Local cemetery gets some 'Love'

Love Cemetery is a 

175-year-old African American slave cemetery that was 

once an African American 

settlement. This cemetery 

was closed and locked up 

to the public by a powerful 

timber compnay from March 

2007 to March 2011. Since its 

reopening, many ETBU and 

Wiley College Students have 

helped groom the cemetery to 

help it look its best.

ETBU students have another chance to help revitalize this cemetery and give 

back to the community even 

further by helping out in the 

Love Cemetery clean up day 

March 2. According to Melody 

Maxwell, director of the 

Great Commission Center at 

ETBU, this is an exciting opportunity to be involved with 

our community. Volunteering will help us to remember 

events in our history and join 

together for a common future. It’s also a great way to 

partner with our brothers and 

sisters in Christ at Wiley College.

Students will spend the 

morning pulling weeds and 

doing other yard work around 

the graves. After the cleaning is complete, students will 

have lunch with relatives of 

the people buried there. They 

will also get to listen to their 

stories and hear readings and 

poetry.

Maxwell said she is excited about the event.

“We are grateful for this 

opportunity to partner with 

Wiley students and our community,” Maxwell said. “It’s 

a time to learn together and to 

serve together.”

Students who wish to 

volunteer should meet Saturday, March 2 at 7:30 a.m. 

in the parking lot at Marshall 

Hall. Work clothes should 

include a long sleeve shirt, 

jeans, and a pair of gloves.

To learn more about 

Love Cemetery and its history, go to www.chinagalland.

com.