The Pinehurst and San Sebastian cemeteries are nestled off Pearl Street in West St. Augustine and are said to be the oldest African American cemeteries in St. Johns County, Florida. World War I vets, railroad workers, and many others were buried there at a time when African Americans had to be segregated, even in the grave. The tombstones date back at least 173 years, and although no one knows when the cemetery officially began, they just know it is very old.
Upon visiting I saw broken bottles everywhere, trash, and desecrated graves with broken gravestones. Even in broad daylight, I felt an overwhelming sense of sadness. I could see the beautiful well-manicured Evergreen Cemetery beside it, making the gloomy condition of the San Sebastian and Pinehurst Cemeteries seem even sadder. A lot of poor and/or African Americans were buried here, some with the help of the Grand United Order of the ODD FELLOWS, San Sebastian Lodge in St. Augustine FL. The lodge has long since disappeared.
Several markers indicate Membership to the Grand United Order of the ODD FELLOWS, San Sebastian Lodge. Previous clean –ups include Christina Pope, her son, Isaac, an elementary school student, who took an interest in the Pinehurst and Sebastian Cemeteries, and members of their church, The St. Johns County Sheriffs Dept., 4-H who gave a $250.00 grant to Isaac Pope, two archaeologists with Susan Middleton, Home Depot Rental Dept. of St. Augustine, youth from the Hastings Youth Academy, and most importantly the West Augustine Improvement Association (WAIA). WAIA president Willie Cooper Sr. and even former WAIA president Gerald Eubanks have been organizing clean-ups for years. In fact The WAIA was founded in 1956 for the sole purpose of cemetery clean ups. Let us continue the effort to restore and preserve two of our nations abandoned but not forgotten historical sites started by The WAIA.
Dates are May 25 and May 26 2013
10 am till 5pm
If you would like to take part in the movement please confirm with us at [email protected]

We are reaching out to any one in the community to please help with rakes, lawn equipment, lawn mowers, weed eaters, pruning shears and any other yard equipment as well as food and water for volunteers. Please see the list below for what you will need.

Wear jeans and appropriate shoes- there is a lot of thorny growth
Bug spray
A rake if you have one – if you don't have one its okay.
Gloves
Pack a small bag with water and a snack-there will be a vendor selling food and drinks across the street from the cemeteries - I am still reaching out to local businesses to try and provide lunch. Please eat a good breakfast.
Be sure to check in at the gate.
Directions to the cemeteries:
From Jacksonville
Take I-95 south 31.4 miles to exit 318 (toward St. Augustine/Green Cove Springs)

Keep left to take the St Augustine ramp toward Flagler College.

Turn left onto SR-16 E.

Turn right onto Four Mile Rd.
◦ Four Mile Rd is 0.2 miles past Circle Dr E
◦ If you reach Seloy Dr you've gone about 0.1 miles too far


Turn slight right onto N Volusia St.
◦ N Volusia St is just past Josiah St


Take the 3rd left onto Pearl St.
◦ If you reach Broach St you've gone a little too far


708 PEARL ST is on the left and the cemeteries are directly across the street on your right.
◦ Your destination is on the right just past N McLaughlin St
◦ If you reach N Nassau St you've gone a little too far


From Orlando
Take I-95 N toward Jacksonville.

Take the SR-207 exit, EXIT 311, toward St Augustine Bch/Palatka.

Merge onto SR-207 N toward St. Augustine/St Augustine Bch/Anastasia State Pk.

Turn left onto S Holmes Blvd.
◦ S Holmes Blvd is 0.5 miles past Lightsey Rd
◦ If you reach Epic Blvd you've gone a little too far


Turn right onto W King St.
◦ W King St is 0.1 miles past Butler Ave
◦ If you are on N Holmes Blvd and reach Sanitorium Ave you've gone about 0.1 miles too far


Turn left onto N Volusia St.
◦ N Volusia St is 0.1 miles past N Brevard St
◦ If you reach S St Johns St you've gone a little too far


Take the 3rd right onto Pearl St.
◦ If you reach Bruen St you've gone a little too far


708 PEARL ST is on the left and the cemeteries are directly across the street on your right.
◦ Your destination is on the right just past N McLaughlin St
◦ If you reach N Nassau St you've gone a little too far



I will keep everyone updated and look forward to a successful clean up!
352-870-2860
Kris and Juan

