September 3, 2026

Mt. Zion M.E. Church Cemetery, Silver Spring, MD – Current Efforts to Help Preserve and Protect this Historic Site

Updated September 2026

Mt. Zion M.E. Church Cemetery sign — Credit: Mark Edwards

With the assistance of Silver Spring United Methodist Church, members of the descendant community representing many who were buried in this predominantly Black cemetery in Silver Spring initiated efforts to better preserve and protect over 150 burials affected by a major safety improvement project that is being undertaken by the Maryland Department of Transportation and the State Highway Administration.

Members of Montgomery Preservation, Inc. (MPI) joined many others at a vigil and reconsecration ceremony that was held on this site on Georgia Avenue in November 2025.

On November 4, 2025, the Banner Montgomery, a non-profit independent news source for Montgomery County, highlighted these efforts in “For descendants of those buried in this Black cemetery, long-sought answers may lie under a parking lot.”

Project Mapping — Courtesy of Maryland State Highway Administration

Although records show that some burials were moved when this parcel was developed to erect a Safeway store in 1964, Rev. Ed Green and the descendant community now believe that not all burials were actually moved. When SHA purchased the adjacent carwash and gas station sites for staging and equipment areas needed for this safety project, SHA cultural resources team staff flagged the historic nature of the site. Two subsequent Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) studies show that over 150 burials may still be present adjacent to the southbound lane of Georgia Avenue and the Aldi grocery store’s right of way and parking areas.

Letter Requesting SHA Actions to Protect and Memorialize Those Buried in Cemetery

In November 2025, Rev. Green and the descendant community transmitted a letter to SHA requesting that it take various actions to “protect the dignity of those still buried there.” The letter formally requested assistance in working with the “SHA’s Department of Real Estate and other appropriate State and local officials to transfer ownership of the two State-owned parcels to Van Buren & Silver Spring United Methodist Churches to be held in trust for descendants and the community once planned hardscape remediation and resodding is completed by the State. We further request that alternative solutions for staging and storage of construction equipment be identified to protect the dignity of those who are still buried there.”

Rev. Green’s letter continued with a vision for the future. “We envision a green space and memorial markers which will testify to the lasting impacts of the community that once called the corner home, as well as provide a case of respite for neighbors and those enjoying the bike line and green spaces planned road construction will create…Together, we have the opportunity to witness to the possibility that life is stronger than death, but the pain of the past did not define our path to the future, and that reconciliation and reparation are possible when we work in partnership together.”

Cemetery Preservation Zone sign — SHA is commended for placing clear and effective signage at the cemetery site alerting the public to the sensitive nature of the subsurface remains. Credit: Mark Edwards

A SHA work team also has installed geotextile cloth over the area where burials are located. This action assists in soil stabilization and minimizing damage from erosion and heavy rain. Credit: Mark Edwards

Please Add Your Name to a Petition to SHA for Further Protections

The descendant community is requesting that any person advocating for the preservation, commemoration, and memorialization of this cemetery to add their name to an on-line petition. Currently, the petition has hundreds of signatures, including a number of MPI members. But more signatures are needed to illustrate the community’s broad and committed support for SHA to take additional future actions. The petition can be found at Mt. Zion M.E. Church Land Request Letter.

Your Financial Assistance Requested to Defray the Cost of GPR Studies

The descendant community is also requesting donations to help cover the cost of two GPR studies of the property. Approximately $30,000 is needed, and only a few thousand dollars have been received to date. Donations can be made in a number of ways. Silver Spring United Methodist Church is serving as the temporary fiduciary agent for the descendant community. Gifts can be made by cash or check to Silver Spring UMC with memo attribution to the “Mt. Zion Cemetery Fund” or by visiting Silver Spring United Methodist Church and selecting “Mt. Zion Cemetery Fund” from the drop-down menu you’ll find there.

Wayne Goldstein Preservation Action Fund Grant

In July 2026, MPI approved a grant from its Wayne Goldstein Preservation Action Fund to the Silver Spring United Methodist Church, on behalf of the Mt. Zion descendant community. This grant will pay for a portion of the cost of GPR studies that have played such a vital role in documenting these burials.

Mt. Zion M.E. Church — Courtesy of Silver Spring United Methodist Church

To Receive a Vigil and Reconsecration Ceremony Booklet

If you are interested in receiving a booklet marking the November 2025 vigil and commemoration of this important cemetery, please e-mail Mark Edwards, MPI Vice-President of Outreach, at mark_edwards@verizon.net.

Role in Section 106 Review

It is worth noting that MPI often participates as a consulting party and is always contacted by SHA to review and comment on transportation-related projects and their potential effects on historic properties in Montgomery County. At Mt. Zion, SHA requested comments on this proposed project (No. MO224M21, MD 97, Georgia Avenue), specifically regarding the results of the GPR report and proposed next steps.

SHA’s next step is to take comments received by all parties, including the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Montgomery County Planning Department, Historic Preservation Division, and consider them, leading to development of a specific “treatment plan” for the cemetery site. MPI will continue to play a role in the Section 106 review process, an important element of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.