Pleasant Shade Cemetery, located at 520 Shell Road in Hampton Virginia, is the oldest, largest public African American cemetery on the Virginia Peninsula. Dating to 1888, it comprises 20 acres and is the final resting place for over 15,000 individuals. Among those interred here Evangelist Elder Soloman Lightfoot Michaux founder of Church of God , Attorney James A. Fields, Lawyer J. Thomas Newsome and former Newport News Mayor Jessie M. Rattley. Despite this illustrious background, the cemetery was abandoned by the former owners and has no perpetual care. In Short, Mother Nature had overtaken it. In addition to high grass, many of the markers are sunken or toppled. The site is regularly strewn with trash. There is no sign with the cemetery’s name nor is there a register to indicate who is buried here. In 2011, the East End Neighborhood Association, Inc. began organizing community cleanups. They, along with a bi-citizens group committed to restore dignity to Pleasant Shade cemetery through the following steps: *The Association acquired 501(c)3 status in April 2012 to permit charitable contributions and corporate fund raising. The name was changed to the East End Neighborhood Association of the Peninsula, Inc. (E.E.N.A. of the Peninsula,Inc.) *Periodic cleanups using volunteers and equipment purchased with donations for grass cutting, tree trimming, resetting of stones and other maintenance. *Creation of landscaped entrance with permanent sign that identifies the cemetery. *Collaboration with the City of Hampton for trash pickup. *Documentation of who is buried in these sacred grounds; publication of that inventory online and in a book to be place in public libraries and schools. *Installation of a state historical marker and nomination of the site to the National Register of Historic Places. *Special events to restore community pride and respect for this hallowed ground.