Cemetery Restoration and Beautification

This past week we cleared the path leading to the Black Section of the Island cemetery for the 4th time and installed yard signs to alert residents of how to properly respect this overlooked section of the cemetery.

This secluded enclave contains the graves of Elwin and Clara Perry along with Robert Smith. This small piece of land, in the back right corner of the Island Cemetery, was privately purchased for Black residents who were not allowed to be laid to rest in the main section of the cemetery.

In the Fall of 2025 we fully cleaned and restored the three headstones.

In collaboration with the Rhode Island Historic Cemetery Commisson an official sign explaining the history and significance of this site will be ordered in May of 2026 to be erected this year.