The Jackson Sun from Jackson, Tennessee • 15

South the INSIDE Southern Almanac Dear Abby 3C Weddings 5C Travel 8C Living Sunday, July 22, 2001 3Jtr.Iark0on$un In a of a case like this, you have people who are older trying to take care cemetery, who just don't have the time, money and the energy. It just suddenly came to me that this is a historical site." City Councilman Jessie Jacox whose 3rd District includes Mount Olivet Cemetery --WL-r T. U- -i jrs i i '''ft f--- 1 jj L. STEVE RUARKThe Jackson Sun Mattie Miliken has begun the nomination process to have Mount Olivet Cemetery on East Forest Avenue placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Mount Olivet Cemetery seeks historical status I about blood, sweat and tears." The private cemetery, located on East Forest Avenue, started as the principal burial ground for Jackson's black residents.

Black community leaders formed the associ Jacox ation in March 1885 and bought almost eight acres of land for $80, according to information from Jackson-Madison County Library historian Jack Wood. Jessie Jacox, city councilman for the 3rd District, observed the cemetery in January and suggested Miliken apply for a grant through City Hall for historical status. City workers have cleaned the cemetery a few times in a two-year span, removing rotten trees that have fallen after disastrous weather, he said. "In a case like this, you have people Please see CEMETERY, 4C t- 7 Mt. Olivet a Cemetery ot detail Jackson Forest Ave.

As -1 Groups help restore burial grounds at LBL By KIMBERLY HEFLING The Associated Press GOLDEN POND, Ky. Restoring St. Mary's Cemetery on the Tennessee side of Land Between the Lakes is something Between the Rivers Inc. takes seriously. The group of former LBL residents and volunteers meet nearly every Saturday in the winter months to clear brush and place stone markers at some 250 cemeteries spread out among LBL.

Many of the 400 graves at St. Mary's possibly belonged to black slaves who lived in the area during the 1800s. The Tennessee Valley Authority relocated them to the cemetery when Kentucky Lake was formed in the 1960s. Metal markers placed at the graves by the TVA are now bent and barely legible. The volunteers are working to restore the markers with gravestones.

"We feel all graves should be respected and protected," said Ray Parish, president of Between the Rivers. "They're part of our heritage here, so it's important to leave a permanent marker." The organization is one of two main private groups that work at LBL to preserve cemeteries. Several other church groups and individuals also help. make or break JIM ROSHANThe Associated Press Dozens of volunteers help with the cleanup of a cemetery in Golden Pond, earlier this year. The cemetery was established in the 1940s and contains 400 graves that were moved when Kentucky Lake was formed.

By ANTONIO YOUNG contactusjacksonsun.com The Mount Olivet Cemetery Association has a vision. And it is that the 116-year-old cemetery in East Jackson will gain historical status that will allow for its upkeep. Mattie Miliken, association secretary, and her committee met with members of Carroll Van West's staff earlier this summer to begin the nomination process for the National Register of Historic Places. West, an assistant professor at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfrees-boro, works with the Center for Historic Preservation, which has identified, researched and nominated almost 100 buildings and districts for the National Register. "I have worked for the cemetery for eight years, and that cemetery has been in a terrible condition," said Miliken, coordinator for the project.

"We would have different people using machinery that couldn't do the work to our satisfaction, and we didn't have the income to pay them." Miliken said the association must pay $900 a month for maintenance, with income coming from annual fees of $40 from relatives of the deceased. She has contacted local churches and sent more than 200 letters to relatives for financial support. "Some people don't pay their dues, and we have to really work hard," Miliken said. "It has been such a struggle talk 1 1 jpili 1 1 IUM IMWI no surprise that former residents feel such a link to the cemeteries. "It's very important for genealogy research and also for people who want to come back and learn about their roots and heritage," she said.

About 60 to 70 cemeteries at LBL are regularly maintained. On Sundays beginning in the spring and lasting into the summer, various groups sponsor homecomings with potluck suppers that attract former residents from hundreds of miles away. Even when LBL was created, many of cemeteries some dating to the 1700s had been forgotten because there were no remaining descendants in area. Since then, others who cared for the Please see GROUP, 4C get cracking called me a "bread freak" because I bought so many loaves. Rule No.

2. Don't tell a customer everything you're thinking. I didn't really want the Doo-Gro and Bunny Bread nearly as much as I wanted R-E-S-P-E-C-T. In that, customers and workers are very much alike. And that's Rule No.

3. But kindness covers all the rules. Donna Miller Hicks is a writer at The Jackson Sun and can be reached at 425-9617, or outside Madison County at (800) 372-3922, ext. 617, or at dhicksjacksonsun.com. Customer service can LBL, an inland peninsula in western Kentucky and Tennessee about 90 miles north of Nashville, was formed when the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers were impounded to create Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley.

The federal government used powers of eminent domain to buy and tear down houses, businesses and community buildings to create LBL. Many former residents say they are drawn to the cemeteries because they are some of the last reminders of what existed before about 700 families were forced to moved. "It's all we have left of what we are as a community. Everything else has been taken away," said Delia Oliver, a former resident and member of Between the Riv ers. Kathy Harper, LBL spokeswoman, said your business, shampoo but also just wanted to browse.

It was a rare time for me to indulge in eyeing "girl stuff I usually shop for things like tuna fish, a gallon of milk and dog food. The well-meaning worker and I stared at each other uncomfortably. I wanted to look at the store's fluffy, ruffly trinkets on my own. Maybe a simple rule of good service is this: Don't make your customer feel like a nincompoop. On one job, I grocery shopped for a retirement home.

The checkout girl Mid Dr. Uhiis it's the the so A K. AS omeone in the newsroom stated, "Customer service in Jackson stinks!" Could you elaborate, please? "They act like they're doing you a favor, when in reality, they are there to serve you. Donna Miller Hicks make your whole day better." This person, who provides good customer service, noted that sometimes a customer is treated as an inconvenience. "It bothers them to take your money," she said of workers who don't bother to say thanks when returning change.

Another fellow worker took up the topic. "It is incredibly bad. It is so bad. Some servers consider the tip their property before they even work for it." Wait a minute. Some people are overstressed, overworked and underpaid.

Some are in jobs where they hear gripes regularly. They may have to act as buffers who don't dare bark back. And good customer service requires the luxury of time. Customers want to dawdle. A worker asked me, without a smile, "Are you looking for something?" I wondered if that was her version of "May I help you?" I was looking for Many people have no loyalty to the company they work for and don't care if you get served properly." Another co-worker joined in, "When I get good customer service, I feel like I'm on 'Candid It's surprising.

It can Reminder 1'rom. An active lifestyle contributes to lower cholesterol levels and better your lifestyle. Start a diet plan which includes foods that are low in fat. Lean meats cooked with little added fat, fish, and low-fat milk are just a few of the delicious foods that can help contribute to a healthy lifestyle. I South Heart Center Cunningham Dr.

Moses Kellt III Janie Daniel, FNP 731-423-8383 4-.