Volunteers Return Obeth Cemetery to Prominence

Obeth Cemetery has been important to me since I was there with my dear grandmother in the 1950s. I remember going into the small white church with windowpanes out, leaves on the floor and an old dusty organ on the left side at the front.

Grandmother’s precious daughter, my aunt, that died at 20 years of age and her dear parents are buried there as well as many other family members.

In past years, visiting the cemetery was not easy and you had to do so at your own peril, as the site stood within the boundaries of a hunting club. It was the most wonderful news when my son Pat told me that it was now safely within the Paddy’s Creek Area of Lake James State Park. The joy it brought to be able to visit and know that it is safe … well, I have no words to describe it. This sacred ground holds until Resurrection Day the remains of my four grandfathers and three grandmothers, as well as many other family members.

A lot of the graves are in sad need of repair. There is a whole community of us, across the county and the U.S., with descendants buried here. At age 80 and in the midst of the pandemic I decided to try and do something. Along with Susan Houck, Janie Matthews and some Daughters of the American Revolution ladies, we decided to do what we could to clean and straighten headstones and remove some of the small ground cover. We want to preserve what is there and prevent further deterioration when possible.

With the help of Edwin Norman, the location of the old church has been found and it is my dream to erect a permanent marker identifying it as the site so that it will not be lost to time.

I’ve started a Facebook page called “Lest We Forget…..Obeth Remembered,” with around 50 people that have joined. We have had good response to our workdays. I have had wonderful support from the park staff. I am so thankful for all at Lake James State Park who are helping protect this cemetery. These people lived and loved and had families. They should not be forgotten. A favorite quote: No-one ever really dies until the last person forgets to remember them.

Editor’s note: This article has been excerpted and modified from a more lengthy and complete description of the history, restoration and future of the Obeth Cemetery as Mrs. Kiser sees it.