Dils Cemetery Map
Explore the layout and significant gravesites of Dils Cemetery, including the final resting places of the McCoy family and the cemetery’s inclusive burial sections.
Tucked into the quiet hillside of Pikeville, Kentucky, Dils Cemetery stands as a powerful testament to a community’s layered and intertwined history. Best known for being the final resting place of Randolph McCoy of the infamous Hatfield-McCoy feud, Dils Cemetery also carries an equally important and inspiring distinction: it is believed to be the first integrated cemetery in Eastern Kentucky. Here, Black and white individuals rest side by side, a silent yet powerful reminder of the resilience and shared history of the region.
The Legacy of Colonel John Dils Jr.
Colonel John Dils Jr. purchased the land that would become Dils Cemetery in 1871. In addition to members of his own family and other white residents of the region, Dils allowed his formerly enslaved workers and their descendants to be buried there—an extraordinary gesture of inclusion for the time. This decision speaks to Dils’ character and the profound impact of his actions on the local community.
Stories from Dils Cemetery
Frank Waller and his wife, Alvindia, are both buried in Dils Cemetery. Frank was a Black man who migrated to Pike County after the Civil War and had once been an aide to Stonewall Jackson, even serving him his last meal. Frank and Alvindia Waller’s daughter, Effie Waller Smith, went on to publish volumes of poetry, some of which feature lines she wrote in memory of her parents. Effie was also a close friend of Polly Mullins Ratliff—another figure buried in Dils Cemetery—and even adopted Polly’s daughter, Ruth.
Aggy Justice, a former slave, was the mother of Jim Justice. Jim married Alice Goff, whose father, Jim Goff, worked for the railroad and was known for his role in the local Black community. Jim Justice became the first African American to own property on Bypass Road in Pikeville, where he established a home that still stands today as the residence of Stafford Layne, Aggy’s great-grandson.
Manda “Mandy” Mullins is another important figure. She came to Pikeville from Dickinson County, Virginia. After white residents forced her and her husband Sam off their land by throwing rocks at them, they sold the farm and settled in Pike County. Mandy had a half-brother, Isaac Lee, who lived on Powell’s Creek. Her recently discovered grave is now marked in Dils Cemetery.
Edwy Wright, the son of Allie Ratliff Wright and Frank Wright, contracted polio as a child and was left with a limp. Despite this, Edwy grew to be an accomplished and determined individual, known for his beautiful handwriting, described as flowing like an Old English scroll.
The Peddler: A Local Legend
Another well-known figure is Henry Harrison, known as “The Peddler.” Harrison, a towering figure in both stature and folklore, worked in Pikeville over 60 years ago, selling pills and salves to soothe local ailments. Parents warned children that if they misbehaved, The Peddler would carry them off in his sack. Today, he lies in Dils Cemetery, a folk figure preserved in the community’s collective memory.
African-Americans Buried at Dils Cemetery
In 1996, an inventory of the African-American graves at Dils Cemetery began under the supervision of Peggy Davis, professor of anthropology and sociology at Pikeville College. The project is ongoing, with research to uncover more names and stories. Here is the current known list of African-Americans resting in Dils Cemetery:
- Aggy Justice
- William Henry Layne
- Josephine Justice Layne
- Charles Evans Layne
- Vernon Alexander Layne
- John Goff
- Jim Goff
- Vernon Keith Layne
- James Justice
- Vivian Mullins
- Sophie Justice Mullins
- Jane Layne
- Jimmie Layne
- Mabel Justice
- Alice Goff Justice
- Virginia E. Botts
- George Wright
- Wright infant
- Allie Ratliff Wright
- Frank Wright
- Edwy Wright
- Sylvia E. Ratliff
- Clysta V. Ratliff
- Tom "T.J." Mullins
- J.W. Ratliff
- Frank Hall
- Polly Ratliff
- Charley Colley
- Jeff Mullins
- Manilla Mullins
- Manda Mullins
- Mary Justice
- D. Justice
- C.H. Harmon
- Ver Justice
- T. Justice
- Frank Waller
- Alvindia Waller
- T.J. Mullins
- Mary Anne Gibson
- H. Spiller
- Liddie Belle Combs
- Martha Wright
- Fred and Teddy Mullins
- Edward Thompson
- James Ratliff
- Mary Ratliff
- Mary Jane Ratliff
- Henry Harrison
A Place for Reflection and Remembrance
Today, the cemetery remains open year-round during daylight hours, welcoming visitors to explore its quiet, peaceful grounds and to honor the past. The City of Pikeville has improved access and maintained the grounds, ensuring that the stories of those buried here continue to be shared and remembered. As you walk among the gravestones—some dating back to the mid-18th century—you are invited to reflect on the lives and legacies of the men and women who shaped the history of this region.
If you have information about those buried in Dils Cemetery, or if you’d like to contribute to this important historical effort, please reach out to (606) 432-5063 or 1-800-844-7453. Together, we can honor the African American heritage at Dils Cemetery and ensure that these voices are never forgotten.
