Suffolk, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Cedar Hill Cemetery
Photographed by Cynthia L. Clark, April 27, 2017
1. Cedar Hill Cemetery Marker
Cedar Hill Cemetery sits on the site of a farm owned by the John Constant family in the early 1700’s. In 1802, the Town of Suffolk purchased 2½ acres of the farm to build a community meeting house as a shared house of worship for both blacks and whites in the town. Many people were then buried around the small community chapel, and this was the beginning of the present day Cedar Hill Cemetery. Over time, as burial space became crowded, the Town of Suffolk purchased more of the Constant Farm, eventually becoming the beautiful, quiet area you see before you today. This peaceful meditation garden is a gift to the people of the City of Suffolk from the Nansemond River Garden Club.
(map index)
1. Monument Alley – Main Entrance
2. General Baker Grave Site
3. Scatter Garden – Given by the Nansemond River Garden Club
4. United Daughters of the Confederacy Memorial Rock Garden
5. Watering Fountain – Restored by the Nansemond River Garden Club
6. Confederate Monument – Circa 1889
7. Potter’s Field and Lion Trainer Area
8. Site of the John Constant House – Circa 1720
9. Grave of Mills Edwin Godwin, Governor of Virginia
10. Heritage Garden – You are here
11. Hotel/Constant’s Wharf
12. Visitor Center/Nansemond County Courthouse – Circa 1837
13. Riddick’s Folly –
this page online
14. Suffolk Seaboard Train Station – Circa 1885
(map street names, listed here alphabetically)
Avenue A, Avenue B, Cedar Street, Cherry Street, Eighth Avenue, Eleventh Avenue, Elm Street, Fifth Avenue, First Avenue, Fourth Avenue, Holly Street, Magnolia Street, Maple Street, Ninth Avenue, Second Avenue, Seventh Avenue, Sixth Avenue, Sycamore Street, Tenth Avenue, Third Avenue, Twelfth Avenue, Willow Street
Erected 2007 by Nansemond River Garden Club.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Cemeteries & Burial Sites. A significant historical year for this entry is 1802.
Location. 36° 44.257′ N, 76° 34.842′ W. Marker is in Suffolk, Virginia. It can be reached from East Constance Road (Business U.S. 58) east of North Main Street (Virginia Route 32), on the right when traveling east. The marker stands in the northwest corner of the cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Suffolk VA 23434, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Hampton Roads, specifically in Coastal Virginia, and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Tidewater. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Site of the John Constant House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lafayette’s Tour (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named Riddick's Folly (about 500 feet away); Nansemond River Crossing (about 700 feet away); Early History of Suffolk
Photographed by Cynthia L. Clark, April 27, 2017
2. A close-up of the Cedar Hill Cemetery marker.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Riddick’s Folly (was about 500 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Regarding Cedar Hill Cemetery. Cedar Hill Cemetery is a 215 year old burial ground of 25 or 32 acres that is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, Virginia Landmarks Register, and Virginia Civil War Trails.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Also see . . .
1. Cedar Hill Cemetery (Suffolk, Virginia). Wikipedia entry (Submitted on July 16, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Nansemond River Garden Club. Garden Club of Virginia website entry (Submitted on May 17, 2017, by Cynthia L. Clark of Suffolk, Virginia.)
3. Cedar Hill Cemetery. National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (Submitted on May 17, 2017, by Cynthia L. Clark of Suffolk, Virginia.)
4. Pokemon Go players trample cemetery grounds (The American Mirror.com article).
Photographed by Cynthia L. Clark, April 27, 2017
3. A view of the marker looking westward.
This shot captures how the marker is seen upon entering Cedar Hill Cemetery from East Constance Road, east of North Main Street.
Additional keywords. Amadeo Obici (Amedeo Obici); Confederate Dead Monument; Constantine Farm; Edward Everett Holland; Green Hill Cemetery; John Richardson Kilby; Joseph P. Hall Co.; Joseph P. Pollia; Kilby Street; Kimble A. David; Martha Jane Rountree; Spivey monument
Photographed by Cynthia L. Clark, April 27, 2017
4. A view of the marker, looking northwest.
From this angle, the marker and Heritage Garden seem to be aglow. Hilton Garden Inn (background) looms like a Janus-figure between the cemetery and Constant’s Wharf on the Nansemond River, north of it.
Photographed by Cynthia L. Clark, April 27, 2017
5. A detail view of the inscription and Braille lettering.
Photographed by Cynthia L. Clark, April 27, 2017
6. A detail view of the map of Cedar Hill Cemetery.
Photographed by Cynthia L. Clark, April 27, 2017
7. A detail view of the marker’s map index.
Photographed by Cynthia L. Clark, April 29, 2017
8. Cedar Hill’s main entrance lane.
Cedar Hill’s main entrance lane is the east segment of Mahan Street where North Main Street intersects it. Monument Alley – a war memorial exhibition on the median strip – includes one for Korea and Vietnam Wars (center, first), World War II (center, second), World War I, (center, far background), and Spanish War Veterans (not visible). A 1944 artillery cannon (not visible) is also displayed.
Photographed by Cynthia L. Clark, May 10, 2017
9. Cedar Hill’s main entry gate.
This gate is at the east end of Mahan Street, east of Monument Alley. The burial grounds are surrounded by a wrought iron fence that has five other gates of entry. Four are on East Constance Road and one on Prentis Street.
Photographed by Cynthia L. Clark, May 10, 2017
10. A view of Cedar Hill’s south side.
The entrance gate on this side of the cemetery is on Prentis Street.
Photographed by Cynthia L. Clark, April 26, 2017
11. Cedar Hill Cemetery Main Entrance Sign.
Sign inscription: Cedar Hill Cemetery, c. 1802. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Registry. Open daily, dawn to dusk. Please respect this historic and spiritual place. Download “City of Suffolk Cemeteries” App on your smartphone to find grave locations.
Photographed by Cynthia L. Clark, May 10, 2017
12. This is the north side of Cedar Hill Cemetery.
Shown here, looking east, on East Constance Road are the four gated entrances to Cedar Hill. The black streetlight pole (center) is left of the first one. And subsequent sidewalk indentations mark the other three.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 16, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 17, 2017, by Cynthia L. Clark of Suffolk, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,362 times since then and 42 times this year. Last updated on May 19, 2017, by Cynthia L. Clark of Suffolk, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 17, 2017, by Cynthia L. Clark of Suffolk, Virginia. 4. submitted on May 18, 2017, by Cynthia L. Clark of Suffolk, Virginia. 5, 6, 7. submitted on May 17, 2017, by Cynthia L. Clark of Suffolk, Virginia. 8. submitted on May 18, 2017, by Cynthia L. Clark of Suffolk, Virginia. 9, 10, 11. submitted on May 19, 2017, by Cynthia L. Clark of Suffolk, Virginia. 12. submitted on May 18, 2017, by Cynthia L. Clark of Suffolk, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
