Caring for our history

There is a small and not well known cemetery that has some good friends. These people go out of their way to help keep it clean and show it the respect it deserves...and now you can help.

The Smyrna Cemetery group continues to move forward with their efforts to revitalize the cemetery where their relatives are buried. The group has been meeting since last year in an effort to organize a perpetual care group to oversee the maintenance and general care for the cemetery.

The cemetery, located off Rock Springs Road behind Odom Court, dates back to the 1800s. The three-acre site was sold in 1905 by Mr. John F. Tucker and wife Mrs. Linnie Tucker to the Colored Mutual Aid Society of Smyrna to be used as a burial ground exclusively. We conduct monthly meetings that take place at Elder's Chapel Church in Smyrna at 6:30 pm, and we encourage anyone interested in becoming a part of our group to attend. The next scheduled meetings are:

*Tuesday, April 5
*Tuesday, May 3
*Tuesday, June 7

This month will start the beginning of our Saturday landscaping efforts for this 2011. The next scheduled clean-up dates for March are the 12th and 26th from 8am-2pm. Although we will be on-site for the entire time, we welcome anyone who donates any amount of time to our efforts. Volunteers are greatly needed and asked to bring lawn equipment to aid in the clean-up process. We are also searching for anyone in the area who may have relatives buried in the cemetery. There are several unmarked graves that need to be identified, and we have secured a vendor who has agreed to provide headstones for a minimal cost of $30 each. Anyone with relatives buried in the cemetery and volunteers interested in assisting in the clean-up should contact Victor Wright at 615-557-5921 or e-mail TaRita Wright at tarita_wright@hotmail.com. Fund raisers are underway to assist with surveys and other legal expenses. Donations are welcome.

Have a Marvelous & Spectacular year,

TaRita Wright