A year after starting the Pinehurst & San Sebastian Cemeteries Save a Grave Campaign, we're excited to announce that the first replacement headstones have been installed at the Pinehurst and San Sebastian Cemeteries, two of the oldest African American cemeteries in Florida.
We want to thank every single one of you who's helped make this moment possible.
The West Augustine Improvement Association is a small organization run by a handful of dedicated volunteers. For years, we witnessed one grave marker after another disintegrate and disappear. Feeling helpless, we put together a GoFundMe campaign.
The first eight new granite headstones have been installed by Southern Monument. While it may seem like a small number, we never thought it would happen.
As a small volunteer organization, grants are overwhelming and out of reach, but thanks to the kindness and generosity of all of you, we were able to make it happen. And we're not done.
Three of the people from our lost grave research turned out to be veterans, and with the help of the local DAR - Maria Jefferson Chapter, they will eventually receive veterans' headstones.
We didn't want to make another order for headstones until we saw this installment of the first granite headstones, but we are now excited to move forward with replacing more headstones.
This is just the beginning.
If you want to help honor those buried at the Pinehurst & San Sebastian Cemeteries in St. Augustine, two of the oldest African American cemeteries in Florida, please visit the Cemeteries GoFundMe page.
Below is information about the people buried at the cemeteries who have received new headstones. This information is courtesy of the WAIA historical research team.
Receipients of New Granite Headstones:
Kate Stillman Nance – Oct 13 1914 – July 23 1985
1. Obituary Sonia Nance Roberts Church of God by Faith 622 W King St A native of San Mateo FL. Moved to PA and then to St Augustine in 1976. She married Leonard Nance in St Johns Co in 1976. Her brothers, Thomas & Johnnie Stillman lived in St Augustine and brother, Alphonso, lived in Palatka. All others lived out of State.
2. Thomas Stillman – Jul 22 1917 – 19 Dec 1998
Brother to Kate. Obituary North City Baptist Church On his draft card it states he was born in Crescent City FL on May 15, 1917. Married Mary (Marguerite) Anderson. In 1950 his occupation was as a Fisherman in the Shrimping industry.
3. Jamilah Mansell Cronin – 1980 – Jan 2 2005
Born on May 8, 1980 in Duval FL. Died on Jan 2, 2005. She died at her home at age 24. She had worked as a sales clerk at Zayres Jewelers. A 1998 Graduate of St Augustine High School. She was catholic. She has a son Nicholas Cronin,
4. Jeffrey Leon Axen - Sept 8 1963 – Feb 7 1996
Born in St Augustine Fl. Died in Duval FL Father was James. He had married Pamela Majors in 1989. Divorced in 1991.
5. Lillie May Kelp Davis – Nov 27, 1917 – Mar 6, 1990
Raised in the Moultrie area. She had 4 sisters and 2 brothers. Her parents were born in South Carolina. She married Bennie Davis in July of 1939, and had a one son - Eddie Davis.
6. Gladys Delores Kelp – Jun 5 1923 – Jan 27 2004
Younger sister of Lillie Mae. Born in St Augustine and raised in the Moultrie area. She did not marry.
7. Almeta Kelp Jones - Aug 5 1906 – Jan 9 1988
Older sister of Lillie & Gladys, Born and raised in the Moultrie area of St Augustine. Married Bernie Jones
8. Artemesia Holloway Jones – Oct 28 1906 – Oct 6 1991
Artemesia Holloway Jones was a columnist for the St. Augustine Record where she wrote her piece Versanoise's Corner about the happenings in West Augustine and Lincolnville. She is the sister of nellie Meade, the founder of the West Augustine Improvement Association.
Nickname was Artie. Artemisa Veronoi Holloway - Married Bernard Jones in 1943 in St Johns Co FL.. Mother was Fannie Bryant and father was Abram Holloway.
We will host a big celebration & headstone reveal on October 19th from 8 - 12 in connection with the Fall Restoration Day, and we would like to invite all of you who have helped us get this far whether it was through donations or spreading the word. We could not make a difference without you!
- Donate via the West Augustine Improvement Association's PayPal account
- Donate via check made out to the West Augustine Improvement Association and mail it to: The West Augustine Improvement Association, 455 South Volusia Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084
- If donating directly via check or PayPal, please leave us a note, and make sure to let us know who you are, and if you want the donation to go to a specific effort community cleanup, cemetery cleanup, grabbers, D2, headstones, etc. And let us know how we can contact you, so we can thank you for your sponsorship.
- Donate to the Pinehurst & San Sebastian Cemeteries on GoFundMe.
- Have a skill that might be useful? Send us an email to westaugimptassoc@gmail.com. Whether you are a landscaper, lawyer, videographer, a baker, or something else, think of how you might be able to help the cemeteries and our mission to restore them.
- Have connections? Know someone in the media or perhaps someone who could donate equipment and tools or perhaps donate treats for our volunteers at events?
- Start a fundraiser on WAIA's behalf. Our EIN number is 521316608.
- Become a partner at any of our events. Bring your group, church, school, club or business and help us spread the word.
- Finally, sharing our event flyers and the fundraising campaigns online, on social media, and in person with your friends, family, and connections is always a great help.
We are always grateful for any kind of help whether it is time, skills, equipment, or monetary donations. No gift is too big or too small. We are small non-profit organization run by volunteers, and we need all the help we can get to carry out our mission of improving the cemeteries, the community, and bringing people together.
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