Volunteers mark Juneteenth with cleanup at historic black cemetery
04:31 PM CDT on Saturday, June 19, 2010
Standing in a patch of shade at Carrollton's historic black cemetery, Gwen Turner couldn't help but wonder what her great-grandfather, Ned Welch, would have thought of the crowd gathered there this morning.
Carrollton Black Cemetery
His tombstone, erected after his death in 1884, is one of the last original markers in the small graveyard.
"I can just imagine he would be elated people thought enough of this little cemetery to come out and maintain it," she said.
Turner was one of about 70 people who showed up early today, armed with rakes and hoes, clippers and saws, for the annual cleanup. They trimmed trees, bagged dead grass, painted crosses and placed red, white and blue flowers atop each grave.
For many in the crowd, both black and white, it was especially meaningful that the event fell on Juneteenth, the state holiday that celebrates the day news of the emancipation of slaves reached Texas.
Serita Wright of Lewisville wasn't familiar with the holiday when she moved to Texas from Virginia 10 years ago. "I couldn't figure out why June 19th was a big day," she said with a laugh.
In addition to helping at the cleanup, she planned to observe Juneteenth by attending a crawfish boil later in the day.