Zoom Meeting – The Role Cemeteries Play in Recording Our Community Histories

The Role Cemeteries Play in Recording Our Community Histories
by Carla Hines-Coleman & Tamela Tenpenny Lewis
The “Dynamic Duo of Black Cemetery Preservation”

This presentation demonstrates the historical significance of documenting the important roles of the enslaved, descendants of slaves and free people of color within the communities of Hensley, Woodson, Wrightsville, and Sweet Home in Pulaski County, Arkansas. It will also encourage people to protect forgotten or abandoned African American cemeteries by connecting their communities to the past through research methods using cemetery transcriptions, slave narratives, oral history, and obituaries.

Preservation of African American Cemeteries, Inc. (PAAC) was started in January 2003 by Tamela Tenpenny-Lewis and Carla Coleman, along with six other dedicated individuals throughout the state. Tamela is the current president. The desire of PAAC at the time of inception was to be a leader in preserving undocumented African American cemeteries, to work with preservation societies, cemetery associations, cemetery caretakers, etc. This goal was quickly met within the first years of operation.

In Arkansas, Tamela and Carla are passionate about endangered African American cemeteries. They have worked tirelessly over the years spreading the word about African American cemeteries and their need for preservation. The pair were featured in a documentary entitled, Silent Storytellers, featured on AETN. The Documentary explores the history, culture and importance of preserving Arkansas’s cemeteries. The documentary also demonstrates Tamela and Carla’s vast knowledge about historical preservation and the importance of documenting history. With a membership base that spans Arkansas and across the US, one would have to speak with each organization affiliated with PAAC to get a full understanding on how the efforts of these two women has changed the culture of cemetery preservation and created a renewed awareness about African American heritage in Arkansas.

Tamela Tenpenny-Lewis is co-founder and president of Preservation of African American Cemeteries, Inc. (PAAC). She has served as the national president of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society and was also a charter member and first chapter president of the Arkansas Chapter. The recipient of the AAHGS James Dent Walker Honorary Lifetime Membership Award, Tamela is also the recipient of the (AGS) Association for Gravestone Studies; Oakley Certificate of Merit and an Outstanding Achievement in Preservation Advocacy Award presented by the Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas.

Currently, she serves on the boards of the Arkansas Humanities Council and Friends of the Arkansas State Archives. She serves as the Scholarship Chair for the ASU- Strong Turner Alumni Association. Tamela is a 41-year member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She resides in Little Rock, AR, is the daughter of Samuel & Evelyn Tenpenny, wife of Judious Lewis, and proud parent of Student Doctor, Taylor Lewis.

Carla is a retired production associate from Avaya Inc. She is a (private) genealogical and historical research consultant. Carla also serves on the boards of Oakland & Fraternal Cemeteries, the Arkansas Genealogical Society and Arkansas’ Black History commission. She is also affiliated with the Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society, Union Cemetery Project, PAAC. Black Cemeteries Uncovered, PAAC, Compiler, African American Funeral Homes + more.

PAAC also (pre-Covid) took regular road trips to Civil Rights historic sites, etc. Both are members of Heritage Seekers.

Members, please login to see the video:
Zoom meeting video:
0:03:34 Meeting
0:10:50 Presentation
1:52:33 Questions and Answers
2:20:11 End

Copy of Chat from the meeting