Old Unity Cemetery in Fort Mill, South Carolina

Heather Garner, founder of Cemetery Preservation & Restoration, offers this commentary about the town's inability and unwillingness to care for its historic cemetery.

My name is Heather Garner, Founder of an organization called CPR, Cemetery Preservation and Restoration. My family founded CPR, in 1995, after many years of working in neglected cemeteries, including the Old Unity Cemetery. The CPR group is made entirely of volunteers, and we reap no rewards for preserving our heritage, other than the knowledge that we are looking after a little piece of American history. Our work enables future generations to see and learn from the information in our cemeteries, just as we have.

Sadly, our state's history is being lost, vandalized and destroyed; in many cases by the very people responsible for maintaining that history. The lack of interest in preserving the forefront of South Carolina history for our children and the generations to come, is not only heartbreaking, but under South Carolina law, is also illegal.

The Old Unity Cemetery in Fort Mill, South Carolina has been owned by the Town of Fort Mill. since 1989. Prior to that, it was owned by the Unity Presbyterian Church. This cemetery dates back to the Revolutionary War, and the founding fathers of Fort Mill are buried there. There are many children, families and soldiers buried in this cemetery. Since this historical cemetery was given to the city of Fort Mill, it has received nothing but gross neglect, desecration, and destruction.

Historic graves have been smashed beyond repair. Grave markers have been defaced and destroyed. Some graves are no longer marked in any way. The hand built stone wall surrounding the cemetery has been damaged in several areas. Were this damage to be committed by miscreants, it would be described in horrored terms in the community as "shameless vandalism" and "this terrible tragedy". To discover that this act was committed by the very people whose responsibility it is to maintain this historic legacy, is nothing short of catastrophic, not to mention criminally negligent.

It is abundantly clear that the city does not have the time, nor the resources to dedicate to preserving our heritage. The city possesses such a lack of caring for our history that it should not have the right or the privilege to maintain this hallowed ground. Far better, it be turned over to someone who will not only do the job properly, but who will do the task with the care and delicacy required. Never again should a tragedy of this magnitude occur, when, with but a little care, it could have been so easily avoided.

Having said that, let me get straight to the point. It is my wish as Founder of CPR, that this historic cemetery be deeded to my organization, so that we may continue the restoration and preservation of this valuable piece of South Carolina history, without having to be concerned over further desecration by city maintenance workers.

It is my sincere hope that you will support our organization in obtaining ownership of the Old Unity Cemetery, and that you will make this support known by calling the Fort Mill city council members and Charles Powers, Mayor of Fort Mill. I invite you to personally visit this wonderful cemetery to fully appreciate not only the desecration done to the cemetery, but also to gain a better understanding of the history contained therein.

Reader Responses

03-26-2000, Nelda L. Percival [nelda_percival@hotmail.com] "I commend this organization for wanting to take on the care of this cemetery. I suggest that the city counsel vote to have this act of kindness taken advantage of. As the descendant of a family who helped found the Pawnee territory of Oklahoma; and have a simular situtation with the deserted cemetery of which my great grand parents are burried in. I know the horror of trying to get a town or county to take care of them. In your situtation you have an organization who will do the work. I pray that you take advantage of it. In my case I travel from the middle of Texas to the county of Pawnee to work on the Cemetery every few months to try to just keep the weeds down. The county, state feel no obligation to help. To see what can happens to a deserted cemetery when no one cares. http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Arbor/9254/tombstones1.html then go to Gillocks"
03-29-2000, Todd Walter [sumwal@winco.net] "Fantastic. You all have a right to be proud of the work you have done. There are more people who care what you have done than you probably realize. I found this out for myself after I restored my first cemetary in central Illinois a year ago. I'm now working on my fourth. I have found Veterans from the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and the Civil War laying forgotten in fields, pastures, and woods. I hope that at some point the Federal government steps in and provides funding for the thousands of cemetaries across the country that are abandoned and in disrepair. The pioneers and veterans that went through pure Hell to make our country grow deserve to never be forgotten."
04-03-2000, Mary [mrf@emeraldis.com] "There is a cemetary locally that published names and monies came in to help from decendants. You might want to try this since it is within a city also."
04-11-2000, Rachal Leigh Grizzle [rachal77@yahoo.com] "Heather: There is a National Cemetery Preservation Society. Hillary Clinton has shown interest in it. I would like to talk with you further about this problem. Regards, Rachal L Grizzle Genealogist "Walker Of Stones"
04-12-2000, Marlana [MJAmbridge@aol.com] "I am so saddened to hear of the shape of this cemetery. I have been searching for where my great-grandfather was buried for a year now and just found out two days ago that he is buried in this cemetery. I have never been there because I live in Massachusetts but I will give any support possible to help with your goal."
04-16-2000, Louise Bates [jmb@hot1.net] "Heather, I do cemetery surveys, as a volunteer, in Limestone County Texas. It began as a search to find my ancestor, Bryant Herring, who came in about 1865 to settle. Unfortunately, we have no idea where he is buried and it easily could be a grave which is no longer marked. I was shocked to find that many cemeteries have no records of those buried there before the 1970's. How can this happen? Some funeral homes have published their records of interment to offer some information, but we know that can only help with the more recent ancestors. It is wonderful that you have taken steps to preserve part of history and the final resting place of so many pioneers to your area. I can only hope that others will follow your lead to make a difference in their own communities. Thank you very much for the website and the information."
05-13-2000, Sue Vandaworker-Cox [scox5@san.rr.com] "I am so sorry that you have hit such brick walls. Pls. keep up the good work, it's people like you that help save our history and families. I know first hand how cemeteries can disappear. My family has lost a family cemetery in IL due to the Methodist Church selling a cemetery that was given to them to remain forever, but the price was right. They made a partial attempt to find family, but gave up. A Gal with the historical society was able to find one of my second cousins in the East, but it was too late. 10 bodies were dug up... Now we have to lay them to rest again. Keep up the work, there are others who care."

The Old Unity Cemetery in Fort Mill, South Carolina

Reader Responses

Publish your response to this article.