Forgotten African-American Cemetery rests in Solway
By Mike Steely
Senior Writer
steelym@knoxfocus.com
There is a small cemetery on the George Light Road in Solway that has a very interesting history. The Knoxville Focus would not have learned about the historic burial ground or its importance had it not been for a relative of the original family contacting us with a request.
Markeicha Mitchell, now living in Oak Ridge, emailed The Focus with the following: “Did you know that Solway, TN has an African-American Historical Cemetery? It was just recently added to the Tennessee Historical Registry. Some of the people buried there can be found at the Tennessee State Museum. It would be such an honor to have an article put in The Focus to honor them.”
After conversing with Mitchell and a drive to the Branch Hill Cemetery, The Focus asked her a series of questions, including her family’s history and its involvement with the cemetery. Here’s her reply about the cemetery and the McCamey or McKamey family.
“The Branch Hill Memorial United Methodist Cemetery is historically significant due to prominent middle-class African Americans buried there from the early 1800s. The earliest grave dates back to 1813 of the late Willis McKamey. According to the artifacts at the Tennessee State Museum, he was a farmer who contributed heavily to the wheat industry. In addition, Willis McKamey served as an exhorter at the Methodist Episcopal Church. Branch Hill was supposed to be a church or was a church that burnt down.
“Another interesting grave was that of Dr. Charles A. McKamey. His headstone is very tall and has a large Mason symbol. Dr. McKamey studied at Meharry Medical College in Nashville and practiced medicine in Knoxville. He owned properties, voted (paid $2.00 poll tax), did banking, and had insurance. The Tennessee State Museum has the McKamey Collection and its artifacts (consists of business transactions). The museum even has the original deed of Branch Hill Cemetery.
“The deed shows the original transaction between some of the people buried at Branch Hill. It includes Dr. Charles McKamey, William and Sarah McKamey, A. Rather, A. Carmichael, and Joseph Sharp. I tried to locate the deed years ago but Knox County had no record of it. Later, I reached out to the Tennessee State Museum, and it was in the artifacts.
“My grandmother, Johnnie Mae McKamey, was a descendant of these free, highly-educated, phenomenal people who, despite Jim Crow, segregation and discrimination, were able to be successful, outstanding citizens in Knoxville.
“It is my duty to honor them and my grandmother, Johnnie Mae McKamey (married last name Hardin), who was an heir of most of their land. She donated land to Solway Park, True Light Baptist, and to some African-American families on George Light Road so they could own land.”
Mitchell shared that she wants to raise awareness of Branch Hill to help preserve and maintain the historical cemetery.
The Focus suggested she contact the United Methodist Church and possibly the Knox County Commission or the East Tennessee Historic Society to get the recognition the cemetery and her family deserve.
