Supporters of Haven of Rest Cemetery gathered March 23 to raise money to preserve the historic burial ground.
Haven of Rest bills itself as the "largest burial ground for African Americans in Arkansas." It was established in the early 1990s and is at 7102 W. 12th St., near the University Park neighborhood at 12th Street and University Avenue.
Haven of Rest Cemetery was accepted as a perpetual care cemetery by the Arkansas Cemetery Board in 1955. It is one of 98 perpetual care cemeteries in Arkansas under the jurisdiction of the Cemetery Board.
Over time, the cemetery fell into disrepair. In 2008, a group of supporters formed to clean it up. The group is now known as Friends of Haven Rest Cemetery Inc., a tax-exempt nonprofit organization.
The friends met at Second Baptist Church on John Barrow Road for dinner and fellowship. Former state Sen. Irma Hunter Brown gave the keynote address.
"We've done a lot of work out there but there is still much to be done," she said.
-- Story and photos by Rachel O'Neal
High Profile on 04/01/2018