By Jheri Hardaway (formerly Ms. Jheri Worldwide)
Staff Writer
“If you leave home you still need to know where home is” one of the family members mentioned during the presentations of Belle Long and Yvonne Hunter Sanders at Tucker House in downtown Raleigh. The City of Raleigh hosted members of the Hunter family for a follow up to an experience that took place four years ago. On YouTube.com you can find "Roots of Hope: Rediscovering The Legacy of John Hunter." The documentary recounts the historical evolution of the Dix Park site in Raleigh. Before becoming Dix Hospital, the area was a plantation owned by one of Raleigh's founders, Colonel Theophilus Hunter, and operated by enslaved Africans.
In 2017, while researching an exhibit, the City of Raleigh Museum Director Ernest Dollar made a profound discovery in the 1870 census: a formerly enslaved man named John Hunter. The video follows the meticulous and challenging process of uncovering his story and tracing his lineage. This genealogical search revealed an incredible family tree, connecting John Hunter to other significant figures like his son-in-law, Stewart Ellison, a formerly enslaved man who became a state legislator and renowned builder. The family tree blossomed to include veterans, Tuskegee Airmen, community leaders and so much more. Researchers eventually connected with living descendants residing largely in New York and Washington, DC, who were previously unaware of their deep roots in Raleigh's history.
The documentary culminates in November 2019, when the museum hosted an emotional reunion. The Hunter family descendants toured key historical sites, including the Spring Hill plantation house and Mount Hope Cemetery, connecting with their ancestors' legacy and meeting newfound relatives. The film is a moving testament to the importance of uncovering and honoring African-American history.
As a follow up to the documentary members of the family reunited in Raleigh this past weekend to connect more dots, share research, and learn about resources and best practices for continuing to uncover family history and legacy. As this story continues to be uncovered and shared we look forward to highlighting our powerful local family stories.
