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1938 11 Nov 193- |
The passing of Pocahontas Kay (Grizzard) Pope (b. 1864 or 1865 Pocahontas Kay in Halifax County, NC, USA) in Hyattsville, Prince George's County, Maryland. She is buried in National Harmony Memorial Park Cemetery in Hyattsville, Prince George's County, Maryland, USA. Her original burial location fell into obscurity after 1960 when her grave, along with 37,00 others, was moved from Columbian Harmony Cemetery to National Harmony Memorial Park. None of the original markers was retained, rendering her grave essentially anonymous. The site of her grave was located thanks to the research efforts of local Bahá'ís. [Bahá'í Teachings; Find a grave]
On the 30th of April, 2018 the Bahá'ís of the Washington, DC Metro Area unveiled a grave marker for Pocahontas Pope, the city's first African American Bahá'í, in National Harmony Memorial Park. Another ceremony was held on the 19th of May to honour her. A history of her life and accomplishments was read and a monologue in her voice was performed. [DC Bahá'í Community website; Bahá'ís of the US website] Pocahontas Pope was employed by Alma Knobloch to help her as a seamstress in her dressmaking business. In 1906 she became a Bahá'í and wrote a letter of declaration to 'Abdu'l-Bahá. In His reply He wrote in part,
The complete Tablet can be found at Bahá'í Chronicles, In Alma Sedonia Knobloch p392 by Jennifer Redson Wiebers and in Aflame with Devotion p.67-68 by Judy Hannen Moe. From that point until at least 1918 she hosted talks in her home, and one of the people she led to the Faith was Alain Locke, "Father of the Harlem Renaissance" among many others who would go on to render service to the Cause. [ Bahá'ís of the US website] See as well The Bahá'í Faith in America Vol 2 p 225-226 by Robert Stockman, Alma Sedonia Knobloch p27-29, 33 by Jennifer Redson Wiebers. |
In Memoriam; Pocahontas Pope; Hyattsville, Maryland; Maryland, USA; USA; Washington, DC, USA; USA | First African American Baha'i in Washington, D.C. |
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