Mario, I think the keyword is "nearby". I sincerely doubt that slaves shared the same graveyard as the family for whom they worked. At least I have never seen it in Virginia. Racially segregated graveyards once abounded here until rather recently.

I do think, however, that slaves often had a degree of affection for the families for whom they labored. Not always, of course; but I do believe it happened more than we might be led to beleive. Call it the Stockholm Syndrome, if you want. I don't know the reasons.

In the former Virginia state song, Carry Me Back To Old Virginia one of the offending lines was: "There's where I labored so hard for old Massa". But the song speaks wistfully of such times, more than in complaint. Still, the song was "retired" by act of legislature. Personally, I think the move was PI overkill as it may also be to change the lyrics in the song cited in this thread.