1890 Mount Peace Cemetery, located on White Horse Pike in Lawnside, NJ was planned by African Americans to provide a burial place for their dead. The numerous purchasers of burial lots on the 18-acre site had no legal right to perpetual care but did have the right to have their lots opened for burials when necessary.

1900 Land that would become Mount Peace is purchased by prominent African American men from Camden, NJ. 

1952 The company that owned and maintained Mount Peace went bankrupt, and the grounds subsequently went into disrepair. Additionally, a fire in the cemetery office destroyed all the records and maps of the plots.

1960 A portion of the cemetery was sold to Texaco by Judge Davis. Judge Davis, one of the original trustees, who oversaw and kept records of the interred, but provided no maintenance of the grounds, administered proceeds of the sale.

1978 Mount Peace was overgrown with shrubbery and had become a virtual dumping ground. Cleaning it became a neighborhood volunteer project. Residents came out every Saturday during the spring and summer bringing their own tools and equipment to clean up and cut back the overgrowth. After two years the work became increasingly overwhelming, however community member Bryson Armstead suggested that the Lawnside Men's Association take over the project under the leadership of Lloyd Romero who had initiated the original cleanup.

1980s With the trust fund finally wrestled from Judge Davis the new trustees took over the administration of the cemetery. They solicited help from Camden County's probation department who along with the trustees took turns volunteering their time supervising the probationers. The money from the trust was put into CDs with the interest used over the years for major improvements like building access roads into the cemetery, building two cement tools sheds, righting all tombstones on cleared graves and erecting a Mt. Peace Cemetery sign, in addition to daily operating expenses.

2000-present day Before his death in June of 2000, Lloyd Romero with the assistance of Bryson Armstead catalogued all of the Civil War veterans' graves. Much has been accomplished by the efforts of a very few dedicated citizens and the current trustees continue the restoration efforts. However Mount Peace still needs volunteers to help preserve its legacy and uncover the hidden history that's here.