Maggie Walker Day of Service 2025 - Evergreen Cemetery Cleanup

City of Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities (/organization/001A000000aAvQLIA0) | https://rva.gov/parks-recreation (https://rva.gov/parks-recreation)

Please join the Friends of East End, the Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Facilities, and the National Parks Service - Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site on Saturday, July 12th, for a Day of Service to honor the 161st birthday of Maggie Lena Walker.  We'll gather at Evergreen Cemetery, the sacred resting place of Mrs. Walker and thousands of other African Americans whose legacies deserve preservation and respect. 

Born in 1864, Maggie Lena Walker was a pioneering African American businesswoman and civil rights leader.  She became the first Black woman in the United States to charter and serve as president of a bank—the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank —empowering Black families through financial independence and homeownership.

Walker's work extended beyond banking as she also established the St. Luke Emporium, a department store that offered dignified employment and shopping opportunities for African Americans during segregation.  As publisher of the St. Luke Herald, she gave voice to the community, sharing news, advocating for civil rights, and promoting social justice. 

Her life was a labor of love, driven by a deep commitment to education, equity, and service. Through the Independent Order of St. Luke, she helped uplift thousands with compassion, strength, and a tireless devotion to the people of Richmond. 

A passionate advocate for education, economic empowerment, and racial uplift, Walker was a prominent leader in the Independence Order of St. Luke and worked tirelessly to advance the welfare of African American communities during the Jim Crow era.  Her life and legacy continue to inspire generations.  

In the same spirit of service to the community, please join us on Saturday, July 12th, at Evergreen Cemetery to help complete string weeding, clear dense overgrowth, haul accumulated brush, and uncover long-hidden grave markers. 

Tools, gloves, water, and snacks will be provided, though we encourage you to bring your own water bottle.  We recommend wearing a hat, long sleeves, and long pants even in the summer heat, and sturdy shoes.  Sunglasses and sunscreen are recommended.  Children are welcome, as long as they are supervised by an adult.  

WHERE: Evergreen Cemetery, 50 Evergreen Road, Richmond.  After turning in at the green-and-white sign, follow the road past East End Cemetery on the right, through the white pillars marking the entrance to Evergreen.  Please park along the road, leaving enough room for cars to pass. We'll have a sign-in table near the entrance.  Please be sure to stop and sign in, even if you've volunteered with us before. 

WHEN: Saturday, July 12th, 10am - 1pm

For more information, please contact the Friends of East End at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]). We can also be found on Instagram (@friendsofeastend) and Facebook (@EastEndCemeteryProject).