Cemetery

Greetings Family:

We need your support for the upkeep of the family cemetery. All monies will be appreciated and used ONLY for the beautification and maintenance of Thompson-Ashley Cemetery. Remember to be sure the appropriate Tombstone markers have been restored/placed for clear identification at your own separate cost! If there are omissions or corrections needed on this list, please inform the Cemetery Committee. Please note below our ancestors and loved ones who have been buried in the cemetery. Let’s honor their lives by maintaining this Historical Landmark they purchased, nurtured and left for us.

Cemetery Status & Registry (NC)

March 2026: Dr. Demetria McArthur Taylor (5th gen) led a special project to ensure that the Thompson cemetery was registered with the state of North Carolina’s Archaeology Department.

SEE confirmation letter in Artifact section (file number 31RB670)

There are 72 burials to date (as of 3/2026) in the cemetery.

SEE Cemetery Layout and Photos — created by Cynthia Wright Richard). The earliest burial recorded was 1885.

The oldest ancestor buried in the cemetery is Reverend Elias M. Thompson -2nd gen, DOB: 5/29/1849-DOD:5/12/1929; and his wife Roxy Anna ASHLEY Thompson -DOB: 1850-DOD: 1907—(2nd Gen)

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Family Ownership & Documentation

We assume from research that portions of this same land was once owned by slave masters.

SEE Artifact: Slave Owner’s Will/Estate

SEE Division of Slaves —March 20, 1860.

Note: The document lists ELIAS at age 19 and his mother MARIAH at age 32 as slaves. FAMILY OWNERSHIP/documentation: Elias Thompson (former slave, 2nd gen) inherited the land from his father (James B. Thompson (former slave—1st Gen).

SEE James B. Thompson’s Last Will & Testament-April 23, 1907; updated Dec. 25, 1918.

Once freed, James purchased the land, and he willed it to his son Elias.

Elias (about 20 years after being freed – the 1865 Emancipation Proclamation), used the land and possibly expanded to more for farming. We know he used 1/2 acre of the family land to be decisively designated it for the family cemetery- est.1885).

The cemetery deed is recorded and the citation is in his name as the A. GORDON THOMPSON CEMETERY. On the deed, he stated that the cemetery is separate from the farmed land on which it currently sits and is owned. A. Gordon Thompson’s children are heirs — (as cited on the current land deed —Oct. 30, 2009–of James P. Thompson “Pedro” & spouse Janet A. Thompson).

SEE excerpt from the deed —

Historical Significance

We owe so much to James B. Thompson (and later his son Rev. Elias M. Thompson) who — once they were freed — managed to have the vision, business acuity, and love for family to BUY/the land — after slavery and during the short window of land purchasing by freed slaves during the Reconstruction Period.

They farmed, maintained the land, loved it, and then passed it on legally in their WILLS to their family members. Loved ones, path finders, and trail blazers are laid to rest in peace on these sacred grounds.

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Management & Funding

Managers: Elias’ grandson Raphael N. Thompson, Sr. (4th Gen), along with Elias’ grand-daughter Georgeva Gerald Wright (4th Gen) were the cemetery managers for many years.

Georgeva Wright lived to be 100 years old (DOD: Oct. 2025); and now rests in her beloved family cemetery that she oversaw many years.

Currently (2026), her 2 daughters are co-managers of the cemetery (Andrea Wright Banks and Cynthia Wright Richard—5th Gen).

FUNDING: ALL pertinent family members are depended upon to donate annual funds for seasonal care/maintenance and everyone is asked to donate fervently at the family reunion FUNDRAISERS — every 3 years.

NC STATE REGISTRY of the Cemetery: The cemetery is now listed on the NC State Registry—Dept. of Archaeology. SEE file number in the state confirmation letter: (31RB670); you can reference this file number — if ever needed.

Documents & Artifacts

Burials In Cemetery

First was Rev. Elias Moore Thompson – 2nd Generation (1849-1929), and the oldest son of Jim Thompson and Mariah McNeil – 1st Generation, wife Roxy Anna Ashley (1850-1907). To this union were Neal Orange, John Archy, Charles, Mariah, Lennie, Hattie, James, Maggie, Elias, and Allen – 3rd Generation.

