CARROLLTON — The Leflore Carroll Montgomery County Cemetery is a peaceful and lovely place in the hills of Carroll County near Coila, but there was a time it was showing signs of neglect.
When Mary Fluker more than a decade ago went out to the cemetery where she would bury her father, she was appalled at what she saw. The L.C.M.C. Cemetery was in disarray.
“There was a time when it seems no one was managing it, simply because some board members had passed on and others decided that they no longer wanted to be active,” Fluker said.
She realized the cemetery needed attention and decided to take on the challenge. She gathered other people who were interested, and formed the L.C.M.C. Beautification Club in 2001.
“The purpose of the club was to take care of grass cutting. We sent out letters to family members of the deceased in order to generate funds to pay for the cutting,” Fluker said.
“Others volunteered their time to help get the cemetery back in shape so that it could be mowed with no problem. A lot of work and effort has gone into trying to maintain what Mr. S.L. Hilton and others before us had started, to assure that in our final days there would be a beautiful resting place for those of us who choose L.C.M.C.,” she said.
In addition to beautification of the cemetery, volunteers have worked to keep records, assist families in locating their loved ones’ graves, mark off plots and enable families to purchase plots.
“In 2010-2011, a new board was formed, working with the secretary of state to see the steps we needed to take to continue a work in progress,” said Fluker, who serves as the board’s treasurer.
Since that time, the board has sent out letters to encourage contributions for the upkeep of the cemetery. Fluker said many people in the community have helped to keep the cemetery functioning well for people in the area who choose it.
“Citizens have continued to volunteer their time in order that we continue to grow and make progress,” she said.
The latest project is the erecting of pillars at the entrance to the cemetery. The old ones had been destroyed in an accident.
“When the cemetery was first built, pillars held an arch with the name L.C.M.C. Cemetery in it. It was torn down twice accidentally by workers using a backhoe,” Fluker said. “To assure this will not happen again, I wanted to replace the pillars, only this time to place angel figurines on top.
“Through faith, prayer and the love and labor of my brother, Charles McCain Jr., who donated his time and materials, we now have our pillars topped with angel figurines.”
Soon, the board plans to have the cemetery’s sign moved and repainted.
Fluker hopes younger people will eventually take over care of the cemetery, but in the meantime, “there is much work to be done,” she said.
Other board members include Percy Norwood, president; Irvin Whittaker, vice president; Regina Rich, secretary; Willorean Melton, assistant secretary; and members Charles Branch, Ronald Hemphill and Wanda Young. Anyone wishing to help financially with the upkeep of the grounds can send donations to L.C.M.C. Cemetery, P.O. Box 322, North Carrollton, MS 38947.
