On this day, 2 February 1884, the Rev. Islay Walden, Pastor of Strieby Congregational Church, missionary and teacher with the American Missionary Association, and “Blind Poet of North Carolina” died in Strieby, Randolph County, North Carolina. He is buried in the Strieby Church Cemetery, part of the Strieby Church, School, and Cemetery Cultural Heritage and Literary Landmark Site, in Asheboro, Randolph County, North Carolina, now a member of the Black Cemetery Network and the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network. #islaywalden #blindpoetofnorthcarolina #striebychurchnc #americanmissionaryassociation #striebyheritagesite #randolphcountync #literarylandmark #culturalheritagesite #blackcemeterynetwork #reconstructioneranationalhistoricnetwork https://www.instagram.com/p/CoJ5F7DudTh/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=