Black Angels versusVersus White Angels

There has been much discussion concerning the color of "Angelangel" statutesstatuesWe have corrected statutes to statues here, and in four additional instances below. In a similar case of word substitution, we find statuter in place of what ostensibly must be statuer in George H. Leaphart (2 of 2). Whichwhich are located at the main entrance of Memo–rial cemetaryCemetery.

Upon an occasion, many years ago, a very outstanding person who spent her early childhood in Jacksonville, thought she saw "Blackblack Angelsangels" in Memorial CemetaryCemetery, as she rode by.

It is declared by an old ex–slave woman, who is now ninety–one years old and who has lived over fifty years just a few hun–dred yards formfrom the gates of the cemetarycemetery, and who lived at her present home before a cemetarycemetery was in that vacinityvicinity, that the an–gels have never been painted black.

She stated that a Whitewhite man by name of Castilinas was the former owner of the plot of land and had what he called "Sunset Park".." He aftewwardsafterwards turned it into a cemetarycemetery for Negroes, and the name was changed to Memorial CemetaryCemetery. In beautifying the cemetarycemetery, he had placed on the main drive waydriveway stone pillars upon which statu–tesstatues of angels rested. There were originally two on each side of the drive waydriveway, and one in the middle and at the end of the drive. Each opposite pair were alike and the fifth, or "Specialspecial Angelangel," as she termed it, held a sceptre in her right with a star at it’sits tip, and pointing toward the sun–setsunset.

As years went by and the cemetarycemetery changed hands, the angel statutesstatues were moved from their original places, and four were placed just outside of the main gate, upon the four posts of the stone fence. Although weather conditions have caused decay and parts of the arms Page 2. Due to a technical limitation, we are not currently able to right-align this header. the arms, toes, and garments have decayed and fallen apart, there is one with hands held palm to palmpalm–to–palm and raised in attitude of prayer. The one placed opposite has enough of arms left to assure one that the hands formerly were in same position. This is true also of the other two which occupy the first posts on either side of the en–trance. They show by the position of that part of arms which still remain that something was held in arms, such as a bundle of wheat or the like. The fifth, or "Specialspecial Angelangel," has been moved to the center of the old part of the cemetarycemetery. A brick pillar was erected and this angel placed upon the pillar. The arms which held the sceptre still remains but the hand, sceptre, and star are gone. None of the five statutesstatues have wings at present, but the place where they were attached show plainly, although from time to time, in recent years, a coat of white wash has been applied. to them.

The statutesstatues, because of their location under shade trees, be–came dark, and probably at time they were viewed in this condition, it appeared that they had been painted black.

Memorial CemetaryCemetery, now owned by the Memorial CemetaryCemetery AssnAssociation., a Negro organization, with Mr. A. L.A.L. Lewis, Pres.president, has a care takercaretaker who lives in the cemetarycemetery. Tomb stonesTombstones are all around his house and some not over fifteen feet from his front door. The cemetarycemetery is located at the intersection of Edgewood and Moncrief Aves.Avenues, just a few hundred yards beyond Moncrief Springs on way highway which leads to Way–cross, Ga.Georgia — Florida NoNumber 1.