The Dils Cemetery

The Dils Cemetery is believed to be the first integrated cemetery in Eastern Kentucky. Colonel John Dils, who opposed slavery, gave many freed slaves jobs in his tannery and general store and later provided gravesites for them and their descendants. More than one hundred thirty African-American graves have been located there, but only forty-nine have been correctly identified. Those identified are Aggy Justice, William Henry Layne, Josephine Justice Layne, Charles Evans Layne, Vernon Alexander Layne, John Goff, Jim Goff, Vernon Keith Layne, James Justice, Vivian Mullins, Sophie Justice Mullins, Jane Layne, Jimmie Layne, Mabel Justice, Alice Goff Justice, Virginia E. Botts, George Wright, Wright infant, Allie Ratliff Wright, Frank Wright, Edwry Wright, Sylvia E. Ratliff, Clysta V. Ratliff, Tom “T.J.” Mullins, J. W. Ratliff, Frank Hall, Polly Ratliff, Charley Colley, Jeff Mullins, Manila Mullins, Manda Mullins, Mary Justice, D. Justice, C.H. Harmon, Ver Justice, T. Justice, Frank Waller, Alvindia Waller, T.J. Mullins, Mary Anne Gibson, H. Spiller, Liddie Belle Combs, Martha Wright, Fred and Teddy Mullins, Edward Thompson, James Ratliff, Mary Ratliff, Mary Jane Ratliff, and Henry Harrison. Efforts to recover additional names and stories continue.

Pikeville, Kentucky · United States