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Archiver > NCBERTIE > 2005-06 > 1119814411


From: Trish Worthington Cobb <>
Subject: A Plan for Restoring a Cemetery
Date: Sun, 26 Jun 2005 15:33:31 -0400
In-Reply-To: <001001c57a78$5c6e8be0$1e74ab45@donparks>


Here is a suggestion you may want to follow to ensure the protection of
your ancestor's burial place.

Our Worthington family in Pitt County organized a family reunion back
in 1982. At that time, one of their interests, in addition to
educating family members about their ancestors, was to maintain the
Worthington Family Cemetery.

They began by passing the hat at each reunion for a few years and
enough was collected to pay for the maintenance each year and to
restore and add some missing markers.

As the reunion became more organized, a newsletter was mailed each year
and donations were solicited.

One year a project was planned to enlarge the area to protect it from
future development, as the City of Greenville keeps building closer to
the old Worthington Home Place. The plan called for adding a much
nicer ornamental fence with two large drive-through gates, two
walk-through gates and brick columns at the two driveway entrances.
Donations were requested and much was received. One family member
loaned enough additional money to complete that portion of the project,
but within two or three years enough money was donated, so that now
there is no debt.

Each donation is rewarded with a thank you note, a card with a copy of
a family photo, the family crest, or something meaningful. Small
booklets with the history of the cemetery and a listing of the people
buried in it have been sent as thank you rewards for donations of $25
or more.

In 2002 a cemetery memorial service was held on the afternoon following
the Worthington Reunion. A tent was rented for shade and chairs
provided for the elderly. Cold lemonade was served, since it is very
hot on the 4th Saturday in June. The service was well-planned and very
meaningful. Various family members read brief memorials which had been
prepared about the older ancestors buried in the cemetery, and each
person buried there was named at some point in the service. A number
of carefully chosen hymns were sung, either by individuals or by the
group. My niece played the violin to accompany the hymns. Cut flower
bouquets were placed in temporary vases in front of each grave and a
short family history of each person buried was placed on a small stake
by each grave so people attending could walk around and read these. We
ended with a large family circle and a song.

Each year, through our annual Worthington Family Reunion, we receive
plenty of donations. Our next project is to improve the landscaping
and a few other projects.

Now you are probably thinking, all this is a lot of trouble to go to,
but it ensures that people stay interested in the cemetery and the
family history.

In brief, the plan is this:

1. Research the family history or the cemetery history.

2. Identify and contact all the living descendants of those buried
there.

3. Organize the reunion or organization, if it is a multi-family
cemetery.

4. Build the interest in the cemetery.

5. Start the fund. Be accountable yearly.

6. Plan the cleanup and restoration.

7. Contract with someone to do the routine maintenance.
(Volunteer help is nice and appreciated, but you can not always rely on
volunteers to maintain the cemetery over the years. As the fund grows,
you can contract with someone to do the routine maintenance.)

8. Plan for the future. Do not let the reunion or organization die
out, because it is the backbone of the cemetery fund.

9. Reward and thank those who contribute by providing them with
interesting tid bits about the family history, etc.

10. Encourage folks to visit the cemetery.

So far, our Worthington Family Cemetery is still on family owned land
and has a few family members still living in the vicinity to check on
it and visit it. It is still being used for burials for any family
member who wishes to have a resting place there.

There are a number of web sites with some good information about
cemetery preservation. One of the best is the Alabama Cemetery
Preservation Alliance.
http://www.alabama-cemetery-preservation.com/welcome.html

Check the NC web site for cemetery laws and regulations, which do not
amount to very much in the way of protection, but may be helpful if you
need to obtain permission to go on the land to do some work. But
first, make a real effort to start out on good terms with the land
owners, or you may not get very far.

If the cemetery is of a certain age and there are no burial within, I
think, the last fifty years, it may qualify for historic preservation,
but I think there is little money available to assist. And keep in
mind that being named "historic" does not ensure the preservation.
Many "history" sites have disappeared due to lack of people to maintain
the interest in the preservation.

This plan is a lot of work, but I am convinced it is one good way to
restore and preserve a small family cemetery.
The key is educating the descendants about the family history and
building their interest in the preservation of the cemetery. Donations
will be made by some, though not all descendants, but it doesn't take a
great amount to pay for the maintenance needed each year.

God luck in restoring your family's cemetery. It can be done.
Let me know how it turns out.

Trish Worthington Cobb
Winterville, NC


On Sunday, June 26, 2005, at 01:56 PM, The Parks wrote:

> I have been distressed since I saw the posting on the Dunning
> Cemetery. Can't we who care do something about preserving these
> little cemeteries for generations to come? I just showed my 16 yr.
> old grandaughter where her 3rd
> and 4th greatgrandparents are buried.
>
> Of course, her interests lie in other things at her age but the day
> may come when she does develope and interest and she will n ot forget
> what she has learned.
>
> I am willing to help with the Dunning cemetery if anyone else out
> there is.
>
> Yvonne Parks
>
> ==== NCBERTIE Mailing List ====

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