Historic Marker dedicated at Whispering Souls African American Cemetery
Many years in the making, the Whispering Souls African American Cemetery, Inc., and Pinellas County Historic Preservation Board on Saturday dedicated a Florida Historical Marker at the small cemetery on South Drive near Safety Harbor. Also unveiled during a joyous ceremony were a monument with the names of many of those buried on the site and two benches for quiet reflection.
The dedication was emceed by Pinellas County Commission Chair Brian Scott and included several of the people who made the restoration of the cemetery possible, including Jacqueline Hayes, president Whispering Souls African American Cemetery Inc. Hayes also delivered comments, as did Safety Harbor City Commissioner Nancy Besore and Clearwater City Manager Jennifer Poirrier.
“As we unveil this marker, we not only commemorate the historical significance of this sacred ground, but also celebrate the enduring spirit and resilience of those who have become before us,” Chair Scott said. “This cemetery is a hallowed place where the stories of early African American residents, including veterans who bravely served our nation, are interwoven with the very fabric of our community.”
The oldest marked grave at Whispering Souls dates to 1896. The cemetery was associated with the African American community in the settlement of Green Springs, which became the City of Safety Harbor in 1917. Written records show as many as 130 internments in the cemetery. A ground-penetrating radar survey conducted by the University of South Florida and Florida Public Archaeology Network has identified about 100 potential gravesites within the current cemetery boundary.
A group of volunteers banded together in 2017 to seek preservation of the cemetery, and in 2018, a nonprofit organization was formed to ensure the long-term care of the property, at which time the name Whispering Souls was adopted as both the organization and cemetery’s name. In 2021, the group secured a clear and legal title to the property.