While the Athens Cemetery Association is tasked with the day-to-day maintenance of the grounds at the Athens Cemetery, periodically there are needs at the cemetery that could cause the property to suffer financial hardships if attempted from the general fund. In 2002, forty-seven charter families put their financial support into what became known as the Friends of the Cemetery. Today, that number has grown to more than 250.
In October of 2003, an impressive seven-foot-high Celtic cross was placed in the center of a newly expanded section of the cemetery. At its base is a circular red brick bench. The cross represented the first beautification project funded entirely by the Friends of the Cemetery. A plaque commemorating the project is attached to its base. Today, the cross and bench continue to provide a place for quiet contemplation among the oak trees.
Since the completion of that first project in 2003, the following projects have been funded in part or in their entirety by the Friends of the Cemetery donations:
It is through the continued generosity of our Friends of the Cemetery that the Cemetery Association can plan and develop beautification projects into the future. We would like to thank each and every person who has donated to the Friends of the Cemetery. A complete roster of these donors may be found HERE.
As new projects are scheduled, they will be featured in this section of our website. If you are interested in that project, we would encourage you to donate toward its completion at that time or contact us via email to info@athenstxcemetery.com or phoning 903-386-3513.
