Driving south on Delree Street in West Columbia, you will see several cemeteries.

Celestial Memorial Gardens entrance is regal with a long, stone structure bearing its name. A tall American flag waves to welcome visitors.

Pathways to Celestial’s chapel at the top of a hill are paved and flanked with polite reminders not to park on the grass.

Park benches are present for the grieving to sit and ponder special memories.

The complex is orderly. Graves marked by tombstones are prevalent while flat bronze markers spread throughout the rest of the park.

Vibrant flower arrangements wait in attached vases.

The gardens, manicured by professional landscapers, provide water spigots for loved ones to add extra water to their family plots as needed.

A wooden signpost at the exit advertises reasonably priced plots to complete one’s pre-planning arrangements.

On the right, a fenced-in area owned and maintained by Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church shows pride in their many fallen members.

Arched entry ways and paved roads are inviting. Most of the graves are spaced by family association denoted by a granite or stone edging.

Gravel spread between each grave prevents the growth of weeds.

Seasonal flowers are silk and lovely by the multi-colors seen across the property.

Several other churches occupy neighboring cemeteries adjacent to Celestial’s and Mt. Tabor’s, each bearing its own unique identifying sign while sharing a network of chain-linked fences.

The abandoned

The last cemetery on the right is easily overlooked.

There is no signpost.

Locally, the cemetery is humbly known as Lybrand’s.

At first glance, there are more woods than graves.

Turning in 1 of 3 impass able dirt roads reveals hundreds of tombstones, some of which are homemade and have been vandalized.

Numerous graves are marked with temporary aluminum signs, many bearing no names, including plots for babies.

Most graves are spaced by family names in creative ways: lined concrete blocks, chains hooked by short spikes, and red bricks shaped as miniature edgings.

A family group has a short, bent, wrought iron fence.

Another family area is protected by an aluminum shelter.

A set of graves at the 3rd entrance is sunken by years of weather.

Stumbling over mounds of weeds, new cherry tree growths and vines expose a variety of trash – empty vodka and mini bottles, squashed beer cans, rank fast food, broken glass, a few hypodermic needles, and at least one used condom.

Further, various plots bear thriving oak trees inside them inches from their headstones.

Aspiring Eagle Scouts

have organized clean-ups for Lybrand Cemetery.

Recently, the Lybrand Cemetery Restoration Committee has been painstakingly removing foliage and debris from covered graves.

They furiously chain-saw trees, branches, and anything natural impeding the dignity of those buried here.

The team also drags branches and logs to 8-foothigh debris piles along the dirt paths.

How to help

Unfortunately, the work of the restoration volunteers is limited. Funds are needed to dispose of the giant piles of debris.

Costly supplies of herbicide are needed to halt the growth of thorny vines, trees and weeds. A proper posted sign is needed.

An American flag has been donated, but a flagpole is needed.

Numerous unidentifiable graves need markers.

Our citizens are receiving $1,200 from the federal government due to the corona virus pandemic.

This is a unique opportunity to give.

Please assist restoration volunteers in honoring the hundreds of community members passed away at Lybrand Cemetery.

The Restoration Committee has a GoFundMe page at gofundme.com.

Search for “West Columbia Lybrand Cemetery Restoration” or visit https:// www.gofundme.com/f/restore-and-clean-up-lybrandcemetery .

Any amount donated is greatly appreciated.