Willow Dale Cemetery

A fascinating, quiet, peaceful graveyard.
Found it it be an interesting pastime to respectfully explore the old grave stones. Some dating back to the 1730’s. It’s a shame a lot of the older ones are broken and/or completely laying flat on the ground.
The memorial for the mass grave of 800 Confederate soldiers is beautiful.
“In Memory of the Confederate Dead, 1861-1865
Eight Hundred Rest Here”

“The Goldsboro Rifles Camp has completed the project to memorialize the
soldiers who are buried in the mass grave in Willow Dale Cemetery in Goldsboro.
We have the names of approximately six hundred Confederate soldiers who died
in and around Goldsboro throughout the war.

Records tell of the United Daughters of the Confederacy having bodies moved from
private cemeteries, hospital cemeteries, Bentonville and any other place in the area
where Southern sons had been interred.

Although none of the men were identified, the above information supports the
compilation of names that was gleaned from the Confederate Records Group 109
in National Archives by Mr. Raymond Watkins of Falls Church, Virginia.

The members of the Goldsboro Rifles wish to extend their most sincere appreciation
to him for his work, without which none of this would have been possible. Our plan to
provide a memorial to these men has materialized in a series of stones that display
their names and surround the mound covering this mass grave. It will serve to honor
all those who died in the area whether their final resting place be the mass grave or
some long forgotten unmarked one.

Our Memorial Service was held on Sunday May 18, 2003 to rededicate this hallowed
ground. It was attended by approximately 300 people who were anxious for this long
awaited event.”

Of
H the history of this graveyard can be felt when you walk around

Best cemetery around

Was not there