On September 16, 1928, a hurricane came ashore near the Jupiter Lighthouse and traveled west across Palm Beach County to Lake Okeechobee, Many of the 1,800 to 3,000 fatalities occurred when the Lake Okeechobee dike collapsed, flooding the populated south side of the lake. Approximately 1,600 victims were placed in a mass grave in Port Mayaca in Martin County.

In West Palm Beach, 69 white victims were placed in a mass grave in Woodlawn Cemetery and 674 primarily black agricultural workers were interred in the city's pauper's burial field at Tamarind Avenue and 25th Street. Many others were never found. On October 1, 1928, a city-proclaimed hour of mourning for the victims was observed. Memorial rites were conducted simultaneously at both of the burial sites. At the pauper's cemetery, black educator and activist Mary McLeod Bethune read the mayor's proclamation to the 3,000 people attending the ceremonies.

Information provided by Florida Department of State.

Photo courtesy of Ebyabe.