This year, something remarkable happened in Alexandria. Neighbors, families, local businesses and volunteers came together to care for the places that hold our town’s past, and we’re proud to share what you helped make possible.
At Seay Chapel Cemetery, more than 30 years of overgrowth has been cleared from over 2 acres, giving generations of Alexandria’s Black families back their resting place. We placed a memorial tombstone honoring 100 people buried in unmarked graves and have already raised the funds for a second one. At Eastview Cemetery, 5/6 of the stones are now cleaned, with many fallen and broken stones straightened and repaired. And at Seay Chapel itself, the fallen section of the rock wall has been rebuilt.
2026 at a glance:
- 2+ acres reclaimed at Seay Chapel Cemetery
- 100 names honored on our first memorial tombstone
- 300+ stones cleaned and about 20 repaired or straightened
- 600+ volunteer hours, worth more than $18,800 in donated labor
- 20+ history videos, viewed more than 350,000 times
Inside the report you’ll also find the story of Julia Berry, a mother who never stopped fighting for her family, and the connection between our town and W.E.B. Du Bois, who taught near here and worshipped alongside families now resting in Seay Chapel Cemetery. You’ll see exactly where every dollar went, and what comes next: finding an estimated 450 unmarked graves and securing Seay Chapel’s future with a new roof, foundation and drainage.
None of this happened alone. Thank you to every donor, sponsor and volunteer who gave their time, money and heart this year, we look forward to seeing what the next two months bring as we close out 2026.
Read the full report below.
Want to help? Mail a donation to PO Box 14, Alexandria, TN 37012 (donors receive a tax receipt), join us for our next Cemetery Day in January 2027, or message us on Facebook or at alexandriahistoriccemeteries@gmail.com.
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