Hillside Cemetery

Before March 24, 1949, black people were buried in private cemeteries, including one on Balboa Avenue between the Nelson School District Administrative building and the Goodyear Auto Service Center. On July 25, 1949, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Hutchinson and Mr. and Mrs. C.L. Jinks gave the present Hillside Cemetery property to the Black Community. In 1976, the state mandated that a community organization take charge of the property, and an organization was formed by St. Luke Baptist Church, Mt. Olive AME Church, Brown’s Temple Holiness Church, and Jesus Only Tabernacle. Early Lucas, Sr., Hal Long, Sr., Willie J. Lucas, Idella Blackeney, and Para Lee Long were among the first board members.

Panama City, Florida · United States