HISTORY

HISTORIC OAKWOOD CEMETERY

A sacred space celebrating more than 150 years of prominence and purpose

BY ANITA B. STONE PHOTOS BY BRIAN MULLINS

Few people would put the final resting place of those who have passed at the top of their “can’t-wait-to-see” list— especially in light of modern-day cemeteries that lack any sense of originality. But Historic Oakwood Cemetery, established in 1869 and located at 701 Oakwood Avenue in Raleigh, rises above expectations and presents itself as an up-to-date, innovative and imaginative 19-century gem.

The cemetery’s grounds accommodate ancient trees lining miles of paved paths that beckon visitors to step beyond the iron-scrolled entrance to a treasured garden-park in downtown Raleigh, where many come to relax, eat lunch, stroll along the paths or play a game of bridge.

PURPOSEFUL PROMINENCE

Raleigh’s oldest private cemetery is cared for by the Sons of Confederate Veterans and accommodates a cross section of more than 20,000 of the area’s citizenry, including prominent city, state and national leaders. Upon entering Historic Oakwood Cemetery’s sacred grounds, visitors often sense a sharp awareness of the importance of where one’s final resting place is set. Stately willows hover over headstones throughout the landscape, and elaborate granite sculptures enhance a walk through this historic space, which has held meaning to Raleigh and Wake County for more than 150 years. Thirty acres have been reserved for future needs and are located in what is often referred to as “Old Raleigh,” where Victorian homes and tidily tended lawns line the streets.

Historic Oakwood Cemetery’s grounds were originally part of the plantation belonging to Moses Mordecai, a prominent Raleigh attorney. Mordecai’s son, Henry, donated the grounds for the cemetery in 1867. The Mordecai House, built in 1785 and located at 1 Mimosa Street in Mordecai Historic Park, is the oldest house in Raleigh in its original location; it is a designated Raleigh historic landmark, and accommodates a museum that is open to the public.

UNEARTHING RESPECT

Historic Oakwood Cemetery contains several sections devoted to individual purposes. Within the grounds is the Raleigh Hebrew Cemetery, founded in 1912 by Jewish community members. Moses Mordecai was raised in an Orthodox Jewish family and was faithful to this religion throughout his life. All headstones in the Raleigh Hebrew Cemetery contain personal stories, with some including memorial rocks of remembrance that face east.

Oakwood’s Historic Confederate Cemetery is located on land that was specifically delegated in 1866 “for such a special purpose” by Henry Mordecai. The Wake County Ladies Memorial Association arranged for the land to be cleared to ensure proper burials for the men who gave their lives for the South. Prior to their relocation in the Historic Confederate Cemetery, most of the Confederate soldiers who died in Wake County had been buried in Rock Quarry Cemetery, now known as Raleigh National Cemetery. When federal troops moved in to carry out Reconstruction orders, they took possession of Rock Quarry Cemetery, demanding the removal of Confederate soldiers’ bodies and reportedly announcing that if they were not removed within two days, they would throw the bodies in the street.

According to the Historic Oakwood Cemetery website, Raleigh residents rallied and, through hard manual labor, dug up and removed more than 500 Confederate dead— 494 from Rock Quarry Cemetery, 20 from the city cemetery, 14 near Henry Mordecai’s property, eight from Wake Forest, six from Camp Mangum (the current site of the state fairgrounds and Meredith College), two from Camp Holmes and two from farms located in Chapel Hill. Women related to the laborers walked alongside them as they unearthed and removed the bodies, encouraging them and supplying refreshments. Today, Historic Oakwood Cemetery serves as the final resting place for 1,388 Confederate soldiers and two Union soldiers.

Over the years, additional North Carolina Confederate dead have been relocated to Oakwood’s Historic Confederate Cemetery from Civil War graveyards across the country. A House of Memory, in which American veterans of all wars are now commemorated, was constructed and dedicated in 1936 next to the cemetery’s Confederate graves.

Newer sections of Historic Oakwood Cemetery have since been established. A portion called Mordecai’s Meadow is set aside for what is known as “green burials”— a simple and natural burial that reunites the body with the earth using biodegradable caskets, no embalming fluids, and no concrete or metal vaults. There is also a Memorial Cremation Garden dedicated for those who wish to have a place for cremains.

A SHARED SACRED SPACE

Ongoing efforts at Historic Oakwood Cemetery invite the public to enjoy nature walks, astronomy sessions, history discourses, theatrical performances, contemporary presentations and interactive programs focusing on community service and ongoing citizen outreach. The Wild Women of Oakwood offer a variety of tours, one of which brings to life the courageous works of women from Raleigh’s past by highlighting their successes in medicine, the arts and public welfare.

The Death Letter Project requests letters from North Carolinans about personal encounters with death, what they learned from those encounters and how they were changed by them. Each letter is unique and addresses specific issues outlined in the project. The letters are saved and periodically made available to the public. This innovative program won the 2019 International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association’s “Keeping It Personal” (KIP) award.

Historic Oakwood Cemetery also supports a Day of Remembrance through which citizens write messages on ribbons that are hung from crepe myrtle branches in the cemetery’s Grove of Remembrance. Recently, an event was held to honor those lost to the COVID-19 pandemic.

During 2022, a workshop titled “Life Lessons Through Impermanent Art” will be offered by Michael Palko, the cemetery’s photographer-in-residence. Participants create designs, forms and mandalas out of natural materials during this educational activity that encourages reflection on beauty, change and the process of letting go. Raleigh’s Burning Coal Theatre presents a series of short, on-site plays that bring to life cemetery inhabitants’ intriguing histories, as well as plays by Piedmont Laureate Ian Finley and South African playwright Athol Fugard.

Historic Oakwood Cemetery’s engagement with the lives of local citizenry, reverence to the area’s historical legacy, and openness to the changing needs and attitudes of the public—combined with its innate beauty— mark it as one of the most unusual cemeteries of its kind.

Runners often frequent the cemetery to participate in races that support worthy causes, while others visit to mourn, learn, participate in an event, or simply absorb the cemetery’s natural beauty and captivating sculptures. Historic Oakwood Cemetery is not just for those who have passed—it’s for the living as well, and represents a sacred space shared between the two.

Learn more about this Raleigh gem at historicoakwoodcemetery.org.