05/17/2024
‼️ Long post, please read ‼️
On Wednesday, May 8th, the Annapolis Community was impacted by an EF1 tornado with winds up to 110MPH. Both the Annapolis and Lewis cemeteries endured extensive damage. In addition to the need for monetary donations to continue to maintain the cemeteries, we need workers. Workers to continue the clean up process, and workers each year to remove dead flowers, pick up limbs, fill in holes, ect. The Annapolis-Lewis Cemetery board is a group of volunteers who are dedicated to ensuring that both cemeteries are well kept, but we can’t continue to do so alone.
The cemeteries were founded years ago by a group of local folks with a love for our community. No one has ever been charged for a burial plot in either Annapolis or the Lewis Cemeteries. Historically, the cemeteries have been maintained through donations and the hard work of volunteers. Over the years, donations have decreased, volunteer workers have dropped to just the board members, and costs are skyrocketing.
Currently our only source of funding is a few donations that are mailed in, and the annual Sutton Memorial Side by Side Ride. While we are more than grateful for that event, it only pays for about half of the mowing expenses for the year. The cemetery is going to need extensive repairs.
Families are responsible for maintaining the graves. The cemetery does not have the staff to do that. Over 35 headstones were damaged during the tornado. Families are responsible for repairing/resetting those stones. The cemetery does not have any type of insurance to cover headstones. Volunteers have been working hard to remove trees. There are thousands of small limbs that still must be picked up, graves that need dirt, straw and grass seed will need to be sowed.
While we have received huge support from the community in the original clean up effort, this is going to be a long-term endeavor and we have to have help. Please reach out to the board, or attend the meeting on Saturday, May 18th. We will again be working to clean the cemetery on that day and will have a business meeting. You are welcome to have lunch with us at the church , or you can purchase lunch at the corner of Riggs Lane/K Hwy from the folks hosting the Sutton Memorial Ride.
If you cannot attend either event, donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 271 Annapolis, MO 63620. We look forward to your assistance in restoring and maintains our families places of rest.
‼️ If you have and can bring rakes, tractors, trailers, saws, ect it would be greatly appreciated. ‼️
Sincerely,
Annapolis-Lewis Cemetery Board
