1882 isn't that old for a cemetery so why is it all but forgotten? I'm sure you're not the only one who's lived there all you lives who didn't know anything about it. According to the map, it's right next to another cemetery (white?) and a church. Is the church white or black? Why didn't the church keep it up? Why don't the families of these so called "prominent Athens' African-American citizens" care about their parents and grandparents enough to visit and take care of their graves? 3,000 relatives! Dayum, are they French?!? Why doesn't the insurance company have records of who is buried and where? And why, for heaven's sake, do they have to get state grant monies to clear it out??? I know the journalist intended for this to be a feel-good piece and the, cough, "good" citizens of Athens are patting themselves on their backs for doing such a good deed, but I find it deplorable and disgusting. In Texas, most of the cemeteries (yes, I'm sure someone can name one or two that are the exception) are maintained by the families or the community. Where I'm going to be resting is in podunkville but the small community gets together every Mother's Day at the cemetery to do whatever work is needed beyond the usual grounds keeping. Even the small family and community cemeteries that are no longer in use (you know what I mean) are maintained by either the current land owners, the historical society, or neighbors and these are older than 1882.