Hartsville, SC (WPDE) – Dozens gathered on Tuesday morning for the Marion Avenue Cemetery restoration in the city limits of Hartsville.
The topic of the overall project is “the honor of our past that hugs our future”.
The former Senator of Hartsville, Gerald Malloy, the former MP of Marlboro County, Patricia Moore Henegan and Rep. Robert Williams, worked together to finance more than 526,000 US dollars for the restoration and maintenance of Marion Avenue and for Greenlawn Cemetery.
“To see the graves of our people. See how they grew up and do not pay attention to it. To know that two or three people were able to receive funds for it. For me, the others who were ready to work and clean the graves means a lot.
“This is a sacred soil. We have our patriots who are buried in this cemetery. And in my church like others who are absent on the body.
“It takes a group to enforce this thing. And on the side of the Senate. And on the side of the house. We were able to find the financing. And over half a million dollars. This is a lot of money to put in a place like this,” said Rep. Williams.
The scholarship provided by the Department of Archives and History was sponsored by Senator Malloy to ensure the restoration and maintenance of this culturally and historically significant sites.
Officials said that both Greenlawn and Marion Avenue Cemeteries for Hartsville, especially for the African American community, have an immense cultural value. These cemeteries serve as important historical, architectural and archaeological artifacts and offer direct insights into the past of the community.
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Hartsvilles Mayor Casey Hancock thanked him and said: “We wanted to honor all former citizens and leaders of Hartsville. The teachers and pastors, farmers and factory workers and everyone else are people in Hartsville. And we wanted to honor them with the leg they deserve.”
The restoration project deals with decisive condition to prevent these locations from becoming inaccessible due to erosion, overgrowing and weathering. The city of Hartsville said it recognized the importance of this initiative not only for the preservation of historical resources, but also for the honor of the final resting places of previous generations.
This project is the first phase of a larger planning process that includes securing the properties and general improvements. The specific improvements for the Greenlawn Cemetery include ornamental fences, brick input signs, paving of the drive gate as well as comprehensive landscape design and irrigation. For the Marion Avenue Cemetery, the plans include new sidewalks and a parking space, ornamental fences, ride and pedestrian gates with gate pillars as well as improved landscape design and irrigation.
The 93 -year -old Adlena Graham worked in the Hartsville Colored Cemetery Association and has worked very hard in the past 30 years to maintain and restore them.
Graham has a memorial garden and a parking bench on the cemetery named in her honor.
It is amazed in the first phase of the project.
“When I saw what they were doing, I just couldn't believe it. They put a wrought -iron fence. And not a straight post. Fancy pillars. See how they were designed above,” said Graham.
Dr. Charles Brooks from Hartsville said the restoration project continues to keep history.
“That means legacy. This means the basis. You know, that means fulfillment,” said Brooks.