North Charlotte Today

On February 18, a special event celebrated the efforts to restore the St. Lloyd Presbyterian Church cemeteries, located in Grier Heights and SouthPark, key historical sites that reflect the church's enduring legacy in Charlotte.

The project, supported by a Neighborhood Matching Grant from the City of Charlotte, is currently focusing on the cemetery in Grier Heights, positioned behind Thompson Child and Family Focus near Wendover and Marvin Road. This phase of the restoration utilized ground-penetrating radar to uncover unmarked graves within the 0.85-acre site.

Dr. Stacey Price Brown, President of the Grier Heights Community Improvement Organization, played a crucial role in initiating this phase of the project. Reflecting on her experience with the Neighborhood Matching Grant program, Dr. Brown shared, "I learned about the Neighborhood Matching Grant program, really, a few years back. Our community received a Neighborhood Matching Grant to help install some historical signage."

Kim Barnes, from the City of Charlotte's Neighborhood Engagement Service Team, served as the community's liaison for the project. Barnes emphasized the collaborative nature of the endeavor, stating, "We capacity build in communities. It's not about us making decisions for them... they have become passionate about it."

The St. Lloyd Presbyterian Church Foundation's future plans for the restoration project include the addition of historical signage and exhibits, aiming to provide educational insights and highlight the significance of these sites to visitors.

The City of Charlotte encourages residents and organizations to explore opportunities to utilize city resources for their own neighborhood projects, following the successful example set by the Grier Heights cemetery restoration initiative.