New life for old cemetery

Cleaning, facelift in future plans

By DAVID MELSON - dmelson@t-g.com

Posted 1/14/23

A historic, partially abandoned cemetery near Bell Buckle may be receiving new life soon.

Church Cross Cemetery, on the grounds of the long-closed Cross Roads Church of Christ at the …

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New life for old cemetery

Cleaning, facelift in future plans

Brooke Smith-Sanders stands near the fenced Coop burial grounds within Church Cross Cemetery. Smith-Sanders, whose father is buried in the cemetery, is working toward cleaning the property.

T-G Photos by David Melson

At right, Smith-Sanders, who said, “I love history,” looks closely at an inscription on a tombstone.

Brooke Smith-Sanders looks through brush at a tombstone in the Coop family portion of historic Church Cross Cemetery. She is spearheading a drive to clean the cemetery and ensure it lasts for generations to come.

Tombstones and unmarked graves are scattered through out the property. The stone seen in front is for Aaron Williams, who died in 1891.

An engraved crown rests above the grave of Mary McCullogh, who died at age 23 in 1885.

The letter “C” can be seen on what otherwise appears to be a large rock among tombstones at Church Cross Cemetery

An angel runs across the weathered stone of a 2-year-old child, with the name appearing to be Davie Coop, who died in 1885.

William C. Loyd, a member of the Woodmen of the World fraternity, is remembered with this intricately carved monument from 1917.

The late-afternoon sun sets over Church Cross Cemetery

A crack on the tombstone obscures the name of the church where Laura Falk, who died at age 20 in 1890, attended - but it was likely the nearby Cross Roads Church of Christ. The cemetery is on the grounds of the former church, which disbanded many years ago.

Posted Saturday, January 14, 2023 12:05 am

By DAVID MELSON - dmelson@t-g.com

A historic, partially abandoned cemetery near Bell Buckle may be receiving new life soon.

Church Cross Cemetery, on the grounds of the long-closed Cross Roads Church of Christ at the intersection of Church Cross Road and Coop Road west of Bell Buckle, today lies in partial abandonment, with tombstones largely dating to the 1800s surrounded by overgrown grass and brush in many areas.

The remains of many pioneer residents of northeastern Bedford County rest on the grounds

Brooke Smith-Sanders, whose farm is near the cemetery, is spearheading an effort to cut grass, remove brush, and generally renew the cemetery.

“We hope to restore this historic site and give it the dignity it deserves and desperately needs.,” Smith said. “This is a treasured site for our area and entire county.

Parts of the cemetery, including the portion where her father Jimmy Smith was buried in 2020, are well-kept. Older portions, especially where descendants likely left Bedford County many years ago, are in disrepair. Tombstones, only some which are legible, are leaning and/or broken.

One portion contains no tombstones, but Smith-Sanders and Eric Maddox, who is working with her on the project, say they think people are buried in that area.

“These are people buried here. They deserve more respect,” said Maddox, a District 1 member of the Bedford County Commission, who also lives nearby.

Deputy Jared Featherstone of the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office, a member of a longtime Bell Buckle-area family, is also working with Smith-Sanders and Maddox.

Middle Tennessee State University’s Center for Historic Preservation is also working on the project.

A work day will be scheduled in the near future to clean the cemetery, Smith-Sanders said.

Smith-Sanders can be contacted at b.smith.0972@gmail.com or 931-703-9532. See the church and cemetery’s Facebook page at “Cross Roads Church of Christ and Cemetery.”

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New life for old cemetery

Cleaning, facelift in future plans

Raymond Antonio Smith guilty of murder

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Shop at Home

County By-Pass Resolution heads to State