The Memorialist Building the Fletcher Memorial at McAlpin Advent Christian Church Cemetery, McAlpin, Florida

By Burton Fletcher Building a family memorial, when completed correctly, requires great skill and care in planning and in execution. Building a memorial site with 14 plots first requires the permission of both the family and cemetery committee. In my case, when our family plans conflicted with current cemetery rules, careful negotiations were required. Fortunately, the Cemetery Committee proved to be compassionate about our plans and supported our requests in good spirit and goodwill. This is not always the case, so caution is required in planning any memorial, particularly a memorial out of the norm. Plans Plans were carefully drawn and presented to my family and the cemetery committee with an eye to presenting the first phase of an indefinite master plan. The presentation was designed to educate the committee on monument trends and to ease concern about cemetery appearance. Photographs of similar, though less commanding memorials provided the visual references that were essential to obtaining committee approval. The successful presentation assured everyone that the plans would improve the appearance of the cemetery while keeping maintenance costs from rising. After sanction was granted by the Cemetery Committee, and before purchase of all materials, both the design and installation had to be coordinated for smooth execution. The order for granite was submitted to the factory near the quarry, and upon local arrival, the granite looked much like a puzzle. Because of the elaborate design, this memorial consisted of many pieces. Some pieces were pre-finished near the quarry while others had to be shaped by our professional contractor in the local factory, with final work on-site. Design I envisioned the memorial as a tribute to my parents who, on two occasions, gave land to the McAlpin Advent Christian Church. The first lot was donated so a new church could be built behind the old church. Upon selling the family farm, our family gave land a second time to assist the church with future expansion. The Church Committee was gracious to work with the family in selecting a site that fulfilled our request for two rows of seven plots, for a total of 14 plots. Each plot is 5 feet by 10 feet. Since the space for graves varies by cemetery, it’s always good to research the locations. Honoring my Grandparents In addition to honoring my parents, I sought to honor my grandparents. Grandfather Burton Eugene Fletcher was the son of Jeremiah M. and Ida Lee Sellars Fletcher. Ida Lee Sellars Fletcher was Jeremiah’s second of three wives. Jeremiah, known as “Jerry” was a local store owner and farmer in the farm community of McAlpin, Florida. Burton Eugene’s wife was Ethel Mobley Fletcher. Ethel was the daughter of Solomon and Rhoda Daugharty Mobley. On my mother’s side, Gus Esco Hunter Sr. was the son of Emaline and Richard Henry Hunter. Richard Henry Hunter was a historic official in the founding of the State of Florida. Emma Lillian Geiger Hunter was the daughter of Thomas J. Geiger and Emma Taylor Geiger. Both my paternal and maternal grandparents are buried in McAlpin Advent Christian Church Cemetery. Great Grandparents Jeremiah and Ida Lee Sellars Fletcher are buried in Leona Church Cemetery. Great Grandfather Solomon Mobley is buried in McAlpin Advent Christian Church Cemetery. Great Grandmother Rhoda Daugharty Mobley, Solomon Mobley’s only wife, is buried in Bethel Primitive Baptist Church near Fargo, Georgia. On the maternal side, Gus Hunter’s parents are buried in Swift Creek Church in Hamilton County, Florida. Lillian Geiger Hunter’s parents are buried in Seacrest Cemetery in Valdosta, Georgia. To honor this rich family lineage it seemed appropriate, with the approval of my sisters and mother, that the corner posts be dedicated to my parents. Each post bears a surname (“Fletcher” and “Mobley” on my father’s side; “Hunter” and “Geiger” on my mother’s side). Knowing that we’ll leave this earth and understanding that inscriptions are the most permanent and best way to leave a message for posterity, I decided to engrave the west side of the memorial with an inscription, leaving no doubt as to the reason for different family names on each of the posts. Thus, our message: “The Corner Posts Are A Tribute To Each Of The Parents of Rufus & Callie Hunter Fletcher.” “Rufus was the son of Burton Eugene Fletcher & Ethel Mobley Fletcher.” “Callie was the daughter of Gus Esco Hunter & Lillian Geiger Hunter. We leave this memorial to honor our family and relatives, current, past and future. Burton Fletcher” Now, there can be no doubt as to the intentions of our family in building this unique memorial in the manner that we chose to honor our parents, and their parents. Granite For this project, blue-gray granite with a steeled finish was selected for its natural beauty and long life. The blue-gray color fits well with other granite pervasive in this North Florida cemetery. To help prevent people from slipping while stepping on the granite coping, the steeled finish, with its rougher texture, seemed an excellent choice over the smoother polished finish. Credit for this suggestion goes to the experienced contractor with whom we have a close professional relationship. There are many do’s and don’ts for granite handling. Granite must be placed on the clear-latex reverse-side of carpet, so it doesn’t get stained. When lifted from trucks, heavy-duty belts are placed on the ends of granite, never beneath, as granite may roll, slip, and fall, crushing other monuments, and anything beneath, including people. Safety is always paramount when working with granite. Granite is to be respected both for its beauty and for its formidable weight and bone-crushing power. Coping Size The coping was ordered in oversized 8-inch-wide by 10.5-inch-high pieces. The oversized coping was chosen to better exhibit the larger memorial size, which will someday occupy up to 12 plots in the 14-plot area. Two or three plot spaces are being reserved solely for memorializing. Large coping bordering a small memorial site is too overwhelming. Likewise, small coping bordering a large site understates the true importance of a memorial. Site Preparation Day 1: Before work could be done on-site, the grass was treated to kill any plant growth. Day 2: After a few weeks, the top layer was scraped to leave the underlying soil barren. This process is required so no grass is left that could otherwise deteriorate and weaken the concrete foundation that would later be poured. Trenches and Framing Day 3: After top-layer scraping, trenches for the