Twists and Turns

A journey can take many forms, twists and turns.  I would never have expected my life's journey to put me where I am, doing what I am doing, at this point in my life.  But, perhaps my journey to this point has uniquely prepared me for something that may unfold.  The following paragraphs will explain this, but before I start to explain, I want to ask for you to pray for me.  Pray that I might know God's will in this and that His will be done.

Many of you attended Bonnie's funeral, and for that I am very thankful.  Most of you probably assumed the cemetery where she is buried, and where I will be as well,  is owned and maintained by the little Church across the lane, where the services were held.  This is not the case.

The cemetery is considered a 'community cemetery' in Alabama.  To date, we have been unable to establish legal ownership.

This part of the country is steeped in history to include acquisition of land from Native Americans, the Civil War and the inundation of Riverton when Pickwick lake was formed.  In the late 1700's and early 1800's the land was being acquired from the Native Americans.  A town named Riverton (by two other names) was formed.  The cemetery was a part of that town.  The town was a part of Franklin County.  During, or shortly after the Civil War, the courthouse for the county was burned, destroying all records of land ownership.  The town of Riverton later became part of Colbert County.  Then, in the late 1930's TVA flooded this area when Pickwick Lake was formed.  The town of Riverton was no more and the cemetery presumably escheated to the county although that is not proven at this time.  The cemetery has, over time, been abandoned and then reclaimed/maintained by a local family.

The church across the lane from the Cemetery is Riverton Church.  It is where Bonnie and I were members and it intended to take on the maintenance and upkeep of the cemetery.

Following Bonnie's funeral, I became concerned for the 'perpetual' protection, improvement, maintenance and upkeep of the cemetery.  I have been investigating the formation of a Foundation to acquire ownership of the cemetery.  When the ownership has been established, the Foundation will raise funds to protect and improve the cemetery.

At this point, the members of the church have been extremely helpful in this endeavor.  We have had two work parties in which we've cleared brush from the border of the cemetery.  This week we were able to find the five border stakes from a previous survey, thus establishing the legal boundaries of the cemetery. 

The clearing work has disclosed a  beautiful, peaceful and historic place of rest.  I've found graves from as early as 1849 and perhaps one from 1829.  There are veterans from virtually every war the US has fought from the Civil War to present.  It is a place worth preserving.

One of our first projects, following establishment of the Foundation and ownership of the land, is to conduct a ground radar survey of the property.  There are unmarked graves in the cemetery and we want to do everything we can to identify and honor the memory of those buried there.  Another of our projects will be to pave the access road into the cemetery.  There are many other improvements that will keep us busy for a very long time but they will be worth it to the families of those buried there and to this community in general.

So, at this point, at this time, the journey is continuing in what appears to be a very positive direction.

I ask you to pray for us to understand God's will in this and for His will to be done.  I believe that people will be excited about these developments and that the community will support our plans.  But more importantly, I pray that these plans will, in some way, support God's plans and His will.  I pray that through these efforts someone somehow will come to know Him.  If that can be the case, then all the work will be worthwhile.