FLUVANNA COUNTY, VA - CEMETERIES – Columbia Cemetery ----¤¤¤---- Source: Library of Virginia Digital Collection LVA Titled Files: Survey Report, Columbia burying ground: 1936 Mar. 30 Research made by Susie V. Shepherd Cemetery Location: .8 mile west of Columbia, Virginia, on St. James Street across the viaduct on to Route #6, turning to the right of a pine grown hill is found where many of the early inhabitants sleep. Fluvanna County DATE: 1822, date of oldest grave. OWNERS: Miss Ann Payne. (1936) DESCRIPTION: Although Miss Anna Payne gave the land to the poor for a burying ground, yet within the memory of many now living, many white people were buried there. Now it is entirely given over to the colored. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: West of this burying ground is what is called “Free Hill”, because in slavery times there was a colony of those who were free even in a slave state. Miss Anna Payne lived at what is now Mr. R.P. Kent’s home, about 1.5 miles northwest of Columbia. Tombs with these inscriptions are found there: George A. Payne B. Mar. 28, 1797 D. 18” May, 1839 A. V. Payne Fifty years ago the Burying Ground on “Free Hill” was shaded by trees and crossed by paths so familiar that the colored people trod them at night without the quiver of a nerve. The stately oaks, pressing aside the granite stones, brought from beside the rolling James, appealed to one as the most desirable monuments. Viewed today, the paths have greatly changed; the trees have encroached more boldly upon the beds of the sleepers and few monuments are to be found. In many cases people have been placed above one another, as the burial place seemed to be full years ago. Only these are found: Sacred to the Memory of Jacob son of John and Martha Holmes born Apr. 1” and departed this life Sept. 10, 1830 (top broken) __ife Sep. 7, 1822 In the 33 year of hir age and hir last words were “The Lord’s will be done.” Judith B. Lee Relict of Kendall Lee Born Sep. 12, 1769 Died Oct. 29, 1850 She hath done what she could and her children arise and call her blessed There is somewhere a stone inscribed to _______________ the antique daughter of ___________ (Around the grave of a small child of the Rigors is an enclosure of brick as fresh and new looking as if they had been recently put there.) SOURCES OF INFORMATION: Informants: Aunt Eveline Cousins, Columbia, Virginia Aunt Ann Purvall, Columbia, Virginia Miss Susie V. Shepherd Oldest inhabitants of the town Tombstone Inscriptions Visit by worker. ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Joan Renfrow NOTICE: I have no relationship or further information in regards to this family. ___________________________________________________________________