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Plano's Collinsworth Cemetery Association Continues Preservation and Restoration Efforts

Recently, historic cemetery preservation efforts in the City of Plano have been gaining the attention of many.  There are several groups focused on preserving and restoring the area's many historic cemeteries of many sizes.  Whether those hard at work are relatives or those buried there, or just individuals interested in preserving history, there are many working in Plano and beyond to ensure that these cemeteries will exist for future generations.

Earlier this year, the Collinsworth Family Cemetery Association celebrated the designation of the cemetery site as a historic Texas cemetery, and a historic marker was placed detailing that designation. Since that time, the group has continued to work to preserve and protect the tiny cemetery, which is tucked into a west Plano neighborhood.

"The Collinsworth Cemetery is a family project of Kathy and Greg Nelson, and their son, Kevin," said Charlotte Carpenter Johnson, who is extensively involved in preserving Collinsworth Cemetery and has relatives buried there. "They have loved and protected it for a number of years by cleaning the stones, planting and watering the grass and flowers. Kathy Nelson is on the Board of the Preston Lakes HOA and the Collinsworth Cemetery Board.  The Nelson family recently made a generous donation to the 501©3 Collinsworth Family Cemetery Association.  This donation has funded perpetual maintenance, pest control, restoration, stabilization and cleaning of all markers, plus a new marker for known unmarked graves.” 

The Collinsworth Cemetery is located within the Preston Lakes community. 

Recently, the cemetery stone restoration project was completed, and the new unmarked graves memorial was placed at the site, recognizing the many buried there for whom no grave stones have been located.  The project was completed with the assistance of Vandagriff Monument Company of Sherman, Texas.

"Even in the midst of Jim Vandagriff’s serious illness, his company crew evaluated, reset, and cleaned all the grave markers," said Johnson.  "They are upright, standing tall and straight with pride.  The Farwick and Lucy Collinsworth marker was moved away from a large tree and reassembled onto its base.  Another monument was too fragile for complete reassembly, but was set in concrete for stability.  A name was added to a flat marker and placed next its corresponding stone with the top missing.  The cleaning process is gradual and the stones should appear cleaner each time you come back for a visit over the coming months."  

All cemetery stones received cleaning and maintenance except one marked "Lil Albert." This marker is made of fragile, homemade, concrete and was determined to be beyond repair. 

Concrete pads were also poured to stabilize two benches in the cemetery, which were donated by Betty Fulbright last year.  The cemetery's back fence has also been reworked to allow heavy equipment access in the future when needed.

Planned future Collinsworth Cemetery projects include removing three trees on the property that have died. The cemetery association plans to plans some new trees on the property in the fall. 

The Collinsworth Family Cemetery Association board of directors includes Kathy Nelson, Debra Fulbright Kitchens, Betty Fulbright, Candace Fountoulakis, and Charlotte Johnson.

For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/CollinsworthFamilyCemeteryPlanoTX/      

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Thursday, 23 October 2014