DigitalNC

The Chatham County Funeral Programs exhibit documents the lives and deaths of several generations of African American Chatham County residents. The collection was established with the donation of nearly 800 programs to the Chatham County Historical Association by Ms. Annie Ruth Burnette in 2011. Covering funerals held between 1957 and 2008, the programs typically contain an obituary, a list of surviving relatives, and the order of service. Many also contain a photograph of the deceased. The programs are an excellent source of genealogical information, often including birth and death dates, maiden names, names of relatives, past residences, and place of burial. Collectively, the obituaries provide a rich source of local history about African Americans in Chatham County and neighboring communities.

The materials in the exhibit can be browsed by name or searched by keyword.