Honoring Our Loved Ones and Our History at the Stafford Cemetery
Stafford Cemetery Association Creates the Stafford Cemetery Endowment Fund
Stafford, OH – We often think of cemeteries as a final resting place for our loved ones, but they often play a deeper role for the community. Stafford Cemetery is a perfect example. For those affiliated with the Stafford Cemetery Association in Monroe County, preserving a peaceful final resting place to visit and maintain memories of loved ones, as well as the historical stories told by the cemetery for future generations, is a personal mission. In order to grow financial resources to support the maintenance, preservation, and enhancement of the grounds in perpetuity, the Stafford Cemetery Endowment Fund was created at the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) as part of the Monroe County Community Foundation.
“The Stafford Cemetery has long been a place where so many in our community have laid friends and loved ones to rest,” said Harold Robinson, vice president of the Stafford Cemetery Association. “With this Fund we hope to give everyone a chance to honor their loved ones and plan for the care of their final resting place. And it also gives us an opportunity to preserve and celebrate the Monroe County history we find right here at the cemetery.”
The Stafford Cemetery dates back to the early 1900s and was privately operated by the Ullman family until 1975 when the Stafford Cemetery Association was created to care for the cemetery. Now a tax-exempt 501(c)(13), the Stafford Cemetery Association is dedicated to providing grounds for internment that show dignity and reverence for all people. This principle of inclusivity reflects the history of the Stafford community, which was an important part of the Underground Railroad system in Southeastern Ohio. By the late 1840s, African Americans settled in the area as a result of the village being an important stop along the Underground Railroad.
The legacy of the Underground Railroad extends to the Stafford Cemetery itself with the internment of John Curtis, an Underground Railroad Conductor and member of the 3rd Regiment of the United States Colored Infantry. In addition to the legacy of freedom in the area surrounding the Stafford Cemetery today, the cemetery itself illustrates a rich history of patriotism on its grounds. A number of veterans are entombed in the cemetery, including those who served in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.
Gifts to the Stafford Cemetery Endowment Fund are tax-deductible and can be made in many ways, including cash, bequests in wills, and life insurance. Donations can be made online at www.AppalachianOhio.org by designating the Stafford Cemetery Endowment Fund when donating. Donations can also be mailed to PO Box 456, Nelsonville, OH 45764 by designating the Stafford Cemetery Endowment Fund.
The creation of the Stafford Cemetery Endowment Fund, a member of the Monroe County Community Foundation’s Family of Funds, will ensure that the cemetery is cared for in perpetuity and that these grounds will continue to share their rich history for generations to come. The Monroe County Community Foundation works with the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio to grow lasting assets that will make a difference for the county and its residents for many future generations.
To learn more about how you can grow permanent endowment resources for the organization and community you care most about, preserving legacies for generations to come, please visit www.AppalachianOhio.org or call 740.753.1111.
About the Monroe County Community Foundation
The Monroe County Community Foundation was created so that the Monroe County community would have a place to come together and grow a powerful asset for the county and its residents for many future generations. The Monroe County Community Foundation is a local foundation, created in partnership with the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, and is designed to grow resources that can be used to support current and future needs and develop new opportunities.
About the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio
The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) is a regional community foundation serving the 32 counties of Appalachian Ohio. A 501(c)(3) public charity, the Foundation creates opportunities for Appalachian Ohio’s citizens and communities by inspiring and supporting philanthropy. For more information about FAO, visit www.AppalachianOhio.org.
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