Weaks Cemetery

My name is Chris Hammond. I am a history and cemetery preservation enthusiast in Knoxville, TN. I am working with area high school students, the Dante Church of God, and volunteers from the Dante community in Knox County to restore and preserve Weaks Cemetery located at 307 Dante Road. This is an abandoned African-American cemetery dating back to 1903. I found the cemetery earlier this year when driving by it on my way to work. I thought I glimpsed a tombstone in an overgrown lot. After stopping and investigating I discovered several tombstones, some of which were turned over. I also discovered a large amount of trash and remnants of a demolished house that had been dumped in the cemetery. After researching the names of the deceased buried there I learned that it was an African-American cemetery. I also learned from a previous cemetery transcription that it has been used as a dump as far back as 1989. Since then, I have been working with other volunteers to restore and preserve this unique piece of African-American history.  Knox County is donating a small cemetery sign, so this campaign is being repurposed for sprucing up the cemetery with the hopes of eventually nominating it for one of Keep Knoxville Beautiful's Orchid Awards.  I am raising money to help spruce up the cemetery by planting new Eastern Redbud and White Dogwood trees on the northern end of the cemetery, which currently does not have any trees.  These trees will help encourage the growth of the periwinkle grass that we will be seeding the cemetery with by providing shade and adding color and aesthetic value to the cemetery.  All of the money raised here will go towards the cost of purchasing trees, periwinkle grass seed, and supplies to spruce up the cemetery.  Any donations would be greatly appreciated!  The first Eastern Redbud tree has already been planted!  I successfully raised funds last year to fund the Byington Historical Marker via Go Fund Me, so you can rest assured that the money will go towards the cemetery. Thank you!

I have created a Facebook Photo Album with up-to-date photos of the progress we have made so far.  It can be viewed at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10101912119759046.1073741865.57502408&type=1&l=b2830a35b3