VIDEO: Columbus Cemetery is a Treasure Trove of African-American History

COLUMBUS, Miss.(WCBI)—Right here in Columbus, sits a trove of rich history, embedded in generations of the black community, stemming back as early as the mid 1800’s.

Research shows, Sandfield Cemetery, located on Martin Luther King Drive and College Street, was designated on July 28th 1854 as the final resting place for slaves and free blacks in the Lowndes County area.

During and after the Civil War, and emancipation of slavery, several prominent African American’s were buried in the plot.

There are many unmarked graves, to this day, but local historian Rufus Ward says the grave yard continues to enrich the Columbus, Lowndes county area.

“Tremendous window into the past and the people who have been here. Then to think about the people, it’s stories that you want to read it’s not only important for who they are but it’s important for the story it tells about everybody else here and what was going on here,”said Ward.

Sandfield is owned by Columbus.