VIRGINIAN-PILOT
By JOHN HOPKINS, The Virginian-Pilot
© July 16, 2007
CHESAPEAKE
James and Harriett A. Lassiter were farmers in the 1800s, living in an area
that has since grown into Western Branch�s commercial district.
Their family burial ground in Western Branch had been serene for more than
100 years until developers began bulldozing the land bordering it recently to
make way for a strip mall. Today, a guardrail is installed a few feet from
the headstones for the couple and their children.
The sight troubles Rodney Quick, a Portsmouth native and past commander of
Sons of Confederate Veterans, Norfolk County Grays.
James Lassiter joined the Confederacy in the spring of 1861.
Quick is disturbed by the idea that history could be discarded in such a
way, that progress trumps sanctity.
"It hurts my heart," Quick said, standing where a metal guardrail post is
anchored into the ground near Harriett Lassiter's grave. "It's just sad that
progress is rolling over history and rolling over people now."
Sons of Confederate Veterans have ordered a marker for the site, their way
of paying tribute to a soldier and people who came before them. The group is
still searching for living family members.
They would like to give the family a full memorial service next month with
21-gun salute, a First National Flag presentation and taps.
"It doesn't matter if they are black or white, Union or Confederate or
sharecroppers," said Keith Morris, commander of the Isle of Wight Avengers, a camp
of Sons of Confederate Veterans. "It makes no difference. These graves need
to be respected."
The group is researching the Lassiter family's history to learn more about
James, Harriett and the others named on smaller tombstones at the burial
ground.
So far, what they do know is that James Lassiter was a farmer, according to
genealogical research gathered by Morris. James Lassiter's headstone shows he
was born March 7, 1831, and died August 28, 1905. The words, "In memory of
our father," are etched into his white marble tombstone. Harriett's tombstone
shows that she was born April 23, 1838, and died Dec. 18, 1888. It reads:
"Wife of James Lassiter."
Smaller grave stones carry the names Virginia, Anniel and Jas. Two others
are initialed J.L. and A.E.L.
On April 21, 1861, James Lassiter went to Hargroves Tavern in Nansemond
County to enlist in the Confederate cause. He served as a private in "F" Company,
3rd Virginia Infantry Regiment. He was wounded June 26, 1862, in
Mechanicsville and never rejoined his company.
The burial site is in the 4700 block of Portsmouth Blvd., about 100 yards
off the road. Developers are paving new access roads in the area for small
retail shops.
The Lassiters' tombstones stand about two feet high and a couple feet away
from the paved road. If their children were buried in typical fashion at the
feet of their parents, they would be under the paved road, Quick said.
It is unclear whether the Lassiters are the only family buried there. From
all indications, they appear to be a typical rural family from the 19th
century.
"It doesn't matter who's laying here," Quick said. "They don't deserve this.
In 100 years from now, what are we going to have over us?"
According to the Department of Historic Resources, a court order is required
to remove or relocate a grave in order to use the land for other purposes.
There also are state laws that protect graves from being disturbed.
CB Richard Ellis, the real estate brokerage firm handling the new
development, did not respond to questions about the burial site. Chesapeake city
officials said such issues would not be under their control.
John Hopkins, (757) 222-5221,
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