A wreath laying ceremony was held Saturday, May 28, to commemorate the restoration and desegregation of Cambridge Cemetery just north and east of Gilliam in Saline County.

Cambridge Cemetery Association board members Bonita Butner and Albert Eugene Wright were present, while board member Stan Hinnah could not be there. In a previous interview with Hinnah, he said they are taking two wreaths and combining them into one to signify the desegregation of the cemetery.

A member of the association, Gary Dean Allen offered a history of the cemetery, which dates back to the 1800s. He pointed out how there is a part of the cemetery where only white people are buried and the east portion where only African Americans are buried- and they are now one.

Butner said the cemetery association was formed for the purpose of maintaining the cemetery- not letting it get overgrown. She said, “So often, cemeteries that are abandoned because we don’t really have people buried here any more, those that are buried are forgotten. We don’t want that to happen here. So, our future plans of the association are to document the graves with headstones and develop a schematic. It’s one thing to have a list of all of the graves, but it’s a different thing to have them where they’re located.” She said developing the schematic will make it easier for family, friends and researchers to find the gravesites.

She added, “We will then start the search for the gravestones that have been buried. (Over time) dirt washes over the headstones, and they become buried.”

Recognition was given to members of the Cambridge Cemetery Association: Donald Lee Allen, Gary Dean Allen, Gwendolyn Allen, Rodney Allen, Bonita Butner, Tom Hall, Debbie Hinnah, Stan Hinnah, Christine Hunter, Dennis Powell, Roger Powell, Albert Eugene Wright, Phesa Wright and Doris Yager, who has served as a volunteer for many years handling the cemetery’s bank account.

Butner also said because it costs money to maintain the cemetery, if you would like to donate or become a member of the Cambridge Cemetery Association, you can contact her or one of the other board members for more information.

Photo: Cambridge Cemetery Association Board Members Bonita Butner (left) and Albert Eugene Wright stand with the two overlapping and connected wreaths signifying Cambridge Cemetery is now “United.” (Photo by Robert King)