PHOTOS: African-American cemetery preserved, reconsecrated

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Quest to learn family history unearths historic African-American cemetery in disrepair in 2019. Since then work has since been done to clean, document and preserve it. The cemetery, where more than 500 African Americans and former slaves are buried, was reconsecrated during a Juneteenth celebration.

Michael Bell lays flowers on some of the few marked graves at the Pierce Chapel African Cemetery in Midland, outside of Columbus, on Monday, June 20, 2022. The cemetery was rediscovered in 2019 and work has since been done to clean, document and preserve it. The cemetery, where more than 500 African Americans and former slaves are buried, was reconsecrated during a Juneteenth celebration. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

220620-Midland-Yamona Pierce greets attendees following a Juneteenth ceremony at the Pierce Chapel African Cemetery in Midland, outside of Columbus, on Monday, June 20, 2022. Pierce led the effort to clean, document and preserve the cemetery, where some of her relatives are buried, after seeing it for the first time in 2019. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Andrea Cox has at least three relatives buried in the Pierce Chapel African Cemetery in Midland, outside of Columbus. The cemetery was rediscovered in 2019 and work has since been done to clean, document and preserve it. The cemetery was reconsecrated during a Juneteenth celebration Monday, June 20, 2022. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

220620-Midland-A pink flag marks one of more than 500 grave sites in the Pierce Chapel African Cemetery in Midland, outside of Columbus. The cemetery was rediscovered in 2019 and work has since been done to clean, document and preserve it. The cemetery was reconsecrated during a Juneteenth celebration Monday, June 20, 2022. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Minister Roosevelt Broadnax takes photos of one of the few marked graves at the Pierce Chapel African Cemetery in Midland, outside of Columbus, on Monday, June 20, 2022. The cemetery was rediscovered in 2019 and work has since been done to clean, document and preserve it. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

People sing during a Juneteenth celebration at the Pierce Chapel African Cemetery in Midland, outside of Columbus, on Monday, June 20, 2022. The cemetery was rediscovered in 2019 and work has since been done to clean, document and preserve it. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Daisy P. Belt holds two roses while attending a Juneteenth celebration at the Pierce Chapel African Cemetery in Midland, outside of Columbus, on Monday, June 20, 2022. The cemetery was rediscovered in 2019 and work has since been done to clean, document and preserve it. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

L’Anita Heiss and her daughter Lillian, 3, look at one of the few marked graves at the Pierce Chapel African Cemetery in Midland, outside of Columbus, on Monday, June 20, 2022. The cemetery was rediscovered in 2019 and work has since been done to clean, document and preserve it. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Bonita Hightower attends a Juneteenth celebration at the Pierce Chapel African Cemetery in Midland, outside of Columbus, on Monday, June 20, 2022. The cemetery was rediscovered in 2019 and work has since been done to clean, document and preserve it. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A program and rose sit on a woman’s lap during a Juneteenth celebration Monday, June 20, 2022 in Midland, outside Columbus, where the Pierce Chapel African Cemetery was reconsecrated. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Sunlight hits one of the few marked graves at the Pierce Chapel African Cemetery in Midland, outside of Columbus, on Monday, June 20, 2022. The cemetery was rediscovered in 2019 and work has since been done to clean, document and preserve it. The cemetery, where more than 500 African Americans and former slaves are buried, was reconsecrated during a Juneteenth celebration. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Dr. O’dyke Nzewi performs a West African ceremony during a Juneteenth celebration at the Pierce Chapel African Cemetery in Midland, outside of Columbus, on Monday, June 20, 2022. The cemetery was rediscovered in 2019 and work has since been done to clean, document and preserve it. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A small sign marks the Pierce Chapel African Cemetery in Midland, outside of Columbus. The cemetery was rediscovered in 2019 and work has since been done to clean, document and preserve it. The cemetery was reconsecrated during a Juneteenth celebration Monday, June 20, 2022. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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Michael Bell lays flowers on some of the few marked graves at the Pierce Chapel African Cemetery in Midland, outside of Columbus, on Monday, June 20, 2022. The cemetery was rediscovered in 2019 and work has since been done to clean, document and preserve it. The cemetery, where more than 500 African Americans and former slaves are buried, was reconsecrated during a Juneteenth celebration. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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Credit: abbey.cutrer@ajc.com

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