Georgia data center sparks push to save historic Black cemetery

O’Neill Cemetery, a historic Black burial ground in Henry County, Ga., is at the center of a growing preservation effort after volunteers discovered dozens of graves near a massive data center project. Honor Thy Roots Cemetery Preservation Inc. found the site while surveying wooded land off Lower Woolsey Road in Hampton.

Preserving O’Neill Cemetery

Volunteers noticed sunken earth, scattered headstones and debris covering shallow graves. Many markers date to the 1800s, including footstones and handmade memorials common in early Black cemeteries.

Honor Thy Roots has documented dozens of graves so far and believes many more remain unmarked. The group says fallen trees and debris hide additional burial sites. Archaeological observations suggest irregular soil patterns that often indicate older, undocumented graves.

Members discovered the cemetery only recently and began recording headstones with dates from the Civil War era. Some inscriptions show burials from the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Data Center Construction Raises Concerns About Disturbance

The cemetery sits beside the Hampton Technology Park, a multi‑building data center project already moving dirt. Preservation advocates fear grading and utility work could disturb unmarked graves because the cemetery has never been formally mapped or scanned.

City officials say the land behind the cemetery will host a Georgia Power transfer station and that a barrier will be installed to protect the site. Advocates argue that a fence alone cannot safeguard graves without a full archaeological survey.

Preservation Group Honor Thy Roots Launches Fundraiser

Honor Thy Roots has launched a fundraiser to restore O’Neill Cemetery and protect its legacy. The nonprofit is clearing debris, documenting graves and pushing for a formal survey to identify burial boundaries.

Organizers say the cemetery reflects a broader pattern of forgotten Black burial grounds across Georgia. They hope to work with city leaders to secure long‑term protections and ensure descendants can continue visiting the site.

Advocates say preserving O’Neill Cemetery is essential to honoring the people buried there and protecting a vital piece of Black history. They plan to continue attending city meetings and pushing for safeguards as construction progresses.