Historic Eden Cemetery- Mina Cockroft

Join us Sunday night on The Gist of Freedom with host PrestonWashington as we welcome,  Mina Cockroft the General Manager of The Historical Eden Cemetery.

Eden is the oldest public African-American burial ground in the United States!

Underground Railroad agent, Henrietta Bowers Duterte, Philadelphia's first female undertaker who hid freedom seekers in coffins and funeral processions to safely transport them without any detection from the bounty hunters.

Located on the former Bartram Farm  in Collingdale,PA the 108-year-old “Eden Memorial Park” — the inscription over the Gothic-style gray stone gates indicates — is the oldest public African-American burial ground in the United States.

Among its famous residents are abolitionist William Still, father of the Underground Railroad, and contralto Marian Anderson, .

Marian Anderson - Renowned Opera Singer

Chris J. Perry - Founder of the Philadelphia Tribune

William and Letitia Still - Author of "The Underground Railroad"

Dr. Caroline Still-Anderson - Philadelphia's first Black female 

physician. Daughter of William and Letitia Stil

Dr. Rebecca Cole - Another female physician

John Taylor - First African American to win an Olympic Gold Medal

Ms. Caroline Lecount- Principal of O. V. Catto School

Francis Harper - Noted Author

Mrs. Henrietta S. Bowers-Duterte - First female Undertaker in the country & Undergroun