May 13, 2018
By: Dwayne Page
The Smithville Town Cemetery is in need of clean-up and repairs and members of local Girl Scout Troop 750 are taking on the effort as they work toward obtaining a Silver Award.
The Silver Award is the second highest award of the Girl Scouts of the USA, and the highest award that a Girl Scout Cadette can earn.
Girl Scouts, leaders, and volunteers spent their day Saturday doing cleanup work in the cemetery. Although progress has been made, the job is not yet complete and will take more time. When the work is finished, the Troop plans to host a Community Day to invite the public to visit and learn more about the historic cemetery.
“We originally planned to have a History Day and Scavenger Hunt but when we started looking at all that we realized what a mess the cemetery was in. During the process of cleaning, we found two head stones that were buried. Some tombstones are broken, the iron fence is in need of repair, and trash, leaves, and limbs are scattered about the cemetery. We’re going to have to schedule several days over a period of time to clean up and we have invited other girl scout troops and volunteers to help us. Troop 3094 came to help today (Saturday) and we also appreciate the Ramsey family for coming out and working so hard with their chainsaws. We want to get everything cleaned up looking pretty so we can have that big day to invite the community to come in and learn more about the cemetery,” said Joanie Williams, who is a Troop 750 Co-Leader with Amy Cripps.
In addition to working toward a Silver Award, the Girl Scouts hope to raise community awareness about the history and needs of Town Cemetery which was founded in 1838 and is the final resting place for several veterans including civil war soldiers, a former Congressman and his wife, and the founder of the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, among many others.
PICTURED-SEATED LEFT TO RIGHT: Kayce Hale, Alexis Bennett, Madison Hammock, Jenna Wright, Katie Patterson, Zoe Cripps, Layla Walker, Katherine Gassaway, Emma Hancock. STANDING LEFT TO RIGHT: Tonya Hale, Joanie Williams, Julianna Gassaway, Jane Ramsey, Jake Ramsey, Darrah Ramsey, Rob Ramsey, Penny Walker, Marie Blair, and Amy Cripps.