Alexandria Historic Cemeteries District

Welcome to Friends of the Alexandria Historic Cemeteries District

The Alexandria Historic Cemeteries District is a community-led initiative committed to preserving, protecting, and honoring the rich and often overlooked history of Alexandria, Tennessee. These sacred grounds are the final resting place of many of DeKalb County’s earliest settlers, many individuals who served in both the Union and Confederate armies during the Civil War, as well as numerous African American residents, some of whom were born into slavery and later became vital contributors to the local community.

Phase One of the project centers on the Seay Chapel Cemetery, one of the most historically significant yet long-neglected burial sites in the area. Believed to contain the graves of up to 400-500 individuals — all African American, and many formerly enslaved — this cemetery holds a deep and poignant legacy. Restoration efforts will include clearing overgrowth, stabilizing the grounds, identifying and documenting unmarked graves, and placing a collective memorial tombstone to honor those whose names and stories have been lost to time. This phase represents a vital step in reclaiming and dignifying a sacred space that has stood for generations as a silent witness to Alexandria’s layered past. Included in this phase is a Tennessee State Historical Marker speaking to the importance of the Historical Cemeteries District.

Phase Two focuses on the restoration of the adjacent Seay Chapel, once a vibrant place of worship and community for African American residents. Now standing in disrepair, the chapel is a powerful symbol of resilience and faith. Planned restoration includes stabilizing the roof trusses, removing overgrowth, and carefully rehabilitating the interior to reflect its original character. This effort is about more than restoring a building — it is about reviving a place of shared memory, spiritual strength, and cultural legacy. We hold hopes that at the end of the restoration, it may be able to serve as a museum to house our rich history.

Phase Three, to begin upon completion of the first two goals, will address the preservation of the adjoining Eastview Cemetery — a site of deep historical and cultural importance. Planned work includes the installation of a collective memorial tombstone for unmarked graves, new markers for Union Civil War veterans, and general restoration such as fencing repairs, overgrowth removal, and documentation of burial sites. These actions will ensure Eastview’s stories are preserved and its place in Alexandria’s history fully recognized.

Join us as we honor the past, uplift the present, and shape a future rooted in remembrance.

 FRIENDS OF ALEXANDRIA’S HISTORIC DISTRICT – Tennessee Non-Profit Control #002068794 – have applied for 501 Charity Status, and have contacted the county of DeKalb for registration.
DBA O/A Friends of the Alexandria Historic Cemeteries District

We can be reached through:
e-mail: alexandriahistoriccemeteries@gmail.com
Phone: 615.484.8189
Mail: PO Box 14, Alexandria, TN 37012
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlexandriaHistoricCemeteriesDistrict

Co-Chairs
Ria Baker Kris Wheeler
Writer/Historian Genealogist/Historian