To the editor: How many families in this area have relatives buried in Level Grove Cemetery?
There are numerous graves that have been neglected for years so possibly there are no remaining family members here to care for those graves.
For those who aren’t familiar with this cemetery, it is a very historic place. I have been involved with maintaining it for more than 20 years.
We have struggled most of the time to raise money to just keep the grass cut. There are too sections of the cemetery – the “old” section that I work with and the “new” section which was added by the late O.P. Brook and is referred to as the “McGahee” sections. These sections are maintained separately. The “new” section still has lots available; therefore, it is self-supporting and maintained by McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home. The “old” section, which was also privately owned, has no available lots, and to my knowledge, there was never a fund set aside to maintain it.
The Level Grove Cemetery Association was created in 1974 by a group of prominent citizens and the only purpose of this organization is to maintain and/or improve the cemetery. The existence of the association relies solely on donations which have become scarce.
At present, the association is trying to raise funds to keep the grass cut and the weeds killed in the “old” section of the cemetery, which is the largest part. We also are trying to trim tree limbs and remove struggling trees that are growing up and causing harm to graves and headstones. This is a huge expense, and honestly, there are only three or four families who donate regularly. What a pity!
Level Grove Cemetery is not church supported. It is a private cemetery that simply has the same name as Level Grove Church because of its location.
In the past, most of the churches in our area that do not have a church cemetery gave an annual donation to the association to help with the maintenance; that ceased about 10 or 12 years ago and the only church that has donated funds in that period is Shady Grove Church. God bless these people!
My reason for writing this letter is to humbly ask that any families who have loved ones in Level Grove Cemetery please help us maintain it. Our annual cost for simply keeping the grass cut and weeds killed is $10,000-$12,000 per year. Every cent that we receive is used for maintenance. The association takes no fees.
The cemetery is also a favorite walking trail for many citizens and we want to keep it clean and safe.
If you are willing to help with this ongoing project, please mail your donations to me at 353 Irvin Street, Cornelia, GA 30531.
I will be happy to talk with you or answer any questions you might have regarding the cemetery and/or the association. I can be reached at 706-968-0277.
Thank you for taking the time to read this message. I look forward to your comments and your support.
Janice Griggs
Level Grove Cemetery Association