Exempted: 1st, 2nd and 3rd Generations

• Rev. Neal O & Martha M. Thompson
• Dr. Elias B. Thompson, MD
• James “Jim” Thompson
• Lennie Thompson McNeil
• Alford & Emeline Inman
• Rev. Allen Gordon Thompson (Odessa Humphrey & Laura King)
• Carson & Maggie Thompson Gerald
• Preon Gerald – Infant son of Maggie Gerald
• Christine Gerald – 2 yr. old daughter of Maggie Gerald
• Infant – 1899
• Infant – 1896
  

Non-Exempted: (Using the 3rd Generation to Divide Families into Five Subgroups)
Rev. Neal O. & Martha Thompson Family (25 Burial sites)

• Rev. John. Avery Thompson & Theresa Powell & Mary G. Thomas
• David & Josephine Thompson
• Thomas G. & Doris Thompson
• Canova & Ella Mae Thompson
• Ethel Zula Thompson McCormick
• Julius & Zula Thompson Powell
• Rebecca Thompson Bridges
• Rev. McCauley & Lucille Bridges
• Xavier R. Powell
• Hattie Mae Powell
• Naomi Thompson
• Orange Titus & Annie C. Thompson
• Neil Albert Thompson
• Anthony Dewayne Thompson
• Lucrishann Tolbert
• Daniel Gregory Thompson
• Ruth Thompson
• Wayne B. Caldwell

Lennie Thompson McNeil Family (7 Burial sites)

• Howard McNeil, Sr
• Howard McNeil, Jr
• Bertha or Beatrice McNeil
• Velma E. Smith
• Addie R. Eastman
• Jermaine Washington
• Charles Ray Eastman

Alford & Emeline Inman (6 Burial sites)

• Alford Talmage & Thelma Inman
• Alford T. Inman, Jr
• Jerome Inman
• Bonnie Inman
• Joseph Cook – Infant son of Pecolia Inman McNeil

Rev. Allen Gordon Thompson & Odessa Humphrey & Laura King (8 Burial sites)

• Dr. Maceo Bradford Thompson, DDS
• Rev. Harris Gordon & Beatrice W. Thompson
• Vinson Devon Thompson
• Allen G. Thompson, Jr.
• Helen T. Gerald
• Elias Jackson Thompson
• Raphael Nash Thompson

Carson & Maggie Thompson Gerald (6 Burial sites)

• Eloise M. Gerald Martin
• Leonard Odell Phillips, Jr.
• Booker Taliaferro Wright
• Lois F. Gerald McArthur
• Wallace Everett Banks, Jr.
• Georgeva Gerald Wright

Cemetery Maintenance Expenses and Burial Fees

The cemetery is groomed for eight months of the year, which includes the month before Mother’s Day, March, through October. There are 48 “non-Exempted” burial sites. We are soliciting the support of the five (5) subgroups of “non-Exempted” families to pledge $250 annually for the Maintenance and Care of OUR HISTORICAL Landmark.

Select a donation option:

Proposed Miscellaneous Expenses:
Revised Cemetery Signage – Change from “Thompson” to “Thompson-Ashley” Cemetery; Artificial
Décor for the Gate Entrance; and Cast Iron “Reflection” Bench.

Annual Maintenance Expense (AME):

Items	Quantity	Price	Annual Cost Calculated	Total Annual Cost
Lawn Care Storm Clean-Up Driveway Maintenance Other Miscellaneous Items	Mar-Oct Once per Month	$150	$150 x 8	$1200

Burial Plot Expense (BPE):

Item	Quantity	Price	Details
Plot	Per Person	$150	Lawn Care & Driveway Cemetery Readiness & Cleanup

For ALL Burials … Please contact:

Ms. Andrea Wright Banks

awrightbanks18@gmail.com / Phone: (786) 317-4912

Cemetery Committee

• Andrea Wright Banks 786.317.4912; Cynthia Wright Richard 910.733.7605 – Co-Chairs
• Georgeva G. Wright; Shirlene Thompson – Honorary Chairs
• Brad Thompson 919.740.0110; Rebecca Ann Genus 910.827.7083; Raphael N. Thompson 718.855.6410
  

Thank you in advance for making it possible to have a well-maintained Historical Landmark!