Listed below are the names on existing stones and markers. We would appreciate some assistance in obtaining all names for this important African American cemetery.
 
 
 

Some History of the Colored Benevolent Association Cemetery

What is now called the Mt. Pisgah Cemetery was not always named that or situated exactly as it appears today. Apparently, the original deed to the property was never recorded; however, one can find mention of that land transfer in Deed Book 56, page 166, May, 1872. This deed concerns land transferred from John Heiskell, Special Commissioner, of the First Part, and James Wirgman and Octavius Wirgman, of the Second part. The property was a 326 acre tract of Mr. Gibson, then deceased, in the area of lands of Indian Mound Cemetery and the farm presently called "Sycamore Dale." The cemetery is mentioned as such: "...excepted about one acre, lying in the bend of the N. W. Turnpike Road on Town Hill just below the Indian Mound Cemetery which one acre has been sold to the Colored Benevolent Association for a cemetery." This was before U.S. Rt. 50 was constructed, so the cemetery was in the bend of a major highway. Also, the association of the name Mt. Pisgah with the cemetery is relatively new and does not connote any ownership by the church, but rather association with the community for which the church was a major community center.

Some information on the Colored Benevolent Association can be found in notes from a speech given on the Association's 53rd Anniversary, July 30, 1920: "The Benevolent Society of Romney, West Virginia was organized by Daniel Banks on Jan. 1, 1867 in the Courthouse with a membership of 50 people; only three people and the present president now survive." Alfred Whiting was the first President; sometimes membership was up to 80.

Further research reveals notes of the meeting concerning the surrendering of a small part of the cemetery to allow for the straightening of Rt 50: July 10, 1934, it was agreed to sell the original land to the State Road Commission (SRC). (It seems that the following was what the the Association wanted for the original land and the move - not necessarily what the State gave them.) Lots = $10, single grave $3; $75 for damages done; a fence to be provided by SRC; the old road to be given to the C.B.A.
[from papers of M.S.W. 5/20/11]

The straightening of Rt. 50 is further described in Deed Book 97, page 364 and page 365 where the State buys .1 acre of land, more or less, for the new road alignment; the State also purchases three lots in the cemetery for the purpose of relocating the graves disturbed by the highway relocation. The project identifier is "P. W. S. 202-B Hampshire County." The deed is dated October 23, 1934.

DOH drawing of 0.1 acre strip bought for Rt. 50 project.
Blue text and fill added by web editor for clarity.

A search of courthouse records has not yet turned up any document verifying the establishment of the Association. It could be that just following the Civil War no one cared to file papers for a colored organization. Furthermore, a query to the Division of Highways has not turned up any documents relating to the agreement connected with the land transfer in 1934 other than the deed mentioned above. It appears that the cemetery was reduced by .1 acre of land. Above and below are the only drawings yet found that records the original layout. It is not clear what graves had to be moved or which were the three lots to be used for reinterment.

At the present time we are interested in doing some ground penetrationg radar to find and mark all the burials in the cemetery. We would like to see the remaining trustees of the cemetery replace the deceased members so they are better able to carry on the work of management of the cemetery. Below are some documents relating to the trustees of the cemetery and the change in the size of the cemetery due to the straightening of Rt. 50.

Highway Department drawing of highway through cemetery

Mt. Pisgah Benevolent Cemetery Trustees appointed 1934

Mt. Pisgah Benevolent Cemetery Trustees appointed 1999

Mt. Pisgah Benevolent Cemetery Trustees appointed 2000

Note: Be advised that this is a draft list and may contain errors; we are soliciting assistance in completing this important project.
You should check also the names shown in the section "Names from obituaries" below.
Also you should check out the list of county "colored" deaths* and note those buried in Romney (b. Romney). They may be here. Researching Black history is difficult since so few records exist.

