Antiquated cemetery gains extra assistance

— Patti Lack and Bridgette Easton have a mission - to help clean up and maintain the Pine Hill Cemetery, one of the oldest public cemeteries, if not the oldest, in Craighead County.

It all started when Easton became interested in genealogy and started researching her family. She learned some of her forebears were buried in Pine Hill. And when she went to look, she discovered there were overgrown areas and ancient tombstones discolored and made indecipherable from a buildup of moss, lichen and stains from trees that cover the cemetery.

“I walk in the mall with Patti, and we talked about the cemetery, and we decided to try and do something about it,” Easton said. She and Lack, with the help of a couple of Lack’s children, cleaned a few markers, cut a lot of weeds and grass and raked up piles of leaves and debris.

That was June 12. The women decided that if they had some help and more cleaning materials, then more could be accomplished at the cemetery on Craighead Forest Road, between Harrisburg Road and South Culberhouse Street.

Easton cleaned the markers of two of her family members, whose names are Carter, and discovered that the black obelisks really were white marble and quite beautiful. They cleaned other nearby gravestones and unearthed one that was buried under dirt, grass and leaves.

The stone they uncovered was for M.H. Watkins, a World War I veteran who died in 1965.

“How many more are there like that?” the friends wondered out loud.

Lack said her daughter, Jessica, brought some small flags, one of which was placed at Watkins’ marker.

There are also many broken markers, others that have become crooked and tilted over time.

One small marker was squeezed between two large pine trees that no doubt were not there when the 18-yearold woman was buried in 1921.

The cemetery is maintained through funds donated for that purpose. David Cline is the caretaker.

“We know he [Cline] is doing the best that he can under the circumstances,” Lack said.

Overall, she said, the cemetery is well kept. It’s just that there are some areas that are difficult, if not impossible, to mow. And they don’t receive the attention needed because of limited funds and resources.

“There’s just not enough money given to adequately maintain the cemetery,” Easton said. “It’s a big cemetery and really just too much for one person to have full responsibility for. We just want to make people aware of the need.”

They believe student organizations in local schools, all of which require public service, will want to help out at Pine Hill.

They also believe people will respond positively concerning the cemetery, and many will give money and materials toward the improvements. Others will want to “lend a hand” and actually help with the work, they said.

They supplied a list of things needed for cleanup: heavy-duty trash bags, bleach, sponges, spray bottles, scrub brushes, gloves, water jugs, weed killer spray, water, drinks and ice for workers, and money.

Volunteers are also needed with rakes, hoes, axes, chain saws and hand saws, string trimmers, mowers, insect spray and branch loppers.

They would also like to have small American flags to place at the graves of veterans.

“Doing something like this makes you feel good,” Lack said. “If we can get the cemetery clean, then it will be much easier to maintain in the future.”

Arkansas, Pages 12 on 06/28/2010

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