Every May in Wake Forest the famous and the little-noticed buried in Wake Forest Cemetery do not actually rise from the dead to speak for themselves, but the town arranges the next-best thing, several men and women who tell the stories of their fathers, cousins, grandfathers or grandmothers or of those who lived in their homes years ago.
People visiting are also encouraged to bring their children to trace the town’s history through the graves – the founding and growth of Wake Forest College with Dr. Samuel Wait, the first president, and all the presidents following him; the growth of business in town with leaders Dr. John B. Powers, who built the first pharmacy downtown, and T.E. Holding, Powers’ partner for a time who broke away to found another pharmacy and a bank; and the soldiers and sailors who defended America through two centuries of war.
The free self-guided tour sponsored by the Wake Forest Cemetery Advisory Board will last from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Docents will be stationed at various locations throughout the cemetery to share interesting stories about specific gravesites, as well as photographs of loved ones bearing their ancestral names. Representatives of the Sons of Confederate Veterans clad in Confederate uniforms and carrying Civil War-era firearms will also be on hand to share tales of soldiers who served in the War Between the States. Ladies in period costume from the same era will also participate, along with representatives of the Wake Forest-Rolesville Junior ROTC, under the direction of Colonel Dimitri Belmont.
Parents are encouraged to bring their children to the tour as a special handout will be provided highlighting interesting points of interest throughout the cemetery grounds. Designed to promote healthy interaction between a child and their parents or accompanying adult, the photos and sites highlighted in the handout will help educate visitors about the cemetery’s historical significance.
Admission is free and open to the public. Limited parking will be permitted in designated areas of the cemetery. Overflow parking will be available in the lot adjacent to the CVS Pharmacy at the intersection of North White Street and East Roosevelt Avenue.
Android and iPhone users can have a handy pocket guide to the Cemetery Walking Tour by downloading the Town of Wake Forest app and using the app’s “Wake Forest Cemetery Tour” function. Offering smartphone users instant access to important details about the cemetery tour, the function also includes a link to the new cemetery virtual tour.
IPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, and Android users can download the free app by searching for “Town of Wake Forest” on iTunes, in the iPhone app store, or in Google Play or by scanning the appropriate QR code provided at www.wakeforestnc.gov/app.aspx.
In case of inclement weather, updated information about the tour will be provided on the homepage of the town’s website, the town’s Facebook page, Wake Forest TV 10 and by calling the Wake Forest Weather Line at 919-435-9569. Smart phone users who have downloaded the Town of Wake Forest app will receive a push notification message informing them of any schedule changes. In the event of rain the tour will be rescheduled for May 16.
Area residents are also invited to visit the town’s website and view the Wake Forest Cemetery Virtual Tour. Available at www.wakeforestnc.gov/cemetery-tour.aspx, the virtual tour provides users a unique historical perspective of the cemetery through the use of a laptop, tablet or smartphone.
Offering an aerial view of the Wake Forest Cemetery, the interactive application shows red icons denoting notable and historic gravesites, including burial locations for Samuel Wait, the first president of Wake Forest College; Thomas Joseph Byrne, New York Yankees pitcher and Wake Forest mayor; and Sophie Lanneau, member of the first graduating class at Meredith College and Baptist missionary to China. Simply by clicking on one of the red icons, visitors can learn where a historical figure is buried, gain fascinating insight about the person by reading a brief bio, and – in most cases – view their picture.
For more information about the Historic Wake Forest Cemetery Walking Tour, visit www.wakeforestnc.gov/cemeterytour.aspx or contact Betty Pearce at 919-435-9570 or bpearce@wakeforestnc.gov.
