05/06/2026
*UPDATE*
‼️Address to mail payments;
Margaret Dimbo PO box 1272, Hanceville, AL 35077‼️
🚨EVERYONE PLEASE READ!!🚨
Dear Colony Community,
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing today with a heavy heart regarding the recent cemetery clean-up effort. This event has been organized and held on the first Saturday in May ever since I was a child. It was organized with the intention of honoring our loved ones, preserving the dignity of their resting place, and bringing our community together in a shared act of respect and care.
Unfortunately, the level of participation was far below what we had hoped. It was sad to say that the majority of those participating in the cemetery cleaning were mostly sixty-five and over. I was asked where all the young people are. That’s a great question. My answer was, "I don’t know." So, I’m asking, “Where are our (my) generation and the younger generation?” Maintaining our cemetery is not just a task; it is a responsibility we all share. It reflects how we value our history, our families, and those who came before us. When participation is limited, the burden falls on only a few, and the work becomes much more difficult to accomplish effectively. If we, me included, do not start maintaining our cemetery and teach our children and grandchildren the responsibility of upkeeping the cemetery. When the older generation dies, what is going to happen to the cemetery? Being a part of the Colony community is more than just Colony Day, where we party and have fun; it's about making sure your community thrives and exists for the future. Our grandparents never had w**d eaters or riding lawnmowers but maintained the cemetery with rakes and picks. We have all the modern advantages but choose not to help. If every family gave 2 hours of time, it would not take long to clean the cemetery. I know some of you are going to say it's not my responsibility, but if not you, then who? If those who were there only cleaned their family spots, 75% of the cemetery would have been uncleaned. Some people hadn’t lived here in years but drove up from Birmingham; they showed up because it mattered to them that their loved ones' graves and the cemetery were cleaned. We get asked once a year to pay a maintenance fee of $125.00 per family; people will not pay it. Say you can’t afford it, but you have grandparents, parents, and other relatives there. We can afford anything we want; we have nice homes, cars, $200 shoes, and purses. If you can’t pay it all at once, they will take payments, trust me, that’s how I pay my own. We must do better for our loves and our community.
This is not written out of anger, but rather disappointment and concern. Our community has always had the strength to come together in times of need, and this is one of those moments where unity truly matters. The cemetery is a sacred space that deserves our collective attention and care, not just from a handful of individuals, but from all of us.
Moving forward, I encourage each of you to reflect on the importance of these efforts and consider how you can contribute in the future. Whether it is volunteering your time, spreading the word, or simply showing up, every effort makes a difference.
Let us work together to ensure that our cemetery remains a place of honor, peace, and pride for generations to come.
Kim Twitty
