USBH Cemeteries in West Kentucky

Date: 19 Dec 2022 [unknown]
Location: Paducah, McCracken, Kentucky, United States

PADUCAH CEMETERIES

1. The History of Mt. Carmel Cemetery- http://mtcarmelcemeterypaducah.org/node/11

THE OLD BLACK SECTION An interesting part of Paducah history is present at Mt. Carmel in the black section. Charles and Jane Roberts, married slaves, were bequeathed to Rev. Elisha J. Durbin by Jack Roberts of Nelson County, KY about 1850. Father Durbin sent them to Fancy Farm, Graves County, to serve the priests of St. Jerome Parish. They acted as household servants and raised farm and garden products for the priest. They were set free by Father Durbin. Five children were born to Charles and Jane Roberts, and they were all reared in the Catholic faith. In 1862 the family moved to Paducah, KY, and placed themselves under the care of Father Michael Power, then pastor of St. Francis de Sales Church. There were no other black Catholics in Paducah at that time. Gregory Roberts, the youngest child of Charles and Jane survived all others in his family and died Nov. 13, 1930 at the age of 73. Charles and Jane Roberts, son Gregory, and an older Roberts son are among those buried in what has become known as the Old Black Section of Mt. Carmel.

Part of the mission of the Board of Directors of Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Inc. is to give recognition to this area of the cemetery as a part of the history of Mt. Carmel and the City of Paducah. It is our sincere desire that we will be in a financial position in the near future to publicly dedicate the area known as The Black Section to the memory of those interred and honor their contributions to our history.