Pittsylvania County to survey, protect old slave cemetery

DANVILLE— Pittsylvania County officials plan to survey and protect an old slave cemetery that contains about 200 marked gravesites.

The cemetery is located at the site of the proposed 3,400-acre Berry Hill industrial park. County Administrator Dan Sleeper estimates the cemetery covers about an acre.

Assistant County Administrator Otis Hawker says an archaeological survey of the site will begin in about three weeks.

Hawker says the site will be fenced off and police and officials from the Division of Game and Inland Fisheries will patrol the park.

Chatham Middle School Principal Cedric Hairston, a descendant of the some of the slaves, said the site can also serve an educatioinal role in the community.