By PAT NEWMAN
pnewman@TheCitizenNews.com

One hundred years from now, when someone wants look up an ancestor buried in the cemetery at Flat Rock A.M.E. church, they can refer to the diagrammed layout of gravesites compiled by Sterling Felsted, a Fayetteville High School junior and Boy Scout.

About 350 grave sites were documented by plot number and location in the cemetery, which dates back to before 1800. Felsted worked on the project for almost a year, discovering the graves of slaves, a Pulitzer Prize winner, and a host of people belonging to the Baitey, Glover and Stinchcomb families.

His findings also were transferred to a compact disc, for easy reference.

Felsted's foray into the history of Flat Rock A.M.E.'s rambling cemetery will be documented and reviewed for his Eagle badge, the highest honor awarded a Boy Scout.

Sunday, Felsted was presented with a plaque by the Flat Rock congregation in recognition of his work. "This is marvelous work you've done. It's already been counted up above, but we wanted to tell you personally," said the Rev. Charles Atkins Jr., Flat Rock A.M.E.'s pastor.

"It was very interesting to do it was an honor to do it," Felsted responded.

In the process of researching the grave sites, Felsted also learned some interesting techniques on literally bringing names to the surface. By dusting a well-worn headstone with flour and gently rubbing it into the depressions with a chalk eraser, Felsted was able to detect some names that otherwise may have been lost forever.

Felsted is a member of Boy Scout Troop 276 chartered by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints in Peachtree City. He is the son of Christine and Scott Felsted of Fayetteville.

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