In Camden, New Jersey, Floyd White, a dedicated veteran with nearly 40 years of service, has taken it upon himself to breathe new life into the Dempsey Butler Cemetery, a site long forgotten by most but rich in historical significance.
Just five years ago, the cemetery, found behind homes and next to a larger burial ground, was barely a blip on the radar.
The only recognizable feature was the tombstone of its founder, Dempsey Daniel Butler, a Black businessman and abolitionist who created the cemetery in the 1800s for Black veterans and residents who were denied burial plots by white cemetery owners.
Butler’s legacy as a philanthropist and a key figure in the fight for civil rights in South Jersey during a time of deep racial hostility is integral to the cemetery’s importance.
However, by the time White and his team began working to restore the site, the cemetery had fallen into disrepair.
The monument marking the grounds had been stolen years earlier and was never replaced, and the overgrown area seemed to mirror the neglect of the stories it held.
Determined not to let these stories fade away, White, who also pastors a nearby church, took charge.
Alongside volunteers from his nonprofit, the Woodland Community Development Corporation, White has worked relentlessly to restore the cemetery.
The first step was placing markers on the graves of the eight Black Civil War veterans buried there.
They also replaced the stolen monument with a new one, which is proudly standing at the cemetery gates.
The American flag, which now overlooks the grounds, is regularly changed to honor those who fought for freedom.
Nonetheless, White has also been dedicated to keeping these veterans’ stories alive through regular ceremonies.
One such ceremony, held in freezing 35-degree weather earlier this month, gathered a small but passionate group of veterans and community members to honor those who served in World War II.
Among those in attendance was Jacquelyn Dixon, a Gold Star Mother who lost her son in Iraq two decades ago.
Dixon, who has become a regular volunteer at Butler Cemetery, expressed her gratitude for the restoration, noting how much the site had improved since it had been in “horrible” condition just a few years ago.
That day, the cemetery also became a place to reflect on the history of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first Black military aviators in the United States.
These men, who made history during World War II, are honored annually at the cemetery.
Melvin Payne, president of the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, attended the ceremony, acknowledging how important it is to recognize the contributions of these Black heroes.
One of the oldest living Tuskegee Airmen from South Jersey, Eugene J. Richardson Jr., was also honored.
Richardson, who had always dreamed of flying after seeing Black stunt pilots perform at an Ohio airshow in the 1930s, trained at Tuskegee University and became an airman just before the war ended in 1945.
The cemetery’s ceremonies also brought attention to the harsh realities Black soldiers faced after their service.
Despite risking their lives for a country that promised freedom, many returned home to face another battle—this time against racism and violence.
Robert Bowell, a captain of the 22nd United States Colored Infantry, highlighted the sadness surrounding the stories of these soldiers who fought in good faith that their service would earn them the rights and freedoms promised to all Americans.
For White, honoring these soldiers is a mission that goes far beyond preserving history. It’s about making sure their sacrifices are never forgotten and ensuring that the cemetery—this sacred ground—remains a place of remembrance and pride.
As the year unfolds, his organization plans to hold several more events to continue celebrating the legacy of Black military veterans and their role in shaping American history.
For White and the volunteers, restoring Dempsey Butler Cemetery means reclaiming and preserving a vital part of Camden’s history, ensuring that those who fought for freedom are remembered and honored for generations.
