Restored Humanity:
The African American Burial Grounds 

In Hardy County, two historic African American cemeteries—Oak Hill in Moorefield and Alum Banks in Wardensville—stand as quiet testaments to lives once lived. Long overlooked and under-tended, these sacred spaces reflect not only a lack of awareness but also the lingering legacy of segregation.

Beyond these known cemeteries, Mountain Heritage Trails, Inc. (dba Mountain Heritage Folk School, or MHFS) has, over the past 18 months, located 13 additional burial sites on private lands—likely the resting places of enslaved or newly emancipated individuals. Most are unmarked and nearly forgotten.

To honor these lives, MHFS is creating and installing symbolic markers at four sites by mid-September 2025. Each will feature a handcrafted wreath adorned with cowrie shells—sacred emblems in many African traditions—alongside a planted yucca, historically used by enslaved communities to mark graves. These elements serve as enduring symbols of rest, remembrance, and resistance.

At the heart of each memorial will be a hand-blown glass sphere by Byron Gaylord, an African American artist and WV Living’s 2023 Best Artist. Mounted with the wreath on a solar-lit post, each marker will cast a quiet glow—an act of honoring those whose stories remain deeply interwoven with our shared past. This AI generated image is representative of the intended memorial.

Through this work, MHFS has gained not only insight into the original scope of the project, but also a deeper understanding of the complexities of race, memory, and honest reckoning. We are grateful for the support of the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area, Visit Hardy, the Hardy County Community Foundation, and the property owners who graciously allowed access to these sacred grounds.