Fundraising kicks off for 120-foot Morgan cross

Plans have been made, material has been ordered and now fundraising has begun for a project that will see a 120-foot steel cross erected atop Priceville Mountain on Highway 67. 

Mike Tarpley, who serves on the five-man committee that will see the cross come to fruition, said the goal is to the have the project completed by Easter Sunday. He said the goal is to raise $300,000 in donations for construction costs, landscaping, LED lighting and prayer stations. 

Tom Campbell, Johnny Maxwell, Tommy Livingston and Eddie Turrentine also serve on the committee. It was early last year, after 17 years of waiting on God’s direction, when Maxwell and Livingston felt compelled by God that it was time to build. 

Maxwell, who serves as the pastor of Nature’s Trail Church in Priceville, donated the land upon which the cross will stand and overlook the heart of Morgan County. 

The group met for many weeks before gathering churches, Christian business people and civic organizations in Morgan County to unite help with the design.

The project will be built by Mississippi-based Rozier Construction, Tarpley said, who have built 15 similar crosses. The estimated timeline, once begun, is 7-10 days. 

Once completed, Tarpley said a sunrise service will be planned to welcome all of Morgan County to the foot of the cross. 

For more information or to make a tax-deductible donation, visit www.thecrossofnorthalabama.com. 

The build site and home of the future cross is located at 1359 Highway 67, Decatur.