Friends of Geer Cemetery - Durham, NC

01/27/2026

12/16/2025

On this day in 1906, James and Laura (Allen) Bailey’s fifth child was born -- Marion Curtis Bailey, their third daughter. Marion would never know her older sister, Annie L, even though she shares a headstone with her. Marion grew up surrounded by her older siblings – James, Mack, Thelma and two younger siblings – John and Addie. The family lived on Dawkins Street, named for a neighbor, P.W. Dawkins, who was one of Durham’s educators.

Marion’s parents, James originally from Person County and Laura from Warren County, were both living in Durham at the time of their marriage in 1899. During the early years of their marriage both were laborers (string sacker and factory worker). Eventually, James would work in the insurance industry as an agent for the budding NC Mutual Life Insurance Company. Marion and her siblings all attended school as youngsters and as young adults. Starting with the 1924 Durham City Directory, Marion is listed as a student up to the year of her death in 1929.  Most likely she was attending college, but we don’t know where.  Marion seems to have suffered from appendicitis complications, and was under the care of Dr. Charles H Shepard from February 27th until her death in Lincoln Hospital on March 12th.  Marion was buried in Geer Cemetery on March 14th.

The family placed a tablet style monument in Geer Cemetery to memorialize both Annie who died in 1903 and Marion – sisters who never met but are joined together forever.

PS. The death date for Marion doesn’t match her death certificate. The discrepancy could be that the date on the monument is when it was ordered.

12/06/2025

A wonderful day of celebration at Geer Cemetery today! A great day for Durham. Thank you everyone who shared the day with us.

12/06/2025

Today's celebration was one of honor, reflection, and accomplishment. Today we reflected on the significance of ratification of the 13th amendment, honored those resting in Geer Cemetery and the preservation of key areas within the cemetery. To top it all off, the National Historic Site marker was unveiled.

A simple act of honor - a single flower on a footstone.

12/03/2025

On December 3, 1888, Riley Murphy Gilmer was born.  His parents, Catherine “Katie” Louise Glen (1873-1930) and Riley M Gilmer, Sr (about 1866 -1929) were married in 1885.  In 1888, they were expecting their first child. Sadly, the excitement of their first born was met with sadness, Riley, Jr’s life was short and three months after his birth, the couple buried their young son in Geer Cemetery.

Riley Jr would never know his younger siblings. After his death, other children were added to their family: Johnnie 1889-1944, daughter), Robert (1891-1946), Thomas (1894-1948), William (1899-?),  and Jasper (1904-?). Another child was born and died between 1900 and 1910.

Riley Gilmer, Sr was the superintendent of Geer Cemetery. Durham City Directories name him as the cemetery’s caretaker from 1909; however, his name is on earlier plot deeds preserved by descendants, and he had likely been the de facto keeper for many years before. He remained devoted to this cause for the rest of his life. 

Riley Jr is not alone in Geer Cemetery, his grandmother Annice Lunsford Glenn joined him in 1904. And eventually, his parents in 1929 and 1930. The family is buried in what we think is a family plot. In December 2022, during a Geer Cemetery Day of Service the head stone for Riley, Jr was uncovered from tangled ivy vines. The family placed a beautiful monument to memorialize Riley, at the top is a lamb indicating innocence. At the bottom is inscribed “Shall we meet beyond the river” which is the title of a spiritual song. An uplifting song of joy beyond our physical lives.

12/02/2025

It's today! Preserving the space and stories of Geer Cemetery is a labor of love, and we need helping hands of all kinds. If you're able, please consider making a donation to support this work, either online via the link below or by mailing a check to:
Friends of Geer Cemetery
5110 Stardust Drive
Durham, NC 27712
https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/36WEZKCD94NGQ

12/01/2025

The tragically shortened life of Joe Cain began this day in 1891. His parents - Wilson and Eliza Street Cain - were the first generation of their families born into freedom, and were wed by a Baptist minister in the summer of 1887. Joseph was the third child in a family that would grow to include 8 children - 3 sisters and 5 brothers.

Listed as a to***co worker and laundress, respectively, Wilson and Eliza pooled enough resources to buy property in the 1890s; they owned the home where they raised their children on Carrington Street south of downtown Durham. The Cain family attended White Rock Baptist Church. Joe and two of his older siblings attended school at the time of the 1900 census, but it is unclear how many years he was able to study before entering the workforce. Like his father, Joe took work at one of Durham’s to***co factories by 1910.

In the summer of 1911, Joe joined an excursion to Charlotte organized by St. Joseph AME. Such trips were major social events, and this one included hundreds of Black Durhamites of all ages, regardless of church affiliation. While large group travel on a specially chartered train may have softened some of segregation’s indignities, the railroad still accommodated this excursion in so-called “Jim Crow cars” - substandard carriages reserved solely for Black passengers.

As the excursion train reached the junction town of Hamlet on the afternoon of July 27, 1911, it collided with a freight train headed east. The rickety cars telescoped and derailed, leaving a horrific wreck with dozens dead or severely hurt. We imagine Joe's family among the panicked throngs back in Durham, dissecting conflicting reports for any sign of his condition. Neither among the initial list of those killed, nor those transported to Charlotte’s segregated Good Samaritan Hospital, his name would be “added among the most unfortunates” who had not survived their injuries in a July 29 news wire.

His remains returned to rest at Geer Cemetery, Joe would later be joined by his younger brother John - a World War I veteran whose marker lies nearby. Outliving their sons by many years, Wilson and Eliza Cain would be buried across town at Beechwood.

11/29/2025

We're extremely thankful for the immense outpouring of volunteer effort and community support that has made 2025 an impactful year honoring Geer Cemetery. We hope you'll consider donating to continue this work into 2026 this by following the link in our bio!