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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minutePreserving Daughters of Zion Cemetery begins with people, records and permissions—not with scrubbing stones or moving soil. The documented Charlottesville campaign combined descendant leadership, a written preservation plan, cost estimates, city advocacy, professional conservation advice and municipal maintenance. Communities facing a similar cemetery challenge can adapt that sequence while confirming current conditions and rules locally.
Why Daughters of Zion Cemetery matters
Daughters of Zion Cemetery is at 201 6th St. NW in Charlottesville, Virginia. The Daughters of Zion Mutual Aid Society, an African American mutual aid organization, established it in 1873 after purchasing the land. It provided an alternative to segregated municipal Oakwood Cemetery, which was used mostly by white residents. The cemetery is listed in both the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places, according to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR).
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The site’s importance is not limited to surviving headstones. It links the physical landscape to Reconstruction-era Black institution building, mutual aid and family history. Ted Delaney, quoted by the University of Virginia Institute for Public History, described burial or ownership of a plot there as “a pro-active statement of independence from the institutionalized segregation that pervaded all aspects of life and death.” That meaning should guide every preservation decision: descendants and the wider community are participants in stewardship, not merely an audience for a technical project.
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The mutual aid society’s period of significance runs from 1873 to about 1933, when the organization disbanded. Cemetery use continued afterward; state-register and Library of Congress material identify 1995 as the last burial. The end of the organization therefore is not the end of the cemetery’s history.
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Burial totals depend on the source
Published counts do not agree, and they should not be silently combined. They reflect different dates, methods and purposes. Use the source and year whenever you quote a number.
| Source and date | Reported figure | How to understand it |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Department of Historic Resources, page updated July 19, 2024 | 641 burials in two acres | Figure used in the state register record. |
| Liz Sargent, Edwina St. Rose and Bernadette Whitsett-Hammond, American Society of Landscape Architects, May 20, 2021 | As many as approximately 600 burials | Estimate discussed in connection with ground-penetrating-radar (GPR) surveys. |
| National Park Service newsletter historical summary | Approximately 300 burials | An earlier or different estimate; it is not a reconciliation of the later figures. |
These figures do not establish how many graves are currently marked, how many are unmarked or whether every burial has been documented in one complete register. A preservation plan should therefore treat the burial inventory as a source-evaluation task, not as a settled number.
What the Charlottesville campaign documented
Community concern became an organized effort
In 2015, local pastors and community members called for a plan to address deterioration and long-term care. Descendants, preservation advocates, city representatives and specialists worked together. The Preservers of the Daughters of Zion Cemetery formed to advocate for action, giving residents a continuing structure for communication with officials.
A plan and cost estimates made the request actionable
Landscape architect Liz Sargent offered to prepare a preservation strategies plan and cost estimates. The plan converted broad concerns—erosion, damaged markers, trees, boundaries and maintenance—into work that could be discussed with City Council. The 2021 ASLA retrospective reports that the campaign secured an $80,000 city allocation after presenting that plan and its estimated costs. That amount documents this campaign’s outcome; it is not a standard grant amount or a promise that another cemetery will receive the same funding.
Physical work was paired with interpretation
The documented effort included clarifying the western boundary with fencing, addressing erosion, consulting preservation specialists and skilled masons about broken or cracked markers, and having the city assess potentially hazardous trees. A historical landscape architect and an architectural materials conservator prepared the plan, and work was guided by federal preservation standards.
The group also pursued a historical marker, public-history research and exhibits, an annual Decoration Day gathering and a Memorial to the Unknown. Those activities made the cemetery’s history visible while keeping descendants involved in decisions about memory and place.
Unmarked graves were investigated without excavation
To assess the possible extent and location of unmarked burials, the project used professional GPR surveys. NAEVA Geophysics, Inc. conducted surveys and produced interpretive reports and maps, according to the ASLA account. GPR is a geophysical and archaeological service, not a consumer tool for volunteers to operate casually. Any work that could affect human remains requires advance contact with the appropriate preservation and permitting authorities.
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A responsible preservation workflow for another community
1. Identify descendants, ownership and decision-makers
Begin with people before equipment. Compile known descendants and family contacts, nearby residents, faith and civic groups, the cemetery owner or administrator, and the local government department responsible for grounds. Ask who can authorize work on a plot, who can approve public interpretation and who must receive notice before a contractor enters the property.
At Daughters of Zion, descendants, local pastors, city representatives and preservation advocates all had roles. That mix matters because legal authority, cultural authority and technical expertise may belong to different people.
