Grant-funded project breathes life into Tennessee’s African American heritage

BENTON COUNTY, Tenn. — A grant-funded project aims to reestablish the African American presence on Tennessee’s cultural landscape.

“We want to honor their work. We want to honor their commitment. We want to honor the stories that they left behind,” said Renee Williams, Moore Family Farm descendant and Grant Manager.

Archeologists, using ground-penetrating radar, are searching the Moore Cemetery, located on one of the oldest African American farms in the state.

“Our job is to help them relocate the graves of unmarked burials and also the school and chapel which was demolished in 1994 to help them interpret the landscape and return the African American presence to this special place,” said Robbie Jones, Project Manager and Architectural Historian for Richard Grubb and Associates.

The Moore Family Century Farm is a 155-year-old farmstead in Benton County.

Renee Williams and other descendants of the Moore Family created the Moore Family Century Farm Group, a non-profit aimed to preserve the land and present the history of the farmland that reshaped Tennessee agriculture after the civil war.

Williams says being on the property brings a lot of emotions.

“Pride, joy, tears of joy. All of those emotions, the sadness the challenges that you know that your ancestors went through for all of those years and they’re still here,” said Williams.

The goal of the non-profit is to restore the church and other structures for a space to host community events.

“And feel the peace and feel the tranquility of this place and feel how special it is,” said Williams.

The property is more than 200 acres and has original structures still standing.

Throughout the property there are markers to educate the public about African American agriculture.

“To me, that’s a high calling when people can reconnect to their history, their culture and their values,” said Williams.

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