Dozens from the Hillsborough community, Occaneechi tribal members, and Orange County elected officials gathered at the Occaneechi Replica Village on Sunday to honor the lives and legacies of John “Blackfeather” Jeffries and Lynette Coles Jeffries.
The pair are remembered as leaders in the preservation of Occaneechi heritage in Hillsborough and beyond. Hosted by Orange County, Spirit Freedom, and the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation (OBSN), the ceremony included the unveiling of a new bench and nameplate at River Park.
The dedication also featured music, a sage fire, and a tobacco offering. Their daughter, Vivette Jeffries-Logan, welcomed the crowd.
“To you and your people — your old ones and the coming generation — welcome to our land, friends,” she said.
John spent most of his life in Hillsborough and spearheaded the creation of both the initial Occaneechi Replica Village and its 2016 rebuilding. A partnership between OBSN, Orange County, and the Alliance for Historical Hillsborough, the site hosts educational events about tribal life and customs.
The project was also a way for the Occaneechi to reclaim a space along the Eno River, said Orange County Board of Commissioners Chair Jamezetta Bedford, and John supervised the entire process from a prime seat.
“Up to the end, John continued to keep watch from his bench, guiding volunteers with his usual combination of good humor, folk wisdom, and an occasional stern rebuke when they made mistakes,” she said. “And he never passed up an opportunity to share his stories with anyone who was passing by on the riverwalk.”
Lynette is well-known for her 32 years of work with the Orange County School System. She passed away in 2018 and was also involved with many community organizations, like the AKA Sorority of North Carolina and South Carolina, Orange Congregations in Mission (OCIM), and Orange County Rescue Ladies Auxiliary.
Following John’s death last year, the Board of County Commissioners passed a resolution to create a permanent dedication recognizing his and Lynette’s work in the community.
River Park’s new bench and nameplate honoring John “Blackfeather” Jeffries and Lynette Coles Jeffries.
Jeffries-Logan shared how much the town’s permanent dedication meant to her.
“Growing up in Hillsborough, in a place that was all about the Revolutionary War — everything was about the Revolutionary War, right? And not seeing anything about us and the people who look like me, the ones who grew up over in West Hillsborough, and knowing and being treated as if I didn’t belong in either place.”
She said while there are still miles to go, the dedication is a “tremendous” step forward in uplifting the tribal community.
Many in attendance also shared personal stories remembering John and Lynette, like Hillsborough residents Rich Shaw and Holly Reid.
“We landed here along the Eno River about 30 years ago, and one of the first to welcome us was John Jeffries. How appropriate we would come to find out,” Shaw said.
Shaw recalled how John could always be seen driving his “iconic” Occaneechi truck around town and he always spoke of Hillsborough’s shared history with a trademark voice.
Lynette had an exceptional welcoming nature for all people, especially children, Reid added.
“For our family and many in Hillsborough, John and Lynette Jeffries were the initial voice and smile of welcome for the Occaneechi,” Reid said. “They made a big commitment and intention to engage all of us, to make us aware, to educate us,” Reid said.
“We will always think of them sitting there at this bench together, we will take a seat with them, thank them for their remarkable contributions to this community, and then we will get up and get to work keeping this village and their memories alive.”
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