Nancy J. Alexander, wife of Albert, b. July 4, 1855; d. April 27, 1904
J. N. Austin, b. June 19, 1862; d. Nov. 26, 1906 *
Mrs. M. A. Austin, b. July 18, 1827; d. Nov. 26, 1879
Abram Banks [Review Obituary of March 11, 1903 states he died Thursday last (5th); member and sexton of Presbyterian Church]
Patsy Banks, d. Feb. 14, 1873, Aged 66 Years
Mary A. Barnett, b. Feb. 8, 1891; d. Jan. 4, 19?? wife of E. Barnett
Dewey C. Beckwith, b. Jan. 23, 1913; d. April 1, 1991 (Margie M.)
Margie M. Beckwith, b. April 28, 1918; d. March 31, 1998 (Dewey C.)
Maggie Berry - see Maggie Jackson
Gloria J. Brooks, b. July 21, 1948; d. Jan 7, 2023
Marie Ellen Brooks, b. 1924; d. 1986
Van Seymour Brooks, Sr., PFC, U.S. Army, WWII, b. Aug. 11, 1911; d. Dec. 20, 2000
Van Seymour Brooks, Jr., Sgt, U.S. Army, Vietnam, b. Jan. 2, 1943; d. May 25, 2018
Wesley Brown(?), b. Jan. 8, 1836; d. Feb. 12, 1908 *
Clarcy Bush, d. Aug 6, 1885, aged 80 years
Leona Clifford, b. 1897; d. 1943
John D. Coleman, d. Sep. 5, 1931, Aged 68 Yrs (Viola) born on Pancake place
Viola Coleman, Mar. 1, 1859; d. July 24, 1929 Wife of John D. Coleman
Anna Mae Demark, b. 1932; d. 2003 [Denmark?]
Billy M. Denmark; b. 1969; d. 2024
Donald "Donnie" W. Denmark, Sr., [b. Nov. 26, 1954; d. Nov. 6, 2019 Review obit]
Frances L. Denmark, B. 1962; d. 1996
Helen E. Denmark, b. 1907; d. 1996
Linda K. Denmark, b. 1952; d. 2024
James Allen Denmark, b. Sept. 20, 1953; d. Sept. 22, 2003
Ulysess G. Buck Denmark, b. 1900; d. 1970 Note different initial
Johnny L. Fields, b. 1947; d. 2011
Annie D. Fisher, b. July 1, 1889; d. Dec. 8, 1918
Matilda J. Fisher, Wife of Robert Fisher, d. Oct. 18, 1904(?); age 65 years, 6 mos. & 20 days
Nancy F(isher?), d. July 25, 1888, aged ??, wife of Harry F(isher?)
Robert Fisher, b. Dec. 2(?), 1829(?), d. July 29, 1905
Susan A. Fisher, b. Jan. 1, 1845; d. sept. 18, 1910; wife of W. S. Fisher
William S. Fisher, b. Apr. 2, 18??; d. Dec. 14(?), 1915
Consuelo Galloway, d. Oct. 24, 1915, aged 40 years, Wife of Daniel Galloway
Elmira Gardner, b. 1865; d. 1948 (Thomas H.)
Haven S. Gardner, b. 1910; d. Apr. 16, 1958 [temp marker Shaffer Funeral Home]
Nancy M. Gardner, b. 1933; d. 2001
Thomas H. Gardner, b. 1872; d. 1966 (Elmira)
Monroe D. Goodwin, b. 1934; d. 1995
Lester Green, Pvt. 505 Engr. Service BN., February 17, 1936
Dr. John Knotes, d. Sept. 24, 1890, Aged 100 years
Carmen A. Lee, b. Oct. 6, 1946; d. July 3, 1961
Robert E. Lee, b. Sep. 29, 1936; d. Sep. 6, 1960
Annie V. Jackson, b. 1899; d. 1957 (Warner)
Eliza Jackson b. March 5 (or 8), 1795(?); Died (?), 1882(?)
Eliza J. Jackson, b. 1849; d. 1925 (Jacob)
Jacob Jackson, b. 1851; d. 1930 (Eliza J., 1849-1925)
Jerome Jackson, b. 1898, d. 1958, son of Jacob & Eliza
Lucy Jackson, b. 1893; d. 1968, daughter of Jacob & Eliza
Maggie Jackson, b. 1884; d. 1961 [name listed as Maggie Berry; it is unclear if her middle name was Berry or if she married a Berry]
Minnie B. Jackson, b. 1882; d. 1961
Robert H. Jackson, b. 1889; d. 1955 (Vernie R.)
Vernie R. Jackson, b. 1897; d. 1976
Warner Jackson, b. 1888; d. 1977 (Annie V.) son of Jacob & Eliza; [gift to Hospital]
William J. Jackson, b. 1885; d. 1965
Edward Lewis, Cook, 802 Poineer Infantry, WWI, b. Oct. 1, 1889; d. Sept. 24, 1958
Thomas S(?) Lewis, d. Aug. 9, 1941 age 28 yrs., 7 mos. 3 days [Combs Funeral Home,
Romney, W. Va.]
Charles Mathews, b. Sept. 13, 1841; d. Jan. 2, 1894
Harry Mathews, b. Jun(?) 9, 1863; d. Oct 8, 1893
Dennis C. McKenzie, d. Oct. 16, 1994 [temp marker Shaffer Funeral Home]
Frank L. Method, b. Oct. 24, 1920; d. July 5, 1961 Tec5, 77 Engineer Co., WWII
Hilda J. Method, b. 1925; d. 1987 Mother
Stanley Heaver Method, b. August 14, 1934; d. May 19, 1963, Sp4, 633 Engineer Co.,
Sterling L. Method, b. Mar. 30, 1922; d. Apr. 1, 1998, Tec5, US Army WWII
David P. Rolls, b. Mar. 17, 1871 [or 1874?]; d. Aug. 29, 1941 [*see note below]
Henry W. Rolls, b. 1840; d. 1917
Anna B. Singleton, b. Sept. 26, 1880; d. Jan. 5, 1959 (Robert R.)
Robert R. Singleton, b. Nov. 14, 1884; d. not inscribed, Barber of Romney (Anna B.) [Shaffer lists buried Dec. 5, 1968]
E. R. Smith, Jr., b. 1957(?); d. 1965
Goldie E. Smith, b. 1926; d. 2001
Charles E. Smith, B. 1961; d. 1995
Lawrence R. Smith, b. Jan. 5, 1930; d. Aug. 12, 2011, Cpl. U.S. Army, Korea
Juanita J. Stewart, b. 1945; d. 1991 [in Method plot]
Charlotte V. Stone, b. 1931; d. 2000
Edith May Streets, b. 1891; d. 1966 (James)
James Streets, b. 1867; d. 1961 (Edith May)
James W. Streets, Jr., Pvt. U.S. Army, WWII, b. Jul. 28, 1905; d. Jan. 18, 1981
John W. Streets, b. 1867; d. 1921
Jack G. Taylor, b. 1953; d. 1996
B[ernard]. Joseph "Joe" Walker, b. May 18, 1934; d. May 6, 2000
Mary Ester Walker, b. June 17, 1930, d. Feb. 4, 2012
John R. Washington, b. Oct 11, 1860(?); d. June 29, 190?, aged 45 years
Anna Eliza Whiting, b. Oct. 7, 1836; d. April 26, 1900(?)
Betty Mae Willis, b. March 15, 1937; d. Dec. 2002
Blair G. Willis, Cpl., U.S. Army, WWII, b. May 2, 1906; d. Jul. 7, 1971 (Mary L.)
Mary A. Willis, b. Dec. 7, 1900; d. Feb. 8, 1971 (Blair G.)
Michael Lee Willis, b. 1966; d. 1967

