July 25, 2024

Dear All,

Mark your calendars…Memorial Day services for Shady Grove Cemetery will be held on Sunday, August 11, 2024, at 10:30 a.m., in the Shady Grove Methodist Church building. Bro. Fred Morrow, retired local pastor and Wood County historian, will be the guest speaker. Ron and Cathy Lawson, locally renowned musicians, will present the music. The annual business meeting will be held with Larry Finney presiding. The deceased from August 1, 2023-July 31, 2024, will be commemorated. Dan Fogle, owner of Circle J Heat & Air, Dallas area heat and air conditioning business, will provide portable AC units for the church. Remember to bring a covered dish for the potluck lunch to be enjoyed after the services. Dress in cool attire and bring a lawn chair to enjoy sitting and visiting under the pavilion after services and during lunch.

Just an update… The annual Box & Pie Supper and Live Auction was held on Saturday evening, April 27, 2024, at 4:00 pm. Twenty-seven fantastic cemetery supporters were in attendance. Larry Finney auctioned thirty-five various donated items, ranging from pies to craft items to cakes to full-course meals to fried pies to plants. He was assisted by Kathy Brewer Brown and Joyce Wisdom Vanginault, making it a fun time for all. Marilyn Browning Burrow and Belinda Baber Riley assisted in recordkeeping. The winning quilt ticket was drawn by Jackson Palmer, son of Andrew and Elizabeth White Palmer, all of Celeste, TX. Jackson is the grandson of Mark and Sandra Keith White, and the great-grandson of the late Elmer Duke and Nadine Bradshaw Keith. The winner of the quilt was Olivia Anne Worth, daughter of Chris and Jessica Finney Worth, of Sulphur Springs, TX. She is the granddaughter of Larry and Sherry Mills Finney, and the great-granddaughter of the late Albin and Mozelle Messimer Mills. The quilt was donated by Linda Miller Taylor, in memory of her mother, the late Temple Mills Miller, and her grandmother, the late Vila Mae Gearner Steele, both longtime church and cemetery supporters. Total funds earned from this longtime traditional event were as follows: $6,037 which included live auction proceeds, quilt ticket sales, and mailed donations. Funds earned will benefit the perpetual care of the cemetery. This was also the 107th Box Supper event in Shady Grove history. Thank you to all our fabulous cemetery supporters! Without your continued support, achievements like this would not be possible! And, a special thank you to our wonderful directors who love our cemetery and are willing to give of their time and energy!

We are 100% complete with the original black iron fencing project, which includes 65 panels and three gates purchased and installed. We have begun a new section of the cemetery to enclose, so, if you previously missed the opportunity to acquire a fence panel, it’s not too late to purchase one with your family’s surname. Panels with your family’s surname are $400, with family members usually combining efforts to cover costs. Panels are $435, if surname has more than 10 letters. Give me a call, if you’re interested, and I’ll be glad to assist you. The black fence and black flagpoles are lovely additions to our beloved and beautiful country cemetery!! The wooden fence has been removed due to its dilapidated condition. It has served us well, though, having been erected in 2008. We will replace with something more permanent other than wood such as black steel posts and metal panels. We are currently still in the process of clearing that fence row.

Your generosity and willingness to contribute are important to the success of the perpetual care of the cemetery. Donations to non-profit organizations such as the cemetery are tax-deductible. Any donations, memorials, honorariums, and bequests are very much appreciated and gratefully accepted anytime throughout the year. Since 2019, our typical monthly obligations have increased about $250 each month. We now have $875 in routine basic monthly bills, which includes caretaker salary, building insurance, water, and electricity. Checks may be designated “in honor of” or “in memory of” a loved one and may be sent to: Sherry Finney, SGCA Secretary/Treasurer; P.O. Box 861; Winnsboro, TX 75494. Also, there is a PayPal account on our website for ease to members in making donations and memorials to the cemetery. Be sure to designate “friends and family” on PayPal. I have other online options such as Square, Venmo, Zelle, and Cash App, so just give me a call. Much appreciation to our wonderful and generous cemetery supporters!

As always, thank you to Cary Spence Lawncare Services for beautifully maintaining our cemetery and church grounds, and an extra special shout out to our dedicated cemetery directors and wonderful cemetery supporters/volunteers who are absolutely devoted to the perpetual care of our precious cemetery. Thank you to all!!

Plan ahead now for our cemetery’s future upcoming events…
o Browning Stew 2024 - Saturday, November 2, 2024, 4:00 p.m. (1st Saturday in November)
o Wreaths Across America 2024 - Saturday, December 14, 2024, 1:00 p.m. (2nd Saturday in December this year; scheduled earlier than usual due to Christmas holidays)
o Box Supper 2025 – Saturday, April 26, 2025, 4:00 p.m. (last Saturday in April)
o Memorial Day 2025 – Sunday, August 10, 2025, 10:30 a.m. (2nd Sunday in August)

Thank you to our wonderful directors who love our cemetery and are willing to give of their time and energy! Whatever it takes, they are there…ready and willing. Much appreciation to you all!! The Directors of the Shady Grove Cemetery Association, Inc. and their current terms are as follows:
o Larry Finney, President (2023-2025)
o Sherry Mills Finney, Sec./Treas. (2021-2024)
o Kathy Brewer Brown (2022-2025)
o Marilyn Browning Burrow (2023-2026)
o Sally Bellomy Richardson (2022-2025)
o Belinda Baber Riley (2023-2026)
o Joyce Wisdom Vanginault (2021-2024)

Sincerely,
Sherry Finney, SGCA Secretary/Treasurer
903-438-7455 (Sherry’s cell); 903-438-3757 (Larry’s cell)
Email: sgca1855@gmail.com
Website: www.shadygrovecemeterywoodcountywinnsborotexas.com
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