Blog

Ray’s Chapel AME Zion Church: A House of Worship Still Standing

On December 16, 1885, three church trustees: George W. Wikle, Manley Neusom Stewart, and Dudley Stewart purchased land for $5 from Captain William Montraville Addington. This land, originally located on Harrison Avenue, was intended for the use of a church and graveyard. That church was Franklin’s African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Zion Church, also known today […]

New Hope Cemetery: Alma Chavis (1929-1933)

This series of blog posts entitled “New Hope Cemetery” highlights the individuals who are buried in the Franklin, North Carolina cemetery. After visiting the cemetery for the first time, I became interested in learning more about the people who are buried there. Since then, I’ve started scouring records to uncover more about their lives. To […]

From Franklin to Asheville: A Visit with the Kennedys

Until recently, I hadn’t visited the cemetery where the Kennedy family was buried. It’s possible the Kennedy name may sound familiar to you. I’ve written a little bit about Reverend James T. Kennedy, as it relates to his significant influence on St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church, where he served as an educator and minister. Carrie Stewart […]