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Pauli Murray Project Holds Memorial Day Ceremony at Fitzgerald Family Cemetery

fitzgerald cemetery

The Pauli Murray Project's annual Memorial Day ceremony recognized the 112 African Americans buried in the Historic Fitzgerald family cemetery at Maplewood Cemetery Monday.

The ceremony also honored two African-American Civil War veterans, Robert G. and Richard B. Fitzgerald. Started by Fitzgerald family members in 1995 to call attention to their family burial site and to support their efforts in convincing the City of Durham to expand it to the adjacent Maplewood Cemetery, the event has since become a meaningful way for Durham residents to honor local veterans and learn more about Durham's history.

A distinguished educator and brick maker who came to Durham after the Civil War to teach newly freed African Americans. Robert Fitzgerald was also a grandfather to scholar-activist Pauli Murray. His brother Richard followed him to Durham and they ran their brick making business together until Robert could not continue his work because of complications from an injury he received in the Union Army. Richard Fitzgerald was one of the founders and first president of Mechanics and Farmers Bank and his bricks were in used the construction of Erwin Cotton Mill and many local tobacco warehouses.

Following the ceremony, a reception was held at the nearby Robert Fitzgerald/Pauli Murray House, which will soon be the home of the Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice. At the reception, the Project awarded the City of Durham the Proud Shoes Award for completion of work in the cemetery behind the house that has been eroding the house's foundation.

The event was co-sponsored by Fitzgerald/Murray family members, the Pauli Murray Project, Preservation Durham and Habitat for Humanity of Durham.