2. Document the place before proposing treatment
Create a baseline record that another person can update. Photograph overall views and each visible marker, map paths and boundaries, note standing water and erosion, record tree hazards and collect available burial records and family histories. Log the date, photographer, location, condition and any uncertainty for every entry. Virginia DHR’s current cemetery-preservation guidance identifies marker photography, burial-record gathering, family-history documentation and tracking changes over time as appropriate preservation activities.
Do not infer that a cemetery is empty because a surface survey finds no stone. Record suspected locations without probing, digging or using homemade detection methods.
3. Separate immediate hazards from conservation work
Use a triage list so urgent risks are not confused with cosmetic improvements:
- Life-safety hazards: unstable trees, branches, sinkholes, exposed wires or unsafe access routes.
- Site threats: active erosion, drainage problems, fence failure or vehicles entering the grounds.
- Marker risks: leaning, cracked, detached or buried stones that could suffer further damage.
- Information gaps: uncertain boundaries, incomplete records or possible unmarked burials.
Photograph and isolate a hazard where feasible, then notify the land manager. Do not reset a dangerous stone or cut a tree without authorization and qualified advice.
4. Turn the baseline into a written plan and budget
Rank work by urgency, significance, feasibility and cost. A useful plan states the location, problem, proposed treatment, responsible party, permissions, estimated cost, sequence and maintenance requirement for each task. Include alternatives where a low-impact stabilization can protect a marker while a more complex conservation treatment is funded later.
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The Charlottesville campaign’s plan and cost estimates helped make a municipal budget request understandable. A written plan also prevents a one-day cleanup from substituting for long-term care.
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Known family-owned headstones require a family conversation before repair, resetting, cleaning or metalwork. Record who provided permission, what treatment was approved and whether the family wants inscriptions, photographs or genealogical information shared publicly. If ownership or family authority is unclear, pause the treatment and seek guidance from the cemetery administrator and a preservation professional.
6. Use qualified conservators and masons for markers
Broken or cracked headstones can fail when handled incorrectly. Have a preservation specialist assess stone type, structural condition, previous repairs, biological growth and the safest treatment. A skilled mason may be needed for resetting or structural repair; an architectural materials conservator can specify compatible methods and materials.
Do not assume that household cleaners, pressure washing, wire brushes, adhesives or concrete are harmless. The Daughters of Zion case documents consultation with specialists and masons, but it does not endorse consumer cleaning products or untrained repairs.
7. Investigate possible unmarked burials non-invasively
When records, terrain or oral history suggest additional graves, commission an appropriately qualified archaeological or geophysical provider to evaluate the question. The documented Daughters of Zion project used GPR and interpretive mapping rather than volunteer excavation.
Before any ground disturbance, contact Virginia DHR and the responsible local authority about archaeological review, permits and treatment of human remains. DHR’s guidance also notes required engagement with federally recognized Virginia Tribes in relevant burial-permit cases effective July 1, 2024. A survey plan should explain how data will be protected, who can access maps and how findings will be communicated to descendants.
8. Address drainage, boundaries and vegetation as preservation issues
Water movement can erode soil and expose or destabilize graves and markers. A boundary fence can prevent vehicle intrusion and make the cemetery’s extent legible, but its placement should follow historical evidence and owner approval. Tree work requires an arborist or other qualified professional when branches or roots threaten people, stones or burial areas. Coordinate all site work with the land manager so that a solution to one problem does not create another.
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9. Build the funding case around phases
Separate emergency stabilization, documentation, specialist studies, conservation treatments, interpretation and recurring maintenance. Show the cost and consequence of postponing each phase. Seek municipal funds, preservation grants and community support only after confirming eligibility, deadlines and matching requirements.
Virginia DHR’s “Starting Small” page reported 13 basic-maintenance grants totaling $10,090 distributed as of September 21, 2026, in the FY2026–27 program year. Its listed FY2026–27 recipient cemeteries did not include Daughters of Zion Cemetery, so that update should not be presented as a current grant to this site.
10. Establish maintenance and interpretation together
Agree on inspection intervals, mowing and vegetation responsibilities, storm-response procedures, record storage and a process for reporting new damage. Pair that routine with respectful interpretation: a marker, exhibit, guided program or annual gathering can explain the mutual aid society, segregation and the descendants’ continuing connection without exposing sensitive family information.
