Evergreen Cemetery

Oct 2021

There is so much beautiful history, yet the upkeep is horrible; such the pattern of the historic Black cemeteries in Florida. What can be done if one doesn't have billionaire pockets?

Jan 2020

Evergreen Cemetery opened on June 1, 1916. This African-American cemetery was created by prominent black citizens when the city commission passed a law in 1913 that white and black people could not be buried together. This law stayed in place until 1966. Prominent people buried in this cemetery include Dr. T. Leroy, the city's first black doctor, educator James W. Mickens, and real estate investor Henry Speed. Originally the 9 acre cemetery was managed by the Evergreen association that created it but but through the years the cemetery fell into neglect as funds for its maintenance dried up. The city took over management of the cemetery in 1987 but didn't do anything about it for the next ten years. Citizens brought to their attention that crypts had been cracked opened by vandals and time and they finally set about caring for the property. The city reburied the bones, made paved walkways, and installed a fence, lights, and grass. In 2002 the coquina stone archway and a sprinkler system were added. A law passed in 2013 prohibits new burials except for families that have a deed for a crypt and want to inter cremated remains. The cemetery has lost all records so without a deed they do not allow interments. Sadly records no longer remain of who is buried where. Not many people know about this cemetery. It is at the end of a road in an industrial park making it secluded but the pioneers buried here were the ones who built Palm Beach and they should not be forgotten. Although some of the graves are cracked, the grounds are well maintained and peaceful. Compared to some of the African-American cemeteries I've come across this one is peaceful. There is a historical plaque out front detailing the history of the cemetery. The people buried here ended up a lot better off than those in the cemetery that was used before this. The first black first cemetery was across from Lakeside Cemetery. The neighborhood of Flamingo Park was built on top without moving the bodies although about 100 unmarked graves lie in a green space. Further indignities were heaped on the black residents of the area when 674 victims of the 1928 Hurricane were placed in a mass grave near this cemetery. When compared to being an unidentified body shoved in to a mass grave or forgotten beneath someone's house, this is all things considered, a very nice final resting place.