• Unity in the Community volunteers tore down a chain-link fence separating the white cemetery from the black cemetery. Amber Hall said a little history of the cemetery includes the fact is was once known as the “colored cemetery,” thus the reason for the chain link fence.
    Unity in the Community volunteers tore down a chain-link fence separating the white cemetery from the black cemetery. Amber Hall said a little history of the cemetery includes the fact is was once known as the “colored cemetery,” thus the reason for the chain link fence.
  • Frank Reagor’s headstone was sinking into the ground until UIC volunteers straighted it. Reagor died Sept. 8, 1950.
    Frank Reagor’s headstone was sinking into the ground until UIC volunteers straighted it. Reagor died Sept. 8, 1950.
  • Sylvia Kelsey’s headstone had sunk into the ground during the past 100 years. It was uncovered and re-erected.
    Sylvia Kelsey’s headstone had sunk into the ground during the past 100 years. It was uncovered and re-erected.
    RITA COOK / News Editor

    FERRIS – What does it take to clean up a cemetery? A Ferris organization called Unity in the Community is finding out the answer to that question.

    Unity in the Community, started by former Ferris Director of Public Safety Eddie Salazar, has taken the reins to clean up the local cemetery called West Side Memorial Park.

    The cemetery is in Ferris, and is west of the Ferris Memorial Park North Cemetery.

    The project is being headed by Ben LaFleur, President of UIC and the contact board member for the clean-up.

    “But it’s a community involved project” said UIC volunteer Amber Hall.

    “This project was so important to Salazar because he wanted to see change and unity in Ferris.”

    So now a handful of locals with Unity in the Community at the helm are working to make the city’s cemetery beautiful again.

    “To honor those buried out there,” Hall said.

    “Those with family out at the cemetery deserve a nice place to be with their ancestors.”

    So far, the project has included taking down the chain link fence and replacing it with Texas silver sage bushes.

    The organization is also working with a company to locate as many graves as possible that have possibly been forgotten or lost the headstones over the years. Waste Management is also donating a sign with all those buried in the cemetery’s names included.

    Hall said they are planning to add a bench for visitors to sit. And another goal is to designate the city landmark as a historical state cemetery.

    There have been about 30 graves marked since the project recently began in October.

    Some of the graves date back to as early as 1912. There are also veteran’s graves from both WWI and WWII.

    Hall said a little history of the cemetery includes the fact is was once known as the “colored cemetery,” thus the reason for the chain link fence.

    “It’s almost 2020,” Hall added.

    “We understand the history of it and don’t want to undo that, but we just want to see this cemetery looking nice, and those buried deserve to be remembered.

    “Right now, it’s hard to do that because headstones are underground from the flooding of the creek.

    “Graves are unmarked and while we can’t know who is where we can mark as many graves as we can.”

    But it is going to be a long process to clean the cemetery. Volunteers and Unity in the Community members urge others to get involved to help.

    “We are always looking for volunteers,” Hall said.

    “We also are constantly doing fundraising for this project.

    “Everything we do money-wise is from money raised by Unity in the Community.”

    While those involved with the project say too, they understand change is hard for a lot of people to accept, all believe it is important to the families connected to the cemetery that the area be cleaned up and respected.

    “It means so much to everyone involved knowing these people have a place to honor their loved ones from infants to veterans,” Hall concluded.

    “We can’t let this cemetery disappear and be forgotten. So much history is out there, and each soul has a story to tell that also deserves to live on within their families.”

    You can find Unity in the Community on Facebook at “Unity in the Community Ferris.”

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