Two Centuries of Jacksonville: Abandoned African American Cemeteries

In Jacksonville, Florida's oldest major city, the remains of those once enslaved and those who helped rebuild the city following the Great Fire of 1901 lie in abandoned places, under segregation-era parks, industrial sites and housing developments. Explore with us the legacy of those sacred spaces and their impact on our city and our neighbors today. Hear from Ennis Davis of The Jaxson Magazine about the many African American cemeteries in and around Jacksonville and our historical figures buried there, including prominent women of our city. Ennis will be joined in conversation by Adrienne Burke, Miami-Dade Principal Planner and former director of Riverside Avondale Preservation, former Nassau County Planning Director, former Fernandina Beach community development director, Florida Public Archaeology Network board member and an expert in African American history and cemeteries. Adrienne will explore the use of African American cemeteries as important cultural landscapes and what protection strategies can look like. Sarah Miller, Director of Florida Public Archaeology Network's (FPAN) Northeast Florida Region, will share the work that FPAN is doing with local cemeteries. Read our speakers' full bios: Ennis Davis is a certified senior planner who holds a degree in Architecture from Florida A&M University. Ennis is a senior planner with Alfred Benesch & Company, specializing with transportation and urban planning projects throughout the country. He is the author of the award winning books “Reclaiming Jacksonville,” “Cohen Brothers: The Big Store” and “Images of Modern America: Jacksonville.” A former mayoral appointee to the Northeast Florida Regional Transportation Commission, Davis has served with various organizations committed to improving urban communities, including the American Planning Association, the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, and Groundwork Jacksonville. A 2013 Next City Vanguard, Davis is a co-founder of urban planning media and placemaking websites Moderncities.com and TheJaxsonMag.com, and a former citizen member of the Florida Times-Union editorial board. Adrienne Burke is a Principal Planner with Miami-Dade County, working on historic preservation and long-range planning. Prior to joining Miami-Dade County, she worked in Northeast Florida as Planning Director for Nassau County, Executive Director for nonprofit organization Riverside Avondale Preservation, and Community Development Director for the City of Fernandina Beach. Adrienne’s expertise is in cultural and natural resource policy, as well as land development code and comprehensive plan management. Preservation specialties include cemeteries, African American history, and sea level rise planning. Adrienne has an undergraduate degree in history from the University of Virginia, and graduated from the University of Florida with a master’s degree in historic preservation/urban planning and a law degree. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and the Florida Bar, and on the Board for the Florida Public Archaeology Network. She previously served on the board at the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. Sarah Miller received her Master’s degree in Anthropology from East Carolina University in 2001 where she developed archaeology education programs at Tryon Palace in New Bern, North Carolina. Upon graduation from ECU, Ms. Miller supervised field and lab projects with public involvement for the Kentucky Archaeological Survey, as well as reviewed compliance projects for the Kentucky Heritage Council. She now serves as Director for FPAN’s Northeast and East Central Regions, Board of Directors for the Society of Historical Archaeology, Statewide Coordinator for Project Archaeology, and on the editorial board for the Journal of Archaeology and Education. Her specialties include historical archaeology, heritage at risk, archaeology education, site stewardship, advocacy, and historic cemeteries. This conversation is a production of the Jessie Ball duPont Fund and The Jaxson Magazine. Launched by Modern Cities in association with WJCT Public Broadcasting, The Jaxson is a multimedia project dedicated to urbanism and culture on Florida’s First Coast.