The Chavis Family portion of the Pleasant Grove UMC Cemetery featured in our most recent  newsletter (page 3), is currently undergoing clean up and preservation by church volunteers. The clean up effort is largely complete. The volunteer group is moving on to preservation. Interested members of the public are invited to a tombstone repair demonstration conducted by Doug Compton with the NC African American Cemeteries Network. When:  Saturday, July 18, at 10 am Where:  Pleasant Grove UMC,  4415 Pleasant Grove Church Road, Raleigh, NC 27613 What: Live Tombstone Repair Demonstration Who:  Doug Compton, the NC African American Cemeteries Network Details from the Pleasant Grove UMC Church Newsletter below: There’s no “A” in Cemetery An historic cemetery like the one at Pleasant Grove UMC offers clues and links to the past beyond what can be read on tombstones. Doug Compton with the NC African American Cemeteries Network has learned to follow the clues left over the ...

  The Summer 2026 issue (Vol. 9, Issue 4) of the Wake Genealogy Watch newsletter is now available online for reading or download. Visit the WCGS website or click here: Wake Genealogy Watch, Summer 2026 . This issue includes: · Barbara McGeachy shares a summary of our coffee gathering in April. · A reminder to check out the updated Newsletter Cumulative Index, complete up to this issue · Jane Albright presents the Pleasant Grove UMC project to protect the historical graves of Free People of Color. · Four videos to boost your genealogy skills with AI and DNA skills · Two websites that give you historical context for your Revolutionary research and might even inspire a trip or two · Tips and resources to research the Loyalist you might find in your family tree, and how to recognize them. · Registration details for our upcoming local meet-ups and virtual meetings Photo Note : Please refer to the online edition where you can enlarge the photos to acc...

There is a  Black cemetery section at Pleasant Grove Church Cemetery in Raleigh.  This cemetery is the resting place for several members of a Chavis family who lived on the land adjacent to the Pleasant Grove Church. The family were Free Persons of Color.  Graves within the Chavis cemetery appear below.   Click image to view larger Headstones read left to right - Richard, son of Anderson and Tabitha Chavis, Mar.15, 1842-Jan.8, 1914; Rhoda, Wife of Richard Chavis, (B&D are illegible); Small stone marked ACR (no dates) A committee of PGUMC church members intend to clean and preserve this portion of the cemetery with an eye to restoration and historical significance.  They are seeking volunteers to help with their efforts. Seeking descendants of this Chavis family,  willing hearts,  and helping hands for a cleanup day. Saturday, April 25, 9 am to 1 pm. at Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church 4415 Pleasant Grove Church Road, Raleigh 27613 Direct ques...