Now she is honoring her ancestor by trying to fix a wrong from the past.
A Northeast Ohio woman discovered her great-great grandmother’s final resting place nearly 100 years after her death during a time of segregation.We’re highlighting Natalie Warren’s journey to learn more about her ancestor and herself during Black History Month.Family members knew her name was Arena Veal, but her past was a mystery to many of them a few generations later.
Natalie’s family knew Arena lived and died in Akron, but not much else, including where she was buried.“It being 100 years ago, I was a little nervous I wouldn’t find where she was located,” she said.Finding her ancestor meant uncovering part of Akron’s history too.The Summit County Historical Society told 19 News several leaders from the government and education were in the KKK.
“Kind of gives you an idea of what their life might have been like a little bit,” she said, looking through a large, old book.“There’s no home there anymore, just an old brick road,” Warren said.Arena’s life started to come into focus as the documents started piling up.And a simple phone call led her to what she was looking for-- Arena Veal’s final resting place.But there was no marker or headstone to honor her life.