This cemetery received much attention in 1994 when home construction developed around it. The builders cleaned up debris and fenced in the cemetery. A path was created from the road to the woods where the cemetery is located. The Pearson family’s history can be traced back prior to the Civil War.
When Francis Coffer died in 1861, his will freed from slavery Charles T. Pearson, his three brothers, and mother. The proceeds from the sale of Coffer’s property went to the Pearson family also. Charles Pearson built a home, farmed and later set aside a plot of land for the cemetery.
According to a family member, the last of 15 people to be buried at the cemetery was Frank Coffer Pearson, age 88. His father was Charles T. Pearson. In an Evening Star obituary of May 19, 1956, Frank Coffer Pearson was “one of the town’s best known citizens.” Mr. Pearson, who delivered the Evening Star newspaper, also delivered resident’s mail during the winters when the rural roads of Burke were impassable for the mail trucks. The community so revered Mr. Pearson that when his home burned down, the community built him a new home. In 1952, Mr Pearson’s nine acres were purchased by the Federal Government for the proposed Burke Airport.* At that time, Mr. Pearson moved in with a daughter.
The surveyor visited the cemetery in August 2010 with a neighbor who had recently done work at the cemetery. A tree, which had fallen and damaged a portion of the fence, had been cut up and removed. The grass had been cut. A few of the graves had collapsed so much as to pose a danger, so it was suggested that land fill be brought in. The surveyor suggested that the community homeowners association and/or a scout troop be enlisted to help with further cleaning and maintenance.
Photos of Pearson Family Cemetery
County Survey Record
*More information about proposed Burke airport. Citizen opposition such as reflected in this letter defeated locating the airport in Burke. After an eight year campaign, the federal government chose an alternate site in Chantilly – today’s Dulles Airport – and advertised the condemned Burke land for sale.
