This one acre of land was to be used as a community cemetery for people of color that were denied access and burial to the Fairfax City Cemetery just down the road. The reason black families could not be buried within the cemetery was not only because of the lingering segregationist sentiment in the area but because the Fairfax City cemetery was originally purchased,
"… as a burial place or cemetery for the re-interment of the bodies of such persons as the 'Ladies Memorial Association' of said County of Fairfax shall direct to be interred therein. Provided that in all cases such bodies shall be those of Confederate States' Soldiers, who fell in battle or died from wounds incident to and while they were in the service of the Confederate States, and who are now buried within the limits of said county, or who were citizens thereof at the time of death and are buried elsewhere…" -Cemetery's History, City of Fairfax
Even with the Union’s victory and the abolishment of slavery, the American people continued to be divided by racial inequality.
These photos of the cemetery showcase the small size of the area and the scattering of the headstones. The only ones with any sense of uniformity are those who were within family plots. Those without family plots seemed to have been placed anywhere they wished.
Three or four headstones are also within the tree line in the back of the cemetery, rendering them invisible by those who are not looking too hard. Lastly, there are headstones that have been broken or have fallen over.