Beechwood Cemetery

Contains graves of many of Durham’s African American business and community leaders, including John Merrick, founder of North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, and C.C. Spaulding, General Manager & President of North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, and Dr. James E. Shepard, founder and President of National Religious Training School which became NCCU. Located next to White Rock Baptist Church. Opened in the thirties after Geer Cemetery closed. Several graves were moved from the old cemetery to Beechwood at that time.