William Williams, freedman slave and a Founding Father of the City of Oak Hill, gave these lands to his community. We are honoring his memory by restoring and preserving these cemeteries and their history for future generations.

Our Mission: Restoration, Preservation and Growth. We have honored our 22 Veterans by restoring and raising their headstone. Many damaged headstones within both cemeteries have been cleaned and repaired. We have found missing and damaged markers and are replacing them. Our work continues by researching the history of the land and the people buried here and telling their stories.

Contact us: druannwelch@gmail.com

Who We Are

We are two Historic African American Cemeteries in Oak Hill, FL.  The cemeteries are owned by Oak Hill Saints and Sinners Cemetery, Inc. which is a Florida Non-Profit.  We are dedicated to the preservation and restoration of these cemeteries.

Our History

William “Bill” Williams was the first African American settler and one of the founders of Oak Hill, FL around 1863.

William was a slave. His master, a northerner, was opposed to slavery and sent William south to create a life in the frontier of Florida. William became well known for his knowledge of the Oak Hill area and his skills as a hunting and fishing guide. His wife, Flora, was a slave in the New Smyrna area for Jane Sheldon. It is not known exactly how they met, but a register shows that Flora and their two eldest children, Frank and Perry, were owned by the Sheldon family in 1863. By 1864, Flora and their boys had been set free by the Sheldon’s and they joined William in Oak Hill. Here William and Flora set about growing their family and their business. There are many articles about hunting and fishing expeditions that were led by William and mention his home, wife and children.

William staked a claim on land from the Mosquito Lagoon all the way to the Cypress Swamp aka Turnbull Hammock. The area, possibly 100 acres, became known as Bills Hill.

William was an orange farmer.  He was known as a devout Christian and opened his home for a church and school for the growing Black community.  When Henry Flagler was building his railroad, William gave land in the 1890s so that the railroad could continue through Oak Hill to help grow the economy of the small town. He gave land to start the cemeteries known as Saints and Sinners.

Gordon and Owen Cemeteries to Saints and Sinners

Originally our two cemeteries had different names. Saints, our smaller cemetery, was known as Gordon cemetery. Research has shown that the land was originally owned by Charles and Virginia Gordon. It was a family graveyard for the Gordon, Williams, and Maynor families. Sinners, our large cemetery, was known as Owens cemetery. The land was owned by Spicer B Owen who was known for his turpentine contracts and business, Owens & Little. It is believed that he started the cemetery as a place to bury his black workers who did not have families.

Records and oral history indicate these names stood the test of time at least through the 1940s. It is unknown when or why the names were changed to Saints and Sinners.

In 1994 Saints and Sinners cemeteries were registered as Historic with the State of Florida.