DeShara C. Doub

As we continue to honor the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, I'm spotlighting the profound stories woven into HBCU campuses, not just classrooms and leaders but the resting places of community heroes whose legacies continue to teach and inspire.

Founded in 1856, Wilberforce University is the oldest private historically Black college in the US. It was born from the partnership between the Methodist Episcopal Church and the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, rooted in faith, liberation, and the transformative power of education, even surviving a Civil Was closure and reopening under Black leadership.

Founded in 1887 as the Combined Normal and Industrial Department of Wilberforce University, it was created to train Black teachers and provide practical education during the post-Reconstruction era. While Wilberforce University was affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, Central State evolved as its own institution and became independent in 1947, officially adopting the name Central State College. It achieved university status in 1965.

The Wilberforce Cemetery is located on the property of Central State University and was purchased by the Combined Normal and Industrial Department at Wilberforce University in 1896. Records from Dec. 12, 1926, revealed a total of 26 graves and a monument plotted for the cemetery.

Catch the first half of Black History Month posts on my page and join me daily in February as I share powerful opportunities to capture, and honor Black history of the past, present, and future.