Cemetery trust fund not enough, says committee

By Staff
Leada DeVaney, Hartselle Enquirer
Committee members at Johnson Chapel Cemetery are asking for support in maintaining the graves of those buried there.
Decoration day is set for this Sunday, but committee member Leon Wallace said support is needed all year long to maintain the property.
"There is a fairly large portion of the graveyard, particularly in the older section, where many of the relatives are either deceased or have move away and never visit here anymore. As you know, these older graves have to be maintained to the same level as the newer ones," Wallace said.
Wallace and committee members Don Clark, Mack Maddox, Louie Sanford, Billy Melson and Jerry Segars are asking that people with relatives there contribute to help keep the cemetery attractive.
The cemetery is maintained through money generated by a trust fund. However, lower interest rates have hurt the trust fund, leaving organizers in search of more money.
"We know that many…take care of your own relatives' graves but what we have to ask ourselves is 'who will maintain these graves when we are gone?' If our trust fund doesn't grow, it will be extremely difficult to take care of Johnson Chapel Cemetery as well as we have in the past," Wallace said.
There are more than 10,000 graves at Johnson's Chapel. Donations can be sent to 164 Wynn Wallace Road, Hartselle, AL 35640.