The Pinehurst and San Sebastian cemeteries are nestled off Pearl Street in West St. Augustine and are said to be the oldest African American cemeteries in St. Johns County, Florida. World War I vets, railroad workers, and many others were buried there at a time when African Americans had to be segregated, even in the grave. The tombstones date back at least 173 years, and although no one knows when the cemetery officially began, they just know it is very old.
Upon visiting I saw broken bottles everywhere, trash, and desecrated graves with broken gravestones. Even in broad daylight, I felt an overwhelming sense of sadness. I could see the beautiful well-manicured Evergreen Cemetery beside it, making the gloomy condition of the San Sebastian and Pinehurst Cemeteries seem even sadder. A lot of poor and/or African Americans were buried here, some with the help of the Grand United Order of the ODD FELLOWS, San Sebastian Lodge in St. Augustine FL. The lodge has long since disappeared.
Several markers indicate Membership to the Grand United Order of the ODD FELLOWS, San Sebastian Lodge. Previous clean –ups include Christina Pope, her son, Isaac, an elementary school student, who took an interest in the Pinehurst and Sebastian Cemeteries, and members of their church, The St. Johns County Sheriffs Dept., 4-H who gave a $250.00 grant to Isaac Pope, two archaeologists with Susan Middleton, Home Depot Rental Dept. of St. Augustine, youth from the Hastings Youth Academy, and most importantly the West Augustine Improvement Association (WAIA). WAIA president Willie Cooper Sr. and even former WAIA president Gerald Eubanks have been organizing clean-ups for years. In fact The WAIA was founded in 1956 for the sole purpose of cemetery clean ups. Let us continue the effort to restore and preserve two of our nations abandoned but not forgotten historical sites started by The WAIA.
Dates are May 25 and May 26 2013
10 am till 5pm
If you would like to take part in the movement please confirm with us at [email protected]

We are reaching out to any one in the community to please help with rakes, lawn equipment, lawn mowers, weed eaters, pruning shears and any other yard equipment as well as food and water for volunteers. Please see the list below for what you will need.

Wear jeans and appropriate shoes- there is a lot of thorny growth
Bug spray
A rake if you have one – if you don't have one its okay.
Gloves
Pack a small bag with water and a snack-there will be a vendor selling food and drinks across the street from the cemeteries - I am still reaching out to local businesses to try and provide lunch. Please eat a good breakfast.
Be sure to check in at the gate.
Directions to the cemeteries:
From Jacksonville
Take I-95 south 31.4 miles to exit 318 (toward St. Augustine/Green Cove Springs)

Keep left to take the St Augustine ramp toward Flagler College.

Turn left onto SR-16 E.

Turn right onto Four Mile Rd.
◦ Four Mile Rd is 0.2 miles past Circle Dr E
◦ If you reach Seloy Dr you've gone about 0.1 miles too far


Turn slight right onto N Volusia St.
◦ N Volusia St is just past Josiah St


Take the 3rd left onto Pearl St.
◦ If you reach Broach St you've gone a little too far


708 PEARL ST is on the left and the cemeteries are directly across the street on your right.
◦ Your destination is on the right just past N McLaughlin St
◦ If you reach N Nassau St you've gone a little too far


From Orlando
Take I-95 N toward Jacksonville.

Take the SR-207 exit, EXIT 311, toward St Augustine Bch/Palatka.

Merge onto SR-207 N toward St. Augustine/St Augustine Bch/Anastasia State Pk.

Turn left onto S Holmes Blvd.
◦ S Holmes Blvd is 0.5 miles past Lightsey Rd
◦ If you reach Epic Blvd you've gone a little too far


Turn right onto W King St.
◦ W King St is 0.1 miles past Butler Ave
◦ If you are on N Holmes Blvd and reach Sanitorium Ave you've gone about 0.1 miles too far


Turn left onto N Volusia St.
◦ N Volusia St is 0.1 miles past N Brevard St
◦ If you reach S St Johns St you've gone a little too far


Take the 3rd right onto Pearl St.
◦ If you reach Bruen St you've gone a little too far


708 PEARL ST is on the left and the cemeteries are directly across the street on your right.
◦ Your destination is on the right just past N McLaughlin St
◦ If you reach N Nassau St you've gone a little too far



I will keep everyone updated and look forward to a successful clean up!
352-870-2860
Kris and Juan