Worried about the upkeep of a Parrish cemetery, a group of residents are taking matters into their own hands to clean it up.
Residents say over the years, the final resting place for many of their loved ones and friends has become a mess.
Established in 1876, the Parrish cemetery is a graveyard for families who have called Parrish their home, generation after generation.
For years, the upkeep of the cemetery was paid for by family of the deceased. But as time goes on, those family members have passed away or moved away.
So, donations to keep up with the 138-year-old cemetery have fallen short.
Iris McClain, who lives in Parrish, said they’re not letting a lack of money stop them from keeping the grounds nice.
“So they got several of us that had been around for a long time and we bought into it,” said McClain. “Now we are busy getting it cleaned up.”
A large group of around 65 people recently met at the cemetery to mow, pull weeds, remove trash, trim trees and paint some of the old grave sites.
More work needs to be done.
Several tombstones have lifted because of tree roots and as a result, they need to be fixed. Some diseased trees also need to be removed.
Volunteers are also now trying to get the cemetery officially designated as a historical site.
The Parrish Cemetery Association is now looking for help. They are a Not for Profit 501 © 3, and donations are tax deductible.
For more information, e-mail Iris McClain at irismcc@msn.com.