Special to the Review
The Athens Cemetery recently dedicated the information center located at the entrance of the cemetery on South Prairieville Street in Athens.
This dedication was an accumulation of a 2-year effort to create a permanent location that provides information regarding the location of burials and for the layout of the cemetery.
In addition, the road system of the cemetery was improved and sealed to insure that the roadways throughout the cemetery will continue to be functional.
The information center is dedicated as a tribute to Frank and Betty Hollowell for their efforts in mapping and preserving the locations of burials.
"Frank and Betty Hollowell spent hours and hours indexing individual grave sites,” said Bob McDonald, Board Member of the Cemetery. "The gift to the cemetery provided by Frank and Betty Hollowell greatly enhances our historical cemetery and their efforts will benefit generations to come.”
In addition to the index, there is a map located inside the walls of the brick structure of the information center and it is available to anyone.
The Athens Cemetery is an official historical site as designated by the Texas Historical Commission.
Funds were raised for the dedication of the cemetery through Friends of the Cemetery, individual gifts and various grants.
Friends of the Cemetery support the beautification projects of the cemetery, and they have provided funds for many projects over the last five years which have included wrought iron fencing, new gates and monument preservation.
The Athens Cemetery Association’s main goal is to preserve the historic cemetery, originally dedicated in 1858, as a place of reverence, meditation and serenity for generations to come. Remembering past generations, but providing a service for future generations in our community. The cemetery offers individual burial plots, custom family sections and cremation plots.
The Athens Cemetery Association oversees the operation of the cemetery and is a 501(c)(13) non-profit corporation. The Association encourages all interested parties to come and tour the historic cemetery and see the newly dedicated information center or call (903)675-9203 for further information.
