George Kemp Leads Cemetery Restoration in Knoxville

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Restoration efforts are underway on a centuries-old cemetery in Knoxville. After decades of neglect, George Kemp is leading the efforts to clean the Good Citizens Cemetery and preserve the history of those who are buried there.

The cemetery holds nearly 200 years of history and is located off of Fuller Avenue, near the old Eastport school. The cemetery was established in the 1830s and was used for the interment of people who were enslaved, Kemp said.

"There was no record of deeds at that time, so we're looking through wills to kind of see who that person was because it was something that was needed," said Kemp.

He said there are numerous influential members of the Black community who are buried in the cemetery, including James Mason, who was the first African American