History for Liberty

History for Liberty Genealogically-driven cemetery mapping and restoration in Bedford Co., Virginia. Let us know how we can help!

Blessed to be able to work to shed light, document, repair and restore the many names and faces who helped make what Bedford County is today. We are a husband-wife (and kids!) team that personally devote our time, energy and resources to the various burial grounds and cemeteries we have been fortunate enough to work in. We do not charge for our services and specifically seek out places in severe d

istress that often require tremendous - cost prohibitive work - to dedicate our time and resources towards. Clearing plots of brush and trees, fencing plots off and significant excavation and marker repair are exactly what we see as the areas of greatest need! In addition research and survey are things we believe are absolutely critical and something we devote great energy towards as well. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any needs in the Bedford County or surrounding area needs! How we feel about cemeteries:

It’s rare to come across a cemetery that has been untouched, unchanged by time. Over generations, they undergo continual change: the addition of new burials, the evolution of family lineages, and the transfer of land from one steward to another. These sites embody both permanence and transformation, preserving memory while reflecting the passage of time. What may appear at first to be a resting place is, in truth, a landscape in constant transition. More often than not, nature has also left its mark — lichens spreading across headstones, vines and briars creeping through, groundhogs digging, trees falling, or even cattle wandering through. Over decades and centuries, these places inevitably change, and many no longer look anything like they did when families first gathered there to honor their loved ones. Because of this, many cemeteries and burial grounds need more than just attention — they need care, recovery, and repair so that the history and stories they hold aren’t lost. We’ve been fortunate to undertake a number of restoration projects where we not only uncover valuable historical and genealogical information, but also help return a sense of dignity to these sacred places. Our work often goes beyond simple marker cleaning — it includes repairing broken markers, leveling graves, recovering pieces buried underground, resetting fallen monuments, and carefully reassembling what time has scattered. Using aerial footage, ground penetrating radar and careful analysis we work to create detailed survey maps that highlight what often is lacking in other surveys - the location of burials relative to one another, the big picture!

06/04/2026

This was a pretty interesting and unexpected find that we made just before heading out. Located with a probe a few inches below the grass was a 3’x6’ cast in place concrete “cover” atop the grave of George D Robinson. The crude but significant grave marker had sunk some and with runoff had become covered by soil and then sod likely many years ago as it was not described in any previous surveys.

Oof ….that 2” of rain sent the growth out of control! Sort of forgot that for how tamed the jungle became last summer, t...
06/02/2026

Oof ….that 2” of rain sent the growth out of control! Sort of forgot that for how tamed the jungle became last summer, this actually is the first year post clearing season which is when it often comes back with more vigor than before. There’s dozens of markers hiding in the 2-3’ tall grass. See ya in a few hours….

This weekend we made it out to reset a three-piece marble marker that was located partially buried during our first visi...
06/01/2026

This weekend we made it out to reset a three-piece marble marker that was located partially buried during our first visit to Old Lick Cemetery. The marker, belonging to Norvell E. Cannaday, had been noted in an older survey of the cemetery but was not relocated until we began probing through a dense stand of rock lilies and yucca. There we discovered the upper two courses of the monument roughly five feet from its base.

Norvell passed away in 1908 at just one year of age, presumably in Roanoke's Gainsboro neighborhood, where the family was living at the time. Her father, Thomas Shields Cannaday, operated a bicycle repair shop in Roanoke and had previously worked not far from our home here in Chamblissburg, Bedford County. Norvell was one of nine children born to Thomas and Effie (Cephas) Cannaday of Montgomery County, Virginia.

Interestingly, a younger sibling, Landon Judah Cannaday (1919–1920), who passed away only a decade was later interred in Williams Memorial Park. This further highlights the relatively narrow period during which First Baptist/Old Lick Cemetery saw significant numbers of burials, particularly marked burials. Norvell's parents were also interred at Williams Memorial.

Although the monument had toppled, it was still associated with its original poured concrete footer—an important clue that helped us confidently identify its proper location. After removing the listing footer, we addressed the original rusting iron pins that once secured the monument. These pins often lead to catastrophic failures over time as the iron corrodes, expands, and fractures the surrounding marble. Once the deteriorated pins were removed, the remainder of the project was a straightforward process of leveling and resetting the stone.

The monument itself is a substantial three-piece marble marker, especially for a child, and would likely have represented a significant investment by the family. I particularly like these veined blue/green smokey marble thats seen on the largest base course. Despite more than a century of exposure and neglect, it remains in remarkably good condition. Hopefully, returning the marker to an upright position will help slow future deterioration and preserve both the inscription and the monument for years to come.

