Randolph Cemetery gets historic marker
Contributed by Columbia Historic Foundation

The Committee for the Restoration and Beautification of Randolph Cemetery and the Downtown Columbia Cemetery Task Force will hold a ceremony to unveil a historic marker at Randolph Cemetery February 2, 2008 from 10 to 11 am.

The unveiling of the historic marker will commemorate one of the oldest black cemeteries in Columbia. This cemetery was established in 1871 to honor Sen. Benjamin Franklin Randolph, who was assassinated in Abbeville County in 1868.

This National Register listed site has also served as the resting place for prominent figures of Columbia and South Carolina's African- American community. At least 10 African- American reconstruction era legislators are buried in Randolph Cemetery, making it not only a site of local significance but also unique nationally.

Benefiting from recent heightened care and public involvement led by the Downtown Columbia Cemetery Task Force and the Committee for the Restoration and Beautification of Randolph Cemetery, this site continues to show the contributions of African- American leaders for more than three centuries.

Reservations are requested for the ceremony. Please call 803.252.7742, ext. 29 or email reservations@ HistoricColumbia.or g by January 28.