Veteran service highlighted in bold in listing above

Cornelius A. Austin, about 61, conducted Little Gem Restaurant [Review Jan. 4, 1933]

Lizzie Brady, about 77, [Review Mar. 16, 1932]

John Bush, about 79, born in St. Louis, [Review Aug. 15, 1928]

Linda Kay Denmark, age 72, April 20, 1952-May 7, 2024 [Review obit May 15, 2024 p.2A]

Nora Goodwin, age 51, [Review 3/16/1927]

Zephyr Green, d. 1932[Review Mar. 16, 1932]

Burr Mathews about 62 [Review Nov. 16, 1932]

John Qualls, about 42 years old, son of Joe and Maria Qualls, died at State Hospital for the Colored at Larkin. [Review May 6, 1936]

Maria Qualls, about 63, relatives listed. [Review Sept. 21, 1927]

George Redmon, about 80 [Review July 10, 1929]

Isaac A. Washington, age 81 [Review July 31, 1940]

Alfred Whiting, age 98 years, Jan. 1, 1824 - March 6, 1922. Source: Obituary in the Hampshire Review of March 8, 1922 Mr. Whitings death certificate lists that he is buried "in Romney."

The following names are taken from Hampshire County Death Records (1866-1922)*, compiled by Vicki Bidinger Horton; printed by The Hampshire Review, Romney, West Virginia, 1993 and are listed therein as "bur. in Romney." We can not be sure which cemetery they were buried in because we know of at least one other African-American cemetery in Romney, Armstrong Cemetery which was probably used from around the Civil War to sometime before 1927. We assume some of the names below are buried in Mt.Pisgah Cemetery.

