Last Saturday, members of Rotary joined Addison Reese and local community volunteers for a meaningful day of service at Kearneysville Methodist Cemetery. Beginning early in the morning, nearly 25 volunteers — including Rotarians, cemetery trustees, family members, and supporters — gathered with an impressive assortment of landscaping tools to help clear overgrown brush and restore access throughout the historic cemetery grounds.
For those unfamiliar with Addison’s work, she serves as caretaker for both Kearneysville Methodist Cemetery and Rose Hill Cemetery, two of Jefferson County’s historic Black burial grounds dating back to the 1800s and possibly earlier. Preserving these sacred spaces is an ongoing challenge for a small group of dedicated caretakers and volunteers. In many areas, heavy brush and overgrowth had made gravesites difficult to access and maintain.
The work completed during the clearing and cleanup was about far more than landscaping. Clearing and caring for these cemeteries helps restore dignity to the resting places of loved ones, preserves an important part of Jefferson County’s African American history, and strengthens the bonds of community through shared service.
Rotary will continue supporting these efforts with another cleanup event planned for later this year as part of our Day of Caring initiative. Community members who would like to volunteer and assist Addison in this important work are warmly invited to participate.
Service projects like this remind us that preserving history is not only about remembering the past — it is also about honoring people, strengthening community connections, and ensuring these stories endure for future generations.
