In 2019, Ellen Forbes Stick made a quiet but remarkable discovery in the northwest corner of Old Lick Cemetery.

Beneath years of brush, brambles, and neglect, she unearthed Henrietta’s long-hidden headstone, a tangible reminder of lives and stories nearly lost to time. Recognizing both the historical significance and the educational opportunity before her, Ellen envisioned the cemetery not simply as a forgotten burial ground, but as a living classroom.

She brought the restoration effort to the Social Studies Department of Roanoke City Schools, transforming preservation into a hands-on project in local history, civic responsibility, and community stewardship.

From that initial effort grew a broader commitment, and The Friends of Old Lick emerged, a dedicated organization built on the belief that forgotten places still have stories worth telling.