Flowers are a common sight in Calvary Memorial Cemetery. StarNews photo by Si Cantwell.
Calvary Memorial Cemetery, 800 N. 11th St., is a privately owned Wimington cemetery, extending eastward to the border of adjoining Oakdale Cemetery.
It was founded in the 1980s by Wilmington real estate developer Stanley Rehder, on what had been the site of greenhouses for his wholesale florist business. According to daughter, Julie Rehder, her father went into the cemetery business at the urging of local African-American morticians, who were seeking an alternative to nearby Pine Forest Cemetery, which at the time was in disrepair.
The cemetery is currently managed by Stanley Rehder’s son-in-law, Jack Krupicka.
Among the notable individuals buried at Calvary Memorial is Minnie Evans (1892-1987), the acclaimed visionary artist. Her scroll-shaped grave marker was donated by Airlie Gardens, where she worked for many years as gatekeeper.
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Whatever happened to the ‘Colored Cemetery’ off North Kerr Ave. that was marked by a cross?
Date posted: July 18, 2013
User-contributed question by:
john baldwin
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