Dear Editor,
The amazing amount of efforts, be it labor, time, monetary or fortitude, has began to pay off at the Whites Chapel Cemetery in North Gadsden.
The people have come from all walks of life to pay tribute and honor to the ones buried there. The most unlikely help has come from the outside from people who don’t have ancestors buried there. These people have stepped up and contributed to the cause. Young people such as Trenton Hamilton, Keaton Peacock, Kentora Blackwell and Caydance Glenn from Gaston School put in a days work for their community, school and various clubs. We thank these young people for their openness, generosity and attitude.
Political leaders such as Becky Nordgren, Craig Ford, Michael Gladden, Larry Means and other influential members of our neighborhood and communities have stepped up to participate in our projects. Dani Bone, Donna Johnson, Eddie Edwards and many more have aided in restoring a great memorial in this cemetery.
The meeting Whites Chapel Cemetery Association held on August 26 at the New Faith Community Church was a total success. The fifty-foot cedar tree that has split has now been removed. The white fence in front of the cemetery has been repaired and a handicap rail has been put up on the steps leading to the cemetery. We have had donations from many local businesses to help our efforts.
We as a group have been working on this cemetery for 13 months. The cemetery was bought by the association in 2001, which was thirteen years ago. In 2013 we reinstated the association and elected officials, such as me, President Joyce Stocks, Katherine Fambrough as secretary/treasurer, and groundskeeper Mary Ann Thocher.
The cemetery is much better now. We still have a long way to go and lots of projects underway with plans for the future. The biggest issue currently is getting the cemetery plotted. We are expecting pledges at this time, however the estimates exceed our finances.
The families who have loved ones buried there with no marker need to be identified. The empty plots need to be spoken for. The cemetery has been a closed entity since 1994. This means only people that have plots already can be buried there.
We need each and everyone that has connections to this cemetery to come to our next meeting on October 11. It will be in the fellowship hall of New Faith Community Church (old Whites Chapel Church) from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. If all of you will let family members and friends know about this meeting, we will appreciate it as it is very important to discuss the future of Whites Chapel Cemetery Association. Other things to discuss will be a trust fund, wheel chair ramp, webpage, Veterans’ services, flags and other meetings.
There will be door prizes and refreshments. Call Joyce Stocks at 256-390-0548 for directions, information, or donations.
Joyce Stocks