A new head stone was dedicated Sat. Sept. 30, 2023 at Calvary Cemetery to Dred Scott. Program speaker and Alpha Kappa Alpha Former Regional Director Peggy LeCompte takes a picture with the great great granddaughter of Scott Lynne Jackson. Jackson is the founder of the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation. Photo by Wiley Price I St. Louis American
Headstone for legendary figure unveiled at Calvary Cemetery
by Ashley Winters | The St. Louis American
Dred Scott, a fighter for freedom who who helped inspire the struggle for Black American legal and civil rights, now has a monument fit for his contribution to the nation’s history. Scott’s wife, Harriet Robinson Scott, will have a new head-stone celebrated at her resting place in Greenwood Cemetery in Hillsdale on October 14 the ceremony begins at 11:00 am.
Family, friends, and community members gathered on Saturday, September 30 at Calvary Cemetery, 5293 West Florissant Avenue for the unveiling of headstone. The charcoal-colored monument stands 9 feet tall, and is etched with Bible scriptures and a picture of Scott. Before the new monument was erected, Scott had a simple gravestone that stood two feet tall for the past 66 years.
For his descendants, this was a day to honor the uphill battles he fought for his human rights. They also acknowledged the current state this country is in, with a hope for a better future. The ceremony also honored the 165th anniversary of Scott’s death.
“(Scott’s) original headstone just didn’t do justice to his history,” said Scott’s great-great-granddaughter, Lynee Jackson.
The family will keep the original modest size headstone and Jackson added that Scott’s gravesite is the most requested in the cemetery. She said when visiting she passed up the small headstone a few times.
“And now that will be no more,” she said. “To God be the glory.”
Dred Scott Madison II, Scott’s great-great-grandson, said the monument is a great tribute to a great American hero.
“This is a great dedication,” said Madison.
He discussed the dark history of slavery, the impact it had on his great-great-grandfather, and his pride in Dred Scott’s fight that led to his historic Supreme Court case.
But he fears that Scott’s story, and those of many other Black history makers, will be erased because of new policies in place that aim to ignore America’s history.
“My ancestors lived the American nightmare so that I can live the American dream,” said Madison. “Slavery is a stain on this country’s fabric no matter the race, color, or creed. Everyone was impacted.”
Dawn Eden Goldstein, shared the story of Father Ed Dowling, a St. Louis Jesuit priest who helped campaign for Scott’s first headstone in the 1950s.
Before the contributions of Father Dowling and his sister, Scott’s grave site was unmarked. Goldstein, who authored a Dowling autobiography, said he and his sister, Anna, partnered with the Old Baden Historical Society and the Blow family to help raise funds so that Scott could have a headstone.
According to Goldstein, the gravesite was owned by the descendants of Taylor Blow, who freed Scott. Father Dowling contacted Taylor Blow’s grandson, Thomas Blow. Thomas Blow gave his blessing to raise funds for the gravesite. From that point, Father Dowling contacted Scott’s great-grandson, John A. Madison, Jr.—who is the father of Lynne Jackson. Scott wanted to make sure that the headstone would meet the approval of Scott’s descendants.
“So now Dred Scott’s grave has the monument that Father Dowling wanted him to have,” said Goldstein.
Peggy Lewis, a member of the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation since 2008, met the descendants of Scott when she was a teacher. She assigned her students to write a poem about Scott and his court case. During her time on the board, Lewis learned the statues of Scott in front of the Old Courthouse downtown were not paid for, and she helped raise money to cover the balance.
“I think this monument is so overdue, Dred Scott has now some recognition,” said Lewis. She said Scott stepped up to the plate and batted the first ball toward civil rights. “It is only fitting and proper that he gets this monument,” she said.
At the end of the ceremony, people were asked to place pennies representing Lincoln’s emancipation of the enslaved.
Ashley Winters is a Report for America reporter for the St. Louis American.
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