July 25, 2023 was the date of my first blog post as mistress of cemeteries. Looking back over the past year, I see an incredible journey of personal growth and opportunities to share my passion of cemeteries. I've always had a love for cemeteries, but it wasn't until I started working full-time in the Local History and Genealogy Department of my library that I was given the opportunity to explore these sites more in-depth. Conducting my own personal genealogy research has also inspired me to visit more cemeteries and do what I can to share the stories that are buried there. Through being the mistress of cemeteries, I've been able to network and meet people who share my passion. I've also learned how to clean headstones. I now sit on the cemetery committee at my church and I'm able to work on preserving the heritage of my congregation.
In my professional life, my department was recognized by the local branch of the NAACP for our extensive research on the Green Street Cemetery in Statesville. This cemetery is the oldest public burying ground for African Americans in Statesville and the largest cemetery of formerly enslaved people in Iredell County. I am beyond blessed to have worked on this site and getting it recognized. There is still a long way to go, but this was a truly humbling experience and the highlight of my year!
My daddy passed away in November 2022 and last summer (around the time my blog started) my husband, toddler, and dog moved in with my mom. It's been an amazing adventure and my family is so blessed to be together. Since we moved in, we purchased a "she-shed" for me and I've had such a fun time creating homemade craft items to sell. I've had one in-person sale which was a huge success and I also have plans for appearances at upcoming local festivals this fall. I launched my Etsy shop, which was a huge undertaking. I started my blog on Wordpress which is great for blogs, but I needed a bit more options for selling products. In the last month, I have completely transferred my site to Wix, my new web host. So, if you think you're going crazy, you're not. My website looks different than it did a year ago, but the changes are for the best.
I'm so grateful to all my readers and supporters. Thank you for caring about cemeteries and being interested in the stories I tell. I do have goals for the upcoming year, which include attending some spring events and possibly bringing my platform to the mountains (my favorite place in the world). I plan on improving my online marketing and getting my name and my mission out there more. Social media has also played a role in my growth. I'm tremendously grateful for the Instagram community where I have not only gained a following, but have virtually met so many other people like me who see the infinite beauty in cemeteries. Depending on which way the legislation turns in September regarding the TikTok platform, I would also like to explore using that more and doing live videos and sales.
Whatever the next year brings, I am honored to tell the stories of those who have gone before us. Thank you for reading and thank you for caring!
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