Choose the right approach for the question
| Decision | Appropriate first step | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Documentation versus treatment | Record conditions and history, then write a prioritized plan before physical intervention. | Baseline evidence supports sound choices and funding requests. |
| Marked graves versus possible unmarked burials | Use descendant-approved conservation and qualified masons for markers; use professional GPR or archaeological advice for suspected burials. | The two problems require different skills, permissions and risk controls. |
| Community advocacy versus public responsibility | Community members organize, document history and advocate; the owner or public administrator authorizes and coordinates maintenance. | Clear roles prevent unauthorized work and make requests actionable. |
| Immediate stabilization versus long-term care | Remove urgent hazards and stop active damage, then fund recurring inspections and maintenance. | A one-time repair cannot protect a cemetery from continuing erosion, vegetation or weather. |
Who maintains Daughters of Zion Cemetery and where to ask for help
Charlottesville cemetery office
Charlottesville’s cemetery directory lists Daughters of Zion Cemetery at 201 6th St. NW, Charlottesville, VA 22903. The directory gives 434-970-3762 and [email protected]. Confirm the details and any access or work requirements with the city before visiting with equipment or proposing a project.
Parks and Recreation landscape management
The city’s Landscape Management information says Parks & Recreation maintains city cemeteries, including Daughters of Zion Cemetery. It describes trained grounds staff, but it does not publish a site-specific marker-inspection report or work schedule. Current maintenance responsibility therefore should not be mistaken for a public statement about the present condition of individual stones.
Virginia Department of Historic Resources
DHR’s cemetery-preservation program offers guidance, technical assistance, training workshops, consultation, funding information and support concerning human remains and permits. Contact the program before archaeological activity, ground disturbance or a treatment that may affect historic fabric.
Preservers and University of Virginia inquiries
The University of Virginia Institute for Public History directs readers to the Preservers’ Facebook page for the most up-to-date cemetery information. It publishes [email protected] and Professor Lisa Goff’s university email for questions about cemetery information, the university’s involvement or ways to participate. These are inquiry routes, not confirmation of a current volunteer calendar or response time.
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What volunteers can do safely
- Build a photographic and written condition inventory from public areas and with permission.
- Collect oral histories and family records with clear consent and agreed privacy limits.
- Compare historic maps, directories and burial records without altering the ground.
- Report fallen branches, erosion, vandalism, fence damage and unstable markers to the land manager.
- Help prepare meeting notes, a phased budget, grant applications and public-history materials.
- Attend authorized training or workdays led by qualified preservation personnel.
Volunteers should not excavate, probe for graves, move fragments, reset stones, apply cleaner, cut roots, remove vegetation around a marker or enter a closed area without authorization. A well-intentioned shortcut can erase evidence, damage stone or disturb human remains.
Common failure points and practical fixes
Starting with a cleanup day
Risk: Untrained clearing can damage fragile markers or disturb graves. Fix: Complete a condition survey, obtain permission and define tasks with the owner and a preservation specialist first.
Treating one burial estimate as definitive
Risk: Different sources report about 300, about 600 or 641 burials. Fix: Attribute every count to its publisher and date, and describe the inventory as source-dependent.
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Risk: Families may object to a treatment, relocation or public disclosure. Fix: Identify descendants, document consent and use qualified conservation advice.
Using volunteers to search for unmarked graves
Risk: Digging or improvised detection can disturb remains and violate permit requirements. Fix: Ask DHR and the relevant authority about permits, tribal engagement where applicable and professional geophysical or archaeological services.
Assuming municipal maintenance answers every question
Risk: A city listing confirms administrative responsibility but not the current condition of each marker or the next work date. Fix: Request current access and maintenance information directly and document conditions through an authorized survey.
A compact planning checklist
- Name the owner or administrator and the descendants or community representatives who must participate.
- Map boundaries, access, erosion, trees, markers and known records without disturbing soil.
- Classify hazards and protect people and historic fabric from immediate damage.
- Ask a preservation specialist to review the baseline and identify appropriate treatments.
- Obtain descendant permission for known family markers and record the decision.
- Obtain archaeological, geophysical and permitting advice before investigating suspected burials.
- Write a phased plan with costs, responsibilities, permissions and recurring maintenance.
- Present the plan to the responsible public body and potential funders.
- Publish only history and personal information that descendants have agreed to share.
- Set inspection dates, reporting channels and a process for updating the condition record.
Daughters of Zion Cemetery demonstrates that preservation is strongest when community knowledge, descendant authority, professional conservation and public responsibility reinforce one another. The campaign’s lasting lesson is a sequence: understand the place, organize the people, plan the work, obtain permission, use specialists where the risks demand them and secure care beyond the first repair.
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