Much-needed funding helps historic Black cemetery in Archer halt decay
Freed slaves built the Bethlehem Methodist Episcopal Church, which the cemetery was named for, said Gina Hawkins, executive director of Keep Alachua County Beautiful. Many of the tombstones lie on the ground with broken bases and covered in dirt, notably worsened from Hurricane Irma damage. Many of the graves were covered by fallen trees. Continuing her sister's clean-up goal Lopez’s 96-year-old sister, Clyde Williams, decided to start cleaning up the cemetery in 1999. Williams organized the Bethlehem Methodist Episcopal Cemetery Restoration Organization. Lopez took over her sister’s i...
Source: gainesville.com