Falls Community Cemetery

Falls Community Cemetery The Falls Community Cemetery is located along Old Falls of Neuse Road in the Falls Community in nort Etta Thompson. Dr. W. R. Kenneth Gant, was going strong. Mrs.

History

By Barbara Bridgers Barham -- August 18, 2006

THE SETTING

As the 1900s began, the village of Falls was a thriving village with a new school for all grades under the teacher/principalship of Mrs. Cullum led in organizing Falls Baptist Church in 1900, and the mill under Superintendent, Mr. Frances Fort of Wake Forest gave an acre of land to build the new church. The men of the village bui

lt the church under the direction of Mr. Henry Bolton, master builder. These men built the pews and other furnishings for the new church. Dr. Sanford Thompson was the village doctor. The virgin forest around Neuse River attracted sawmills to Falls with its promise of prime wood for the cutting. Several families came from Tennessee including the Holmans and the Porters. The Porters had a baby daughter, Mary Alice (November 14, 1908-March 21, 1909) that became ill and died. Mr. Gant called on the family and found the mother quite distraught over her baby's death and the lack of an acceptable burial place. She shared with him that several families had offered grave sites but she could not face her child being in some other family place. THE FIRST BURIALS

Mr. Gant, touched by the mother's grief responded by setting aside land owned by the mill company on top of the hill overlooking the river as a village cemetery. Baby Porter was laid to rest as the first burial. The cemetery was known as Oak Hill for it was shaded by many tall beautiful oaks. Samuel Davis was the second burial in 1914. MID-TO-LATE 1900's

The cemetery was slow to start but by 1920 there had been several burials. Many of the families had moved from faraway places like Stony Hill, Woodland, Pilot Mill, Durham and other distances. It was a long way to carry their loved ones home to the old farms and the beloved graveyards. Soon, more people were feeling at home at Falls and the cemetery became known from about 1950 on as Falls Cemetery and later as Falls Community Cemetery. In the olden days, friends would dig the graves. This led to a great bonding of friends as the village grew close in their feelings for each other. The steep driveway was moved when some additional land was purchased. The climb that was most treacherous in bad weather was now a lesser incline. Nature has taken care of many of the beautiful oaks through the years with Hurricane Fran bringing down several in 1996. MODERN DAY

In the 1970's, as construction of Falls Dam and Lake required removal of graves from the lake area to the west, many of the old family cemeteries had to be relocated. Erwin Mills of Durham was contacted and land was purchased adjoining the cemetery by the US Army Corps of Engineers. This gave the cemetery four new sections joining the original plot; one new section was used for relocating the ancient cemeteries and opened three sections for use by the Cemetery. To date, one of the new sections is nearly filled and a second one is in the planning stage. Driveways have been widened, brick columns have been erected and a beautiful bronze name plaque on stately brick columns welcome visitors. From the top of the hill, serene Falls Lake can be viewed as it begins its westward journey. PROMISE OF A FUTURE

The cemetery is maintained through love gifts of the families with loved ones interred therein. May the love represented through this dedication to our heritage carry forth to all generations to come.

09/01/2025
Falls Baptist Church celebrates its 124th Anniversary Homecoming on September 8, 2024. During the service, we will pause...
09/03/2024

Falls Baptist Church celebrates its 124th Anniversary Homecoming on September 8, 2024. During the service, we will pause to remember many in our Falls Community who have gone home to be with the Lord in the previous year. We hope you will join us.

Today we laid to rest Demp Jenks with military honors. Thank you for your service and rest in peace.
02/08/2019

Today we laid to rest Demp Jenks with military honors. Thank you for your service and rest in peace.

06/07/2017

What is your favorite part of our beautiful grounds?

03/12/2017
Yesterday (1/8/16), we said our Earthly farewell to Mrs. Marie Stewart, a 50-year resident of The Falls. She is now bur...
01/09/2016

Yesterday (1/8/16), we said our Earthly farewell to Mrs. Marie Stewart, a 50-year resident of The Falls. She is now buried beside her husband, David, in our cemetery. Our deepest and sincere sympathy to her family and friends. She will be greatly missed. She was a wonderful example of a life well lived (living to almost 99 years old) and was a beautiful Christian lady.

Yesterday (12/16/15), a memorial for Robert Lee Barham was held at Falls Baptist Church. A headstone memorial is erecte...
12/17/2015

Yesterday (12/16/15), a memorial for Robert Lee Barham was held at Falls Baptist Church. A headstone memorial is erected in our cemetery beside his mother and father. God gained another Falls angel. Below is his obituary.

Robert Lee Barham age 91, passed away on Saturday, December 12, 2015. He was born on December 20, 1923 in Wake County to the late Cleveland Reuben Barham and Zelma McCoy Height Barham. He served in the US Army as Squad Leader in Company "C"41st 2nd Armored Infantry and was awarded several Medals of Honor. He retired as an engineer with WTVD Channel 11 in Durham. Robert was a member of the Wake Forest Masonic Lodge for over 50 years.

A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held on Wednesday, December 16, 2015, at 1:00 PM, at Falls Baptist Church, 9700 Fonville Road, Wake Forest, NC 27587 with Pastor Terry Ashe officiating. The US Army will fold and present the flag on behalf of the grateful nation.

Surviving: wife, Nina Lloyd Barham, son, Ken Barham, Sr. of Wake Forest, daughter, Amy Barham of Wake Forest; grandchildren, Kenneth, Jr. (Sissy), Rebecca (Sumanth), Gracie, Jenny (JW), Zoe, Trey, great grandson, Andrew Barham, brothers, Preston Barham (Laura) of Wilmington, and Marvin Barham (Mary Anne) of Edenton.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sons Gerald Wayne Barham and Darrell Todd Barham, and nine siblings.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Falls Baptist Church, 9700 Fonville Road, Wake Forest, NC 27587, or Falls Community Cemetery Fund – c/o Linwood Barham, 9705 Fonville Road, Wake Forest, NC 27587.

He will be remembered by his family for his advocacy toward lifelong learning, encouraging working in a field you love, and to strive to live with Godly morals and values.

Today we committed to our hallowed ground a true Falls boy Proctor Barham. Born at the Falls in a 3-room Mill house on ...
11/11/2015

Today we committed to our hallowed ground a true Falls boy Proctor Barham. Born at the Falls in a 3-room Mill house on Mill Hill, Proctor lived his entire life at The Falls. Prayers to his family and his friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Falls Community Cemetery.
http://brightfunerals.com/obituary?op=view&id=214397

Ivan Proctor “I.P.” Barham, 82, of Wake Forest, passed away Monday November 9, 2015 at Transitions Life Care Hospice in Raleigh. He was born in Wake County son of the late Louise Bartholomew Barham and Linwood W. Barham.

Address

12165 Old Falls Of Neuse Road
Wake Forest, NC
27587

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