Bank, Daniel N. 1899, Feb 24; age 67, married
Banks, Alexander, 1875, Mar. 11, age 1m, 17d
Banks, Earl, 1897, age 1y 6m
Banks, Frances F. (F) 1894, Nov 22; age 38, single
Goshorn, Ella, M., 1896, Dec. 16 age 5y 9m 9d
Holt, Sarah 1902, Sep 1; age 23, single
Huskins, Charles G. F. 1899, Jul 19; b. Philadelphia
Jackson, Jane 1896, Nov 12; age 78
Jackson, Nannie (F) 1898, Feb 19; 16y 2m 13d
Kent, Paty (F) 1898, Feb 4; age 90
Keys, Foreman (M) 1897, Sep 12; age 22
Martin, Bertie (F) 1899, Oct 6; age 38, married
Mathews, Hoppie (F) 1898, Nov 14; age 20
Peters, Ann Bille, 1897, May 1 age 57
Robinson, P. (F) 1897, Jun 20; age 72
Rolls, Guss (M) 1898, Dec 12; age 14
Rolls, Harry R. 1898, Dec 27; 12y m 10d
Rolls, Mary 1899, Jan 4;
Settleton, Arch, 1894, Feb. 9, age 2m 24d
Smith, Charles F., 1896, Sep. 13, age 10y 9m
Smith, Edie (F) 1898, Feb 28;
Smith, Edith 1898, Mar 25; 27y 6m 4d
Thompson, Willie, 1892, Feb. 10 age 10m

The following names are taken from Undertaker/Funeral Home records. Note: we assume these were buried in this listed Benevolent Cemetery, but the register simply says black cemetery.

Albert Alexander, Jan. [23] (Shaffer)
Emily E. Bartlett, June [8], 1949 (Shaffer)
Nellie S. Bartlett, Nov. [1], 1961 (Shaffer)
Thomas F. Bartlett, July [20], 1956 (Shaffer)
Bell Brooks, June [20], 1957 (Shaffer)
Harry Clifton Brooks, Jan. [4], 1969 (Shaffer)
Charles W. Brown, June [29], 1946 (Shaffer)
Maggie B. Brown, Feb. [27], 1956 (Shaffer)
Virgie Curtis, April [1], 1962 (Shaffer)
Mary Frances Day, Feb. [9], 1957 (Shaffer)
William Clay Denmark, Oct. [12], 1977 (Shaffer) [family verified buried in (Mt. Pisgah) Colored Benevolent Cemetery]
Edward Fisher, Dec. [1], 1962 (Shaffer)
Mary M. Gardner, May [25], 1970 (Shaffer)
Infant - Monroe Goodwin, April [24], 1946 (Shaffer, p.21)
Carmen Allen Lee, July [6], 1961 (Shaffer)
Robert E. Lee, Sept. [8], 1960 (Shaffer)
Rayfield Lewis, April [28], 1947 (Shaffer)
Roberta A. Lewis, Oct. [6], 1966 (Shaffer)
Matilda C. Method, Nov. [4], 1963 (Shaffer)
Peare Pauky (Pauley, Panky?), March [20], 1949 (Shaffer)
Warrick F. Pankey, Dec. [17], 1977 (Shaffer)
Alexander Shingleton, Oct. [27], 1949 (Shaffer)
Lawrence R. Smith (Baby), Nov. [14], 1959 (Shaffer)
Wm. A. B. Smith, Feb. [12], 1949 (Shaffer)
Charles H. Sugars, Sept. [18], 1974
Josephine H. Sugars, Nov. [18], 1956 (Shaffer)
Pearl Sugars, April [16], 1972 (Shaffer)
Baby Girl Walker, Oct. 1961 (Shaffer, p.44)
Marion Taylor, Jan. [11], 1970 (Shaffer)
Baby Boy Willis, Mar. [24], 1963 (Shaffer)
Larry Willis, Nov. [8], 1948 (Shaffer)
Infant of Mary Ester Willis, July [26], 1946

Number in brackets [] is burial date. Checked Shaffer journal 1946-Feb. 3, 1982 (begin new book)

The following names were supplied by Jane Ailes from death certificates.
Albert Alexander whose wife Nancy is listed above. [d. 6 Nov., 1926] [Alexander was a delegate in 1888 to the Colored Independents convention in Charleston which nominated a slate for the upcoming state election.]
Mary L. Alexander, second wife of Albert Alexander [d. 19 Sep., 1946]
Ida Jackson, widow of Jobe Jackson, a blacksmith, died Tuesday of last week.[Review Oct. 24, 1934]
Everett E. Delph Jan. 31, 1910 - Jan/Feb? 23, 1969 [source of info unknown]

This is an ongoing project. Please contact us if you have information on this cemetery - people buried here or the deeding of the cemetery and the establishment of the Colored Benevolent Association. Contact us through the contact page on this site or call Charles Hall (540-313-4757). We need your help.