BRTC Students Help Erect Cemetery Sign for African-American Scott Cemetery

Pictured from left to right: Hannah Whitmire of Smithville, Daija Williford of Pocahontas, Ms. Ethel Tompkins, Jon Muradov of Walnut Ridge

POCAHONTAS, AR  Mar.  — BRTC Ambassadors Daija Williford, Hannah Whitmire, and Jon Muradov worked with Ms. Ethel Tompkins, a member of Hoxie: The First Stand to erect a new cemetery sign at Scott Cemetery in Walnut Ridge. The cemetery is on the list of National Historic Places.

The Scott Cemetery is an African-American cemetery located on Highway 91 in Walnut Ridge. Some of the graves in the cemetery date to the early 20th century and others now unmarked, and are thought to date earlier.

Approximately 101 graves exist in the cemetery and include former slaves and leaders in of the African-American community nearby. It is 1 of 7 African-American cemeteries in Lawrence County and the only one within the city limits. It is an important historical location due to its connection with the rural 20^th century African-American community.

For more information about student activities at BRTC, contact Neal Harwell at (870) 248-4000, neal.harwell@blackrivertech.edu. For more information about Scott Cemetery, visit https://www.hoxie21.org/scott_cemetery.htm