The history of the South Asheville Cemetery is inextricably linked to that of the adjacent St. John “A” Baptist Church. The traditionally black institution is a cornerstone of the Kenilworth community, and many of its deacons have served lengthy terms as cemetery caretakers. The congregation celebrated its 100th anniversary Aug. 30-31, and a group of its most active elders shared memories and thoughts on reaching that milestone.
George Gibson
“I’ve been at this church since my birth. … We coordinated together; the kids played together. We had vacations from school together, all the activities together. And that’s what made the church so special — not just somewhere to go, but somewhere that you learned how to live.”
George Love
“When I was a boy we didn’t have television, that sort of thing, to keep us home. The only time we’d get to see each other or really have conversation and talk to each other was at this church. When I was a boy, the only time I’d get to talk to a girl that I liked, I had to talk to her at church. … Very few people back then had automobiles. You better ask the girl’s father — not her mother — if you could walk the girl home.”
Olivia Metz
“I was born and raised in this church. I remember days we’d come here … and some of the deacons would turn the rope for us to jump rope; they would play kickball with us. … The doors were always open. That’s just something you don’t hardly see these days. … I’m thankful to God that … so many of our elder people are still together here in the same place for so long. It’s thanksgiving, and worship.”
Lucille Miller
“I remember back in the 1940s … when there weren’t as many cars, and people walked to church. One family walked from Haw Creek all the way out here because they loved to come to church. … We are like a big family, and we have the brotherly love that we should have for each other. … It’s called a little church with a big heart. When people come in they say, ‘Everyone’s so friendly.’ You can feel it: It’s love. God is love, and God is in this church.”
George Taylor
“It means something that there’s so many people who have been in this church for such a length of time, and they’re still here — quite a few of them since I was a little baby.”
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