Help us restore and preserve the Smith Cemetery, a 251 year old cemetery, believed to be the oldest cemetery in Gaston County. Repaired 61 broken headstone
Smith Cemetery began in 1765 with the first burial of James Leeper. It is located on 1.65 acres and does not have a legal owner as the cemetery was sold to the Leeper and Armstrong families and their descendants in 1836.
Smith Cemetery Historic Preservation Association Inc., is an IRS approved 501(3)(c) non-profit. Restoration efforts began in 2009. Over 85 broken headstones have been repaired. six Southern Cross of Honor markers and four new headstones have been added. In 2012, Mr. and Mrs. Ford were nominated by the William Gaston Chapter and received a National DAR Historic Preservation Award. The Association continues to provide perpetual ground care and in all efforts related to its historical preservation. For more information, please contact R. Leigh Ford at (704) 392-4355, via email at [email protected] or visit the Facebook site.
To ensure Smith Cemetery will remain a well-kept cemetery and a place of peace and respect for future generations.
Smith Cemetery Gaston County, North Carolina, is 8.5x11 hardback coffee table book (433 pages) authored by Melanie Campbell Ford. It is the most comprehensive account of Smith Cemetery. Details for each individual are included along with 36 detailed family lineages. The book is fully indexed with information on more than 1,200 individuals. Cost of the book is $65 (includes shipping) with all profits to the Smith Cemetery Historic Preservation Association. It is available on Ebay.