After untold decades hidden beneath the soil, the grave marker of Lula F James Anderson has been rediscovered and reset ...
05/29/2026

After untold decades hidden beneath the soil, the grave marker of Lula F James Anderson has been rediscovered and reset at Old Lick Cemetery.

Lula was born on April 9, 1876, in Montgomery County, Virginia, to Jim and Judy Robinson James. While living in Christiansburg, she married Jefferson Davis Anderson in 1891. Jefferson was a native of South Carolina, and the couple later moved to Roanoke before relocating to Richmond in the fall of 1899.

In Richmond, Lula worked as a housekeeper before becoming ill. She passed away on May 9, 1900, at only 24 years of age. Her death certificate lists the cause of death as cardiac dilation, with hereditary malnutrition noted as a contributing factor. Importantly, the Richmond death record documents the removal of her body back to Roanoke for burial.

Shortly after her death, her daughters, Marie and Fleetye Olivia Anderson, were living in Roanoke with Lula's sister, Dorothy Ann James Jefferson. Jefferson Davis Anderson later moved to Washington, D.C., where he died in 1928 and was interred in Columbian Harmony Cemetery. Interestingly, Columbian Harmony shares a story similar to that of Old Lick Cemetery—much of the historic burial ground was destroyed to make way for development, and many of its grave markers were discarded and used as river riprap.

One of the most fascinating aspects of this restoration was the discovery of several clam and oyster shells beneath the fallen marker. Because the stone had been lying face down and buried for decades, the shells almost certainly predate its collapse and appear to have been intentionally placed as grave decoration. Shell-decorated graves are well documented in historic African American cemeteries throughout the South, and some researchers have traced the tradition to West African cultural practices. It is perhaps noteworthy that Jefferson Anderson's home state of South Carolina contains some of the best-documented examples of this custom.

The shell fragments were preserved and returned to the base of the marker following its reset, where they remain today as part of Lula's story. This was a previously undocumented interment here, hopefully descendants





05/29/2026

Here’s the thirdpart of a three clip series that seeks to highlight how we approach identifying, locating and extracting fallen/buried grave markers. In this we locate two small marble headstones with matching foot stones at Old Lick Cemetery in Roanoke Virginia allowing us to better localize the precise interment locations for the two individuals but also the position of rows to aid in further marker locations. Making these particularly exciting is that both fall outside of the coverage of state or local death certificates and obituaries and thus are “unknown” interments never having been noted in previous surveys.

05/28/2026

Here’s the second part of a three clip series that seeks to highlight how we approach identifying, locating and extracting fallen/buried grave markers. In this we locate two small marble headstones with matching foot stones at Old Lick Cemetery in Roanoke Virginia allowing us to better localize the precise interment locations for the two individuals but also the position of rows to aid in further marker locations. Making these particularly exciting is that both fall outside of the coverage of state or local death certificates and obituaries and thus are “unknown” interments never having been noted in previous surveys.

05/27/2026

Here’s the first part of a three clip series that seeks to highlight how we approach identifying, locating and extracting fallen/buried grave markers. In this we locate two small marble headstones with matching foot stones at Old Lick Cemetery in Roanoke Virginia allowing us to better localize the precise interment locations for the two individuals but also the position of rows to aid in further marker locations. Making these particularly exciting is that both fall outside of the coverage of state or local death certificates and obituaries and thus are “unknown” interments never having been noted in previous surveys.

A little sneak peek of a pair of previously undocumented interments located and reset. Old Lick Cemetery has had several...
05/25/2026

A little sneak peek of a pair of previously undocumented interments located and reset. Old Lick Cemetery has had several surveys completed in the last 30+ years coupled with analysis of available death certificates to compile a list of known/suspected interments. What is missing are pre-1912 deaths as well as deaths out of the area. One of these women died in Richmond, the other died outside of recorded death certificates - “in the hole” as we call it between the 1890s-1912.

These two markers were laid flat a few inches below grade, but were undamaged. We also probed and located both footstones confirming their proper location. These were located in an open area with no real indication of markers being present, but identifiable depressions. Some pretty interesting find being made! Stay tuned for a few clips and identification of interred.

Lurah made up some new forms and we poured a couple small replacement sockets. If the weather holds off we will try to r...
05/23/2026

Lurah made up some new forms and we poured a couple small replacement sockets. If the weather holds off we will try to reset a couple more this weekend.

05/22/2026

Here is a brief clip from the first visit to Old Lick Cemetery of the first marker found and reset. We have thus far unearthed 10 markers some of which had never been noted in any of the past surveys! With this desperately needed moisture I’m hopeful we will continue to be able to locate, identify and reset many more.

We are working on doing a better job documenting the process as well as some of the repairs and discoveries as they occur here at Old Lick to better share so stay tuned for more to come!

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Goodview, VA
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