Volunteers plan to restore aging cemetery

Friday, June 17th 2005, 12:44 pm

By: News On 6

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) _ Residents have been volunteering to assist with the cleanup of a 100-year-old cemetery that has grown into disrepair and plan to form a cemetery preservation association, a local genealogist said.

Sue Tolbert, a member of the Oklahoma Cemetery Preservation Association, said she has received between 15 and 20 calls from residents willing to help clean up and preserve Muskogee's historic cemeteries. The volunteers plan to form a group called the Muskogee County Cemetery Preservation Association.

``It's preserving our history and our culture,'' Tolbert said. ``But it's also respectful. It just shows we have respect for the people who were here before we were.''

Trees and high grass have taken over the Harding Memorial Cemetery, where many of Muskogee's prominent black business owners are buried. Tolbert said the Old Agency Cemetery, a historic Creek freedmen graveyard, could also be targeted for a cleanup.

``It makes me feel good to know people are out there,'' Tolbert said. ``In a way it's scary because people want to be involved but don't realize all of the work involved. There's more to preserving than just cleaning it up.''

Tolbert said cleaning up cemeteries can be difficult because lawnmowers, grass trimmers and weed spray can damage aging tombstones and artifacts.

Muskogee County Sheriff Charles Pearson contacted Tolbert this week to see how he could help and is looking into using inmate labor to help at the cemeteries. Pearson said he and some friends formerly owned a home near Harding Memorial Cemetery, which is also known as Lowes Cemetery.

``We've always known about it, and somebody let it go,'' Pearson said. ``It's always been in my mind, what are we supposed to do about it. I'll do my part.''