Come Home and Cleanup

Prior to Reestablishment:

Faithful members of the Mart Community formed a “cemetery cleanup” effort. Some had moved from the community but had the desire to “come home”, near and far, for the cleanup.  

In June 2021, Claudell Barrett had concerns about how the grounds looked and about the direction under the present president. She called a meeting with a group of African American family members at the Evergreen Cemetery. The group found the cemetery in disarray. The group, along with Claudell Barrett was Rev. Carl Welch, Donald Carpenter, Anline Barrett, Patricia Barrett Williamson, Stacy Barrett, Janet Bridgewater, Sandra Hurth, Glinda Baker, Effie Harrison, Kathleen Barrett, and Oneida K. Sharp. 

The group reorganized due to resignations from Gene Doman, President and McKella Horton Treasurer, Patricia Barrett Williamson, and Oneida Sharp. Glory J. Thomas and Nina Jones joined the group later. Under the reorganization, it was agreed to raise funds to contract a vendor to maintain the cemetery landscape on an ongoing basis. The first group to assist prior to selecting a vendor was a company from the Mart community, “Lucky’s Lawn Care”. The group entered into an agreement with Serve Waco - “MOW Waco” to secure lawnmower service for an entire year. 

From June 2021 until June 2022, the group met to draft a mission statement, Bylaws, a budget, operating procedures, strategic plans, fundraising events and goals.  At the end of the year contract, an agreement was signed with Double D Lawn Care. As of today, an agreement with 4S Mowing Services was signed.

The group operated as an ad hoc committee with the following serving as volunteer officers:

Board Members

Glory J. Thomas, Chair 

Effie Harrison, Vice Chair

Stacy Barrett, Treasurer

Angela Satchell, Secretary 

McKella Horton, Historian

Administrative Officers

Andrea Costley, President 

Vacant, Vice President

Anline Barrett, Treasurer

Bonnie Pendleton, Secretary 

Sandra Hurth, Assistant Secretary 

Janet Bridgewater, Parliamentarian

Say something interesting about your business here.

1. Trees dividing Tract 1 and Tract 2 have been cleared.
2. Hidden headstones were revealed in the middle section of the cemetery.
3. Signage regarding illegal dumping was posted on the cemetery grounds.
4. Culvert was replaced by the late County Commissioner Patricia Chilsom-Miller.
5. The ditch was cleaned out to eliminate rainwater overflow onto the cemetery grounds.
6. Plot markings to determine number of remaining future burials in Tract 1.