Crown Hill African American Cemetery - Van Buren, Arkansas

I discovered Crown Hill African American Cemetery in Van Buren, Arkansas quite by accident about 12 years ago when I used to go walking on my lunch hour. It is kind of strange because although it is in the center of town, it is at the same time isolated. It used to be overgrown and ill-kept. However, when I went back the other day after all these years, I see that it has been cleaned up. Also, I found that a metal gate with the name of the cemetery on it has been added at the entrance. Additionally, a nice cement table with benches has been placed under the large shady trees.

The oldest tombstones that I saw date back to the 1920s and 30s. However, it is certainly possible that people were buried here before then and their graves were either unmarked or the markers deteriorated or were lost or destroyed.

The oldest date of birth I found was for Marindia Hodnett who died in 1937 at the age of "about 100 yr. old."

Crown Hill Cemetery is located on Pickett Hill at the end of 25th Street, in Van Buren, Arkansas. The land for the cemetery was purchased from a Mr. Culver. It was commonly referred to for many years in the community as Pickett Hill Cemetery, as it resides on an area in Van Buren called Pickett Hill. Pickett Hill (or Picket Hill as it is sometimes spelled) received its name because it was where Federal guards (pickets) were encamped during the Civil War.

Crown Hill is still an active cemetery.