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St. Pete seeks to reclaim historic Black burials in Gulfport
“We have to stop pussyfooting around and just do the right thing.”
St. Petersburg sent the remains of Black pioneers to neighboring Gulfport during segregation. The local pastor overseeing Lincoln Cemetery said it continues “being punished.”
Mayor Ken Welch and city council members now want to annex the nearly century-old cemetery. Gulfport must first facilitate the process, and Rev. Clarence Williams can no longer afford to maintain and rebuild the flood-prone burial grounds.
However, the mayoral administration cannot allocate taxpayer funding to projects in another city. A committee meeting Dec. 4 highlighted the conundrum faced by council members who want to right past wrongs, and St. Petersburg-based Cross and Anvil Human Services, which took control of Lincoln Cemetery in 2023.
“This cemetery is being punished; first because African Americans couldn’t be buried in city limits,” Williams said. “Now we’re being punished because you can’t help them – because they are outside of the city limits.”
Williams is a pastor at Greater Mount Zion AME Church and also leads Cross and Anvil. The organization began overseeing Lincoln Cemetery after resolving an ownership dispute.
“We have carried this project on with my own private money, money from my organization and the church,” Williams said. “I don’t know why God asked me to do this. I wish I could give it back.”
Lincoln Cemetery opened in 1926 at 600 58th St. S. The interred include Civil War Veterans and other local historical figures.
A plaque highlighting the Jordan family, African American pioneers in St. Petersburg. Photo: Black Cemetery Network.
St. Petersburg relocated Black residents buried at Moffett Cemetery, established in 1888 at the intersection of 16th and 5th Avenue South, when officials condemned and built over the site in the late 1920s. A municipal report found that 150 bodies went to Lincoln Cemetery.
The Black Cemetery Network, citing Pinellas Genealogy Society records, states that 236 mostly unknown St. Petersburg residents were reinterred in Gulfport. “And now you’ve abandoned them,” Williams said.
An Oct. 7 memo from Welch to council members notes that, as a Pinellas County Commissioner, he secured $92,000 for Cross and Anvil in 2018. The funding went toward literacy programs due to a subsequent, since-resolved title claim by a Gulfport resident.
Administrators provided an extensive timeline highlighting the city’s efforts to identify remains around what is now Tropicana Field and at Lincoln Cemetery. “There are 6,000 unmarked graves out there, and some of them are very deep,” Williams said.
In his memo, Welch noted that he had discussed the issue with current and former Gulfport mayors. He also supports annexing the cemetery.
“I support bringing the property back to the City of St. Petersburg and working with Cross and Anvil and other stakeholders to maintain the facility with the dignity it deserves,” Welch wrote.
“The property owner, St. Petersburg City Council and the City of Gulfport have distinct decision-making responsibilities in determining the path forward, and my administration looks forward to our collaboration on this important endeavor.”
Gulfport’s boundaries begin at the Pinellas Trail, which bifurcates Lincoln and Royal Palm cemeteries. St. Petersburg does not own or operate any burial grounds.
A map illustrating the boundary between St. Petersburg and Gulfport. Screengrab.
A city attorney explained that Gulfport must initiate the de-annexation process. Cross and Anvil could also petition the former city.
When asked if he would support annexation, Williams said he felt “wounded.” The process could take over a year, and the grass “grows every day.”
Over 30 trees fell at Lincoln Cemetery during the 2024 hurricane season. Williams said the perimeters are not secure, and the hallowed, disregarded property is rife with “vandalism and all sorts of things.”
“When the trees flipped over, the vaults came up, and we have to re-entomb those with dirt,” Williams added. “Some branches fell on vaults, broke them, and they’re open.”
While Williams does support annexation, his immediate concern is finding the money to survey and restore burial plots, construct a security fence, remove hazardous trees and complete routine maintenance.
He said the city should support those efforts “given the kind of egregious acts that necessitated this” and “given the fact that Cross and Anvil Human Services is in the city limits.”
Lincoln Cemetery is home to eight “Baby Rows.” Photo: Black Cemetery Network.
Councilmember Corey Givens Jr. said the city “cannot afford to keep dragging this out,” when it costs Williams over $100,000 annually to maintain the cemetery. The administration remains unsure of a solution until it reclaims the property.
“We have to stop pussyfooting around and just do the right thing,” Givens said.
Councilmember Gina Driscoll asked Rui Farias, executive director of the St. Petersburg Museum of History, if he would consider partnering with Cross and Anvil. Farias said he looks forward to working with Williams.
Driscoll also directed city attorneys to draft a resolution urging Gulfport to begin the de-annexation process. Councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders said she, like Givens, is “looking for something just a little bit more tangible right now.”
The committee passed Driscoll’s motion, which will now head to the full city council for a vote. Councilmember Richie Floyd suggested a future discussion on how the city could mitigate Cross and Anvil’s “overall financial burden” to help the organization reallocate resources.
Will Michaels
December 16, 2025at12:53 pm
It is appreciated that a lot of good people both in St. Pete and Gulfport have worked to make Lincoln Cemetery a place of dignity for those resting there. But much remains to be done, including correction of serious damage caused by last year’s hurricanes. Good to see our cities, Greater Mt. Zion Church, descendants and others coming together to restore Lincoln and possibly returning the cemetery to St. Petersburg, home of most of those interred there.
Margarete Tober
December 10, 2025at8:37 pm
The people of Gulfport, and the city of Gulfport government have been maintaining this cemetery for years because it’s in Gulfport. One young woman from Gulfport worked endlessly to maintain the cemetery but also did research on the graves. When there were cleanups of the cemetery seldom were there people from St Petersburg there. With all due respect, if Reverend Williams’organization could not / cannot afford to take care of the cemetery then why did they purchase it? Gulfport is a loving community and I’m sure it’s people and it’s government will continue to be such regardless of any final decisions.
Paul Ray
December 11, 2025at6:31 am
Minor correction to an other wise great post, Pastor Williams did not purchase the property, he was quit claimed the property by the former owner.
Bob Ryan
December 10, 2025at7:50 pm
Why is there no representative from Gulfport quoted in this article?
S. Rose Smith-Hayes
December 10, 2025at6:30 pm
My father’s oldest brother and oldest sister are buried out there. I am willing to donate toward the cause. I pray that the City will do the right thing and support this cause. My daughter’s deceased father also has family members buried there.
Debra Schoofs
December 10, 2025at6:19 pm
Lincoln Cemetery was Founded 1926 IN THE City of St Petersburg
Per St Pete Times News Articles in City of St Petersburg Historic Cemeteries 2020 Report…. City of St Petersburg PAID Undertakers 1926 onward thru 1950’s to Remove Geaves from Downtown Historic Cemeteries and DUMP the Bodies of Civil War Veterans, Lynching Victims, Former Slaves into TWO Lincoln Mass Unmark Graves (Labelled SouthMound & Evergreen Revovals)
Steven Sullivan
December 11, 2025at3:39 pm
The sad part is the descendants of the people who committed these atrocities don’t and won’t acknowledge the horrible racist acts of their ancestors. The impact that it has had on communities of blacks and native Americans across this country. They have no empathy and show privilege to people who look and talk like them. No! You didn’t commit those acts but you do nothing to right the wrongs therefore you’re part of today’s political divide