Old cemeteries in county need cleaning

Mt. Olivet News

By Donna Traywick

I guess everyone knows about the widespread power outage on Monday of this week.

It does us good to experience something like that occasionally. My landline phone was out and my phone was on the charger. I felt so alone, so I decided to drive over to the Dollar General at the corner of Shady Grove and Highway 6 to get a Coke.

They were closed because of the power outage. Crossroads and the Lake Store were closed as well.

I don’t think we appreciate enough the linemen who risk their lives, go out in all types of weather, regardless if they have worked all day, then work half of the night.

There will be a political rally at the Mt. Olivet Fire Station on Saturday, July 20 (tomorrow), from 4 p.m. until every candidate has spoken and we have bombarded them with questions.

The firefighters have traded their heavy equipment for an apron where they will be serving up fish plates for $8.

Judy French needs to hear from the ladies of the community about the cake auction. Please call her at 609-2657.

Once some time ago, Mt. Olivet Church had an auction and someone paid $100 for a coconut cake from the late Martha Barbee. I challenge someone to bring a coconut cake, and maybe some of the candidates will pay $100 for it, especially if they want to get elected.

Fire Chief Gary Hartman is expecting an overflow crowd. Some of those running for governor will be there. This is one of the few fundraising projects that the fire station has.

Those of us who go to the Charles Retina Institute out east in Germantown will be happy to learn that they will have a permanent office in Oxford, starting in September.

I have been noticing the Crepe Myrtle trees all over Panola County. I want to start a little contest of who has the most beautiful ones. Call or text me for your candidate (563-1742 or text 901-828-8824). Perhaps we can get some pictures for The Panolian of the winners.

I had a very interesting conversation with Donald Wright Jr. this week. (Remember Donald Wright Sr. was our friend who told us about tiger toes.) My conversation with Donald Jr. was about the old cemeteries in Panola County. He has taken it upon himself to clean them up.

Concord, Middleton on Pittman Road and Bynum are the targeted ones. They all need the grass cut. Some people are using them for a garbage dump.

Bynum Cemetery has a World War I soldier buried there. His grave is sinking in. Donald told me that his last name on the monument was Adams.

Panola County has a lot of people with Adams as the last name, but perhaps someone in that area will know who this soldier is. Let’s don’t let Donald be the only one taking care of this problem.

Most of these little cemeteries have no active church on the property. People have moved out of the area, families have died off and there is no one to handle this problem.

Bynum is located off 315 South to Pope-Water Valley Road then to Bynum Road. Would someone call me if you know of other World War I soldiers that are buried in cemeteries over Panola County.

Since we experienced so much rain this week, I thought of a quote by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “The best thing one can down when it’s raining – is to let it rain.”

And we certainly did that, Henry!!

Call Donna (662) 563-1742; call or text (901) 828-8824.