A small crowd gathered Sunday in the center of Northside Cemetery in Pembroke to take part in a special dedication ceremony for recent renovations made to the cemetery.
The short ceremony included prayer from local Pastor Jim Correll, a memorial reading from City Council member Kimberly McGee, recognition of city workers by City Council member Ernie Hamilton, recognition of 10 former city mayors buried in the cemetery and special thanks to those who contributed to the project.
The renovations, paid for by donations from the community and funds from special purpose local option sales tax dollars, include new signage for the cemetery, new columns, a bricked entrance way at Ash Branch Church Road, new fencing, lighting, aesthetic improvements in the center court and pavement through the main driveway of the cemetery.
Council member Tiffany Walraven, who spearheaded the project with former council member Angela Reed, spoke about the renovations, which cost around $175,000. She said the project, which took four years of planning and work, are dedicated to those interred on the cemetery grounds.
“I, Tiffany Walraven, do hereby dedicate the Northside Cemetery renovations in memories of the individuals buried here and in honor of the families of those loved ones who lie here in this cemetery,” she said.

Read more in the Oct. 24 edition of the News.