foundation were dug, and the frame for the concrete was built. During this process, the contractors must use caution and stay within the boundaries of the designated plots. In addition, the ground must be leveled to ensure that the foundation remains balanced. A properly balanced and level foundation aids in setting the granite coping properly without the need for much adjustment. Concrete Day 4: After the trenches were formed and the frame was built, an appointment was set with a concrete company. Upon delivery, the concrete was carried by wheelbarrow across the site to be poured and leveled to an approximate depth of two inches across the site, with a deeper foundation on the perimeter where the granite coping would later be placed. Concrete is needed on the inside of the perimeter to prevent grass from growing inside the boundary established by the coping. Fire ants and other pests are also blocked by this barrier. Likewise, concrete keeps monument stones from sinking and dirt from protruding inside the site. When a burial occurs, the concrete will be broken; the vault and casket will be buried; and concrete will be replaced to cover the soil once again. Day 5: A couple of days after the concrete had partially cured, the boards were removed. Cuts were made in the concrete to mark locations for future graves and to assist in future breakthrough. Coping, Corner Posts, and Granite Chips Day 6, 7, and 8: To begin installing the coping, a large knuckle-boom crane was brought in to move the large pieces of granite onto the concrete foundation. The heavy machinery assists in the process of positioning and balancing the oversized coping. The position of the granite coping was checked and double-checked with a measured string going from the center of the memorial site outwards. Accuracy is crucial to the proper placement of granite coping. Each section of the granite coping must be leveled and balanced numerous times to unite correctly with the entire puzzle. When parts of the concrete foundation were slightly uneven, it was necessary to shave away the uneven parts, making the concrete almost perfectly level. The ends of each piece of granite must fit snugly with each other for durability and aesthetic beauty. Time and effort spent to verify the correctness of the entire structure ensures a long lifespan for the memorial. The final step is to use durable plastic spacers beneath the granite coping to level it. Each piece of the coping is squared and leveled, checked and rechecked, for a tight fit with the adjoining piece. Great skill and care is required throughout the process to keep each piece in the correct position. Push and tug, lift and lower, measure and remeasure for exactness. With each piece coming into place, the workers move slowly and methodically around the memorial. We have duplicated the precision of the Egyptians in this memorial, yet we’ve taken advantage of modern technology for efficiency. The sweep of a broom removes small debris that may cause difficulty in properly leveling the granite coping. A fulcrum here and there is moved around the foundation with the skill of a highly trained artist. The tap of a sledgehammer here and there to move large pieces of granite into place is all part of the construction process. A ruler here, a level there, it all comes together seamlessly. The truck’s knuckle-boom crane with attached pulleys and belts costs many tens of thousands of dollars. However, handheld controls for the expensive equipment finesse the granite ever so gently from one place to another while in close contact with legs, toes, arms, hands, and fingers. Great care and safety must be exercised at all times during this dangerous process. Quikrete 80 is the concrete of choice for the placement of corner posts due to its strength and quick-drying features. Water, the elixir of life, is the glue that holds the granite stones in place. Pour, wet, stir, and shape; Quikrete 80 is like magic as it creates a foundation and locks the corner posts into place. Before the memorial is completed, two large containers of number-eight granite chips are dumped into the interior over the concrete bed. Larger chips can also be used, including chips as large as those used on railroad tracks. The chips would later be leveled across the ground of the memorial. First, there is more concrete work to be done around the granite coping. Quikrete 60, a type of concrete without the large rock used in Quikrete 80, is used as a finishing mix to further lock the sections of the granite coping together, to lock the sides of the granite coping to the concrete foundation, and to create a two-inch barrier around the exterior of the granite coping. This barrier gives the coping support, protects it from weed and grass growth, and protects it from inexperienced or careless workers who don’t properly handle mowers and weed trimmers. This type of planning for all contingencies can save the appearance of a family memorial. As a matter of professional pride, we have an eye toward preserving the safety and beauty of the memorial for eternity. Before the project is completed, dirt must be hauled into the cemetery to cover tire tracks and an unmarked grave, which was previously covered and lost in time. Additionally, since the cemetery had been professionally surveyed, we would “pull a string” to locate and lift up any markers which might have been accidentally pushed down by the weight of large trucks. Professional memorial companies such as ours do not leave the cemetery in an unattractive condition. Stage 2 In the next phase of design, a 20- or 25-foot flagpole will serve as a reminder to all that our family has served in the Revolutionary War, Civil War, World War I, World War II, Vietnam, and other wars and conflicts. We have a proud history of serving others, either by military service or as educators and nurses, for example, in civilian life. Summary It’s unfortunate that some folks, who haven’t prepared for death, will only have a small metal plaque to mark their final resting place. Oftentimes, these markers include nothing more than a name and birth and death dates. Also, it’s much too easy for vandals to remove or relocate such a marker. A memorial is both a lasting legacy and a historical tool for future generations. The best memorials are designed by licensed memorialists with the client’s preferences in mind. Everyone plans for births and weddings; life’s ultimate journey should be no different. I hope by sharing these experiences, you’ll have a better appreciation for memorial planning and for the services of a licensed memorialist.

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