Remains will stay in old family cemetery in BedfordPosted in Articles, History, Media Archive, Slavery, United States, Virginia on 2014-10-03 15:37Z by Steven |
Remains will stay in old family cemetery in Bedford
The News & Advance
Lynchburg, Virginia
2014-10-01
Alex Rohr, Beat Reporter
BEDFORD — The remains of at least 20 people buried in Bedford will stay interred despite a request by the Bank of the James to move them.
The bank’s request to the Bedford County Circuit Court, challenged by David Lowry a descendant of former Bedford County plantation owners, was denied after a hearing that lasted about four hours.
The cemetery — which may be the final resting place of slaves — was overgrown with trees and undergrowth when the bank acquired the land in a 2009 foreclosure. The property, just east of Applebee’s on U.S. 460 in Bedford, was covered until March.
Judge James Updike’s decision drew applause from over a dozen members of the extended Lowry family who were present during the hearing…
…Charles Lowry, a witness and relative of James W. Lowry, looked to the heavens in thankful prayer after Updike made his decision.
“God works in mysterious ways,” he said.
Charles Lowry, who is black, and David Lowry, who is white, believe they share ancestors…
…Brent Staples, who has written about his family history for The New York Times editorial page, traces his lineage to the area and a woman named Somerville who birthed several children by Marshall Lowry, a white farm manager.
“As a son of Virginia, and a son of Bedford County and as a descendent of slaves on the Lowry plantation, my concern would be there if they were not blood-related,” Staples said…
…David Lowry, Charles Lowry and Staples said they intend to get DNA tests to verify whether they are related. Combining oral and family history, they are confident the results will be in the affirmative.
“If Somerville’s story is accurate, then I am his cousin,” Staples said on the stand, pointing at David Lowry…
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