By: Ms Jheri Worldwide
Staff Writer
Oberlin Village, a cherished community in the heart of Raleigh, recently celebrated a significant moment in its history with the unveiling of a North Carolina Civil Rights Trail marker. The dedication ceremony honored Willis “Bill” Graves, Jr. (1890-1966), a prominent civil rights attorney whose work to dismantle racial housing discrimination reverberated across the nation.
The event, held at 814 Oberlin Road, the site of Graves’ birth and childhood home, now serving as Preservation North Carolina’s (PNC) statewide headquarters, brought together community leaders, members of the Graves family, and history enthusiasts. The marker, a testament to Graves’ enduring legacy, was unveiled by the N.C. African American Heritage Commission, Director Adrienne Nidre shared, “I am so grateful that we as a commission are able to take part and join the community to physically mark this history. I cannot stress enough the importance of of learning about it. There are so many stories of everyday people across our state, we don’t often have an opportunity to to know them and to know their stories and to mark their great work. So to have an opportunity to share the work of someone like Mr. Graves in front of such a beautifully preserved home is just incredible honor. There are two other stops on the trail, in Oberlin, one very close to us. There is a chapel marking the Holtz family and that one talks about the desegregation of Raleigh schools. There is one in Village District right in the middle of the village marking a sit in that happened.”
Willis “Bill” Graves’ journey began in Oberlin Village before he went on to attend Saint Augustine’s and Shaw Universities in Raleigh. He later earned a law degree from Howard University School of Law in 1919. He became a leading Civil Rights attorney in Detroit, Michigan, where his work intersected with that of Thurgood Marshall. Together, they collaborated on Shelley v. Kraemer (1948), a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that declared racially restrictive housing covenants unenforceable. This pivotal decision marked an early and crucial victory in the fight for Civil Rights and has since served as a precedent in numerous landmark cases, including the monumental Brown v. Board of Education.
The placement of the marker at Graves’ childhood home underscores the connection between Raleigh’s Oberlin Village community and the broader national Civil Rights Movement. It serves as a powerful reminder that even national figures like Graves often have local roots that shape their path and their impact.
Benjamin Briggs, President & CEO of Preservation North Carolina, emphasized the importance of such markers in revealing the rich history woven into the fabric of our communities. “North Carolina’s history is all around us,” Briggs stated, “and markers such as this one reveal history in our own backyards. This marker, and the Graves-Fields House, will serve as touchstones to an important chapter in our nation’s history. The contributions made by Mr. Graves remain relevant and important to our shared past and he will be an inspiration for us into our future.”
The North Carolina Civil Rights Trail, an initiative of the N.C. African American Heritage Commission, aims to highlight key locations and individuals instrumental in the Civil Rights Movement. Through these markers, the trail educates residents and visitors alike, preserving and promoting this vital chapter in our state’s history. Funding for the Willis Graves marker was generously provided by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation.
Following the dedication ceremony, attendees were invited to tour PNC’s headquarters, which encompasses the combined Graves-Fields House and the adjacent Hall House, offering a glimpse into the architectural and historical significance of the site. The event served not only as a commemoration of Graves’ achievements but also as a celebration of Oberlin Village’s role in shaping a champion for justice and equality.
