Blessing of Reverence

On Saturday, May 7, 2022 at 10:00AM there will be a Blessing of Reverence to the all members of the community that are buried in the southeast section of the Cedar Grove Cemetery, formerly known as the “colored” section. The City of Williamsburg and Let Freedom Ring Foundation would like to invite all family members and those in the community to join them at the graves of those that will be honored for this blessing. Pastor Reginald Davis of the First Baptist Church and Rev. Chris Epperson of Bruton Parish will offer prayers with a selection by Ms. Lywanda Carroll of New Zion Baptist Church to recognize more than 250 people of color and city residents buried in Cedar Grove. The City recognizes that the systematic separation of people into racial or other ethnic groups in daily life extended to the final resting places for the deceased in Williamsburg, Virginia and has committed to intentionally and purposefully lead the work of the community to address and correct this in all of our lives. This is one of the first steps that we must take together to invalidate separatism in both the life and death of all of our citizens.