risingfree

African American History
in South Central
Pennsylvania:
the 19th century

Midland Cemetery was rescued from neglect by local historian Barbara B. Barksdale, who began the Friends of Midland organization.  That organization is the best source of information on the cemetery.  They can be contacted at the following address:  Friends of Midland, P. O. Box 7442, Steelton, Pennsylvania 17113-0442.

This article is part of a series about the people who make up the community served by Midland Cemetery.  Beula R. Mack of Las Cruces, New Mexico found ancestors buried at Midland and wanted to replace the wooden headstones with a more durable granite headstone.  She was able to accomplish her goal recently and invited family and friends to witness the dedication and unveiling of the new stone.  The photographs below are from this dedication, which took place on October 16, 2004.  For a history of the Roebuck Family in Steelton, please click here.

#1 The original wooden markers, which have been in storage, rest over the draped new replacement marker.

#2 Family members gather before the dedication ceremony:  Andrea McBride, David Richardson, Kim Roebuck- Dunston

#3 Garth McBride, Ronald L. Roebuck (center), Joe Johnson, Ethel Roebuck- Pickens, 
David Richardson, Jr., Mary Louise Roebuck-Richardson, (front) Arlene Roebuck

#4 Reginald Pickens and Ronald Dunston, Jr. stop to read the Midland Cemetery dedication marker.

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#5 Reginald Pickens, Ronald Dunston, Jr. (detail)

#6 Beula Roebuck- Mack, Ronald R. Roebuck, unidentified (in the baseball cap 
in the back) and Ronald McKamey discuss family history.

#7 Vincent C. Mack and Beula Roebuck-Mack near the ancestral graves.  At right is Friends of Midland board member Sharon Harris in nineteenth century dress.

#8 Ronald L. Roebuck, Jr., Kim Roebuck-Dunston and Ronald Dunston, Jr.

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#9 Beula Roebuck-Mack begins the dedication ceremony by discussing how she found the original graves with the help of Barbara Barksdale.

#10 Shelby Richardson, David Richardson, Jr., Dawn Richardson, David Richardson Sr.,
and Mary Louise Roebuck- Richardson listen to the presentation.

#11 Listening to Barbara Barksdale (in historical costume) give a presentation about the history of Midland Cemetery are Mary Louise Roebuck-Richardson, Arlene Roebuck, Ashley Artimis, Myra 
Roebuck-Anderson and Jada Anderson.

#12 Rear: Ronald R. Roebuck. Garth McBride, Reginald Pickens
Next row: Russell Roebuck, Jr., Kim Roebuck-Dunston, Ethel Roebuck- Pickens,
Children: Ronald Dunston, Jr., Brandon Pickens, Jason Pickens, Issac Roebuck

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#13. Barbara Barksdale of the Friends of Midland tells the historical background of the cemetery.

#14 Melanie Anderson and Vincent Mack (back ground) listen to Ronald R. Roebuck explain what genealogy means to him."

#15 The Richardson family, David, Jr., Dawn Mary Louise, children Shelby and Shannon, and Arlene 
Roebuck shelter under umbrellas from the steady rain that developed during the ceremony.

#16 Claude Burns tells how he and his brother used to maintain the wooden grave markers by repainting them on a regular basis. 

#17 Claude Burns points out details on Jennie Roebuck's old wooden marker

#18 Myra Roebuck-Anderson and Jada Anderson listen to the ceremony.

#19 Vincent Mack gives closing remarks.

#20 Beula Roebuck-Mack and Vincent C. Mack unveil the new Roebuck headstone.

People of Midland Series

Clayton Carelock
Trennor T. Beckwith
McKamey Family
Roebuck Family

More Midland Photo Galleries

The Civil War Burials at Midland
African American Burial Traditions at Midland
World War Burials at Midland
Gallery of Home Crafted Tombstones
Gallery of Plot Boundary Markings
Artifacts of a Historic Cemetery

Return to Midland Introduction

Andrew Askins Post 479 Veterans
Steelton Death Certificates, 1892-1893  
1920 Census of African Americans in Steelton

Hygienic School

The Hygienic School Story
Roll of Colored Graduates
Teachers at the Hygienic School

Friends of Midland Home Page