Minutes of the Friends of the Geer Cemetery 05/05/2008 2:00 PM
At the Home of Jessica and David Eustice
809 Colonial Street, Durham

Members Present: David Eustice, Jessica Eustice, Mr. RK. Bryant Jr., Carrie McNair, Carrie Mowry, Ron Bartholomew, Jerome Smith (Boy Scout Pack 464), Rhonda Roberts (Boy Scout Pack 464), Norman Burnett (genealogy interest), Bill Oakley (neighbor of the cemetery for 40 yrs.), Reid Pennington (Thunder Cruisers), Carrie Mowry (Preservation Durham), Kevin Lilly (Urban Forestry - City of Durham), Bill Anderson (neighbor) Ron Bartholomew (Durham Marble Works), Mamie and Calvin Sheppard (neighbors)

The meeting started as people gathered out in the Cemetery at 2:00.

It was decided to come inside the Eustice's house sometime later.

In the interest of time, Jessica provided a limited "to do list" from our last minutes. (see Mr. Bryant's full Agenda at the end of these minutes. On Jessica's list were:

Cemetery sign: Where to be located? Design

Materials needed: Base Bricks*, Mortar or grout Base

Teams working:

Don Brockman (?)
Ron Bartholomew, Durham Marble Works
Boy Scouts(?)
Reid Pennington, Triangle Thunder Cruisers
Bill Anderson
Manager from Maplewood Cemetery? (for advice and comments)
Tommy Hudson (Hudson's Funeral Home)
Kevin Lilly, Durham General Services Dept.
Others?

Current Business:

Reid Pennington spoke up because he had to leave at 3:00. He let us know that he had called "Sands and Soils" who may donate a truckload of fill dirt.

Reid Pennington also let us know that a man from 519-8450 was calling him, not giving his name, and claiming that he "owned" the Cemetery.

Ms. McNair suggested we call this fellow on speaker-phone and find out what he was about. We dialed his number, put him on speaker-phone and Mr. Bryant talked with him. He said his name was Emmitt Caldwell of 133 Edinborough Dr., Durham, NC 27703, and he claimed to have inherited the Cemetery property from his grandfather. His information was dubious, and it turns out that an Emmitt Caldwell has attempted to steal land this way in the past. Bill Anderson has contacted a Lawyer who will said he would work with us on a pro-bono basis as long as this problem does not go to trial. We will hear more from Bill Anderson about that later.

Jessica Eustice gave the committee a message from DD Barnes about her preference to have history on one side of the new sign.

Jessica wondered about how we could incorporate brick and the stone donated by Durham Marble Works.

We still need to find a donor to donate bricks. (Not sure if TROSA is still interested in donating.)

Mr. William Turner (is/was) going to build us a brick sign like the one outside the old Hillside and Lincoln Health Center.

Mr. Ron Bartholomew is willing to work with a brick mason designated by the FOGC to install the piece of stone he has for us.

We discussed the location and orientation of the sign and what should be written on it. Many options were brought up.

Jessie made a motion that we locate the sign near the comer of Colonial and Camden, off Camden, where the old lane enters the Cemetery, and that we appoint a committee to make the final decisions about the sign.

The motion was discussed, seconded, and carried with one objection.

RK Bryant and Jessica Eustice named some people who we could ask to serve on the Sign Committee:

John Compton (preservation Durham) Bill Anderson (neighbor)

RK Bryant, Jr. (FOGC Leader)

Ron Bartholomew (Durham Marble Works) Bill Oakley (neighbor)

Mamie Sheppard (neighbor)

William Turner (retired Hillside teacher) Johnell Bright (City Cemetery Department) Reid Pennington (Triangle Thunder Cruisers)

Ron Bartholomew is seeking permission to engrave the stone as per our instructions and put it up. He will be able to move on this as soon as we give him permission.

History:

Mr. Bryant in 1985 had a meeting with Doris Tilley - She had completed a listing of the Cemeteries in Durham

Dr. Leroy Walker was the leader on the 1992 Clean Up involving the Americore Volunteers

Minutes submitted by Jessica Eustice, 5/12/08