9.1.26 - I'm currently working on updating the

Willits --- Little Lake --and Little River Cemeteries.

Along with others in the Mendo/NorCal area.

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"Show me your burial grounds and I'll show you a measure of the civility of a community." -Ben Franklin

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Note About Willits Cemetery/Cemetery District of the Redwoods: I have created several memorials based on the cemetery map, which was provided to me by the Cemetery Caretaker. The caretaker has been instrumental in facilitating this project, demonstrating remarkable patience and kindness in addressing my millions of questions regarding all of the things that go on at the cemetery. Although these memorials are somewhat vague, as the map typically only includes a name, I plan to improve this information, as best I can, during the winter months.

Note about messaging - I've discovered that messages are getting lost in my email. When possible please message me directly on the FG platform, for messages regarding a memorial, an edit or a transfer please include a memorial number. Thank you.

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I'm inspired by the collaborative spirit of FindAGrave, where everyone can contribute, whether it's venturing out to map, clean headstones, and photograph gravesites, or diligently researching, sending in edits and writing bios from the comfort of home.

We are all united in our quest to honor the memories of our ancestors in the most meaningful ways possible. By creating a comprehensive digital record of their lives and final resting places, we are ensuring that their legacies will be preserved for generations to come, and that friends and family members from all over the world can pay their respects, even if they cannot visit these sacred sites in person.

I've noticed that many headstones with photographs uploaded over 15 years ago have become weathered or damaged, which underscores the importance of our mission. By documenting these headstones and gravesites, we are safeguarding these precious records and memories for posterity.

I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each and every FindAGrave member for their contributions to this extraordinary community and platform.

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"To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child. For what is the worth of human life, unless it is woven into the life of our ancestors by the records of history? "-Marcus Tullius Cicero

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I inherited my love for cemeteries from my Grandma Charlotte, who gifted me a meticulously crafted, hand-typed Family Tree/Records book that she had worked on for many years, completing it in 1996. This book was a treasure trove, including the first photos of my ancestors' headstones that I saw. She was photographing them long ago. I just know that she would have loved the FindAGrave website! This thoughtful book ignited my genealogical journey, inspiring me to explore our heritage.

Blandy, Barnes, Spicer, Degurse, Kuechenmeister, Cummings, Omundsen/Amundsen, Ising, Kimbler, Hoover/Huber, Frankum, Wright, Neubauer, Christianson, Metzger, Walker, Atkison/Atkinson, Ferguson, England,

are some of the surnames of the Ancestors/relatives that I am researching. If any of these names are familiar to you please feel free to message me so we could figure out how we might be related.

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'Tis a fearful thing

to love what death can touch.

A fearful thing

to love, to hope, to dream, to be.

To be,

and oh, to lose.

A thing for fools, this,

and a holy thing,

a holy thing,

to love.

For your life has lived in me,

your laugh once lifted me,

your word was gift to me.

To remember this brings painful joy.

'Tis a human thing, love,

a holy thing, to love

what death has touched.

-- Yehuda HaLevi (1075 - 1141)

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The Memorial pages that I have created are family members, people that I have known, burials in my local community cemeteries, or because someone related to the deceased has asked or given permission.

I have "adopted", to maintain, the Memorial pages of lots of family members, near and distant, as well as a lot of "orphaned" Memorial pages with familial last names or Memorials from my local area.

Please note: I contribute to Find A Grave on a voluntary basis. I pursue this hobby with dedication, in an effort to photograph headstones, document the burials, and the lives of those who have come before us and to provide assistance to individuals researching their family history and/or genealogy.

If you would like a Memorial page transferred to you, just ask. But, I would like to know your relationship to the person or why the Memorial is important to you.

Here's something to keep in mind about memorial transfers:

FindAGrave requires active participation as manager of memorial pages. If you do not sign in to the website for 21 days, you risk random edits being automatically accepted to your memorials by the system. If you don't sign in for over a year, you risk losing your memorial pages to the FindAGrave system, where they can be edited and adopted by others. It is essential to understand that if you do not anticipate being an active member, rather than requesting a transfer, I am more than willing to collaborate with families to create a meaningful memorial page. This way, you can ensure the page is maintained with care and attention.

Thank you.

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The Recording of a Cemetery

Today we walked where others walked

On a lonely, windswept hill;

Today we talked where others cried

For Loved Ones whose lives are stilled.

Today our hearts were touched

By graves of tiny babies;

Snatched from the arms of loving kin,

In the heartbreak of the ages.

Today we saw where the grandparents lay

In the last sleep of their time;

Lying under the trees and clouds

Their beds kissed by the sun and wind.

Today we wondered about an unmarked spot;

Who lies beneath this hollowed ground?

Was it a babe, child, young or old?

No indication could be found.

Today we saw where Mom and Dad lay.

We had been here once before

On a day we'd all like to forget,

But will remember forever more.

Today we recorded for kith and kin

The graves of ancestors past;

To be preserved for generations hence,

A record we hope will last.

Cherish it, my friend; preserve it, my friend,

For stones sometimes crumble to dust

And generations of folks yet to come

Will be grateful for your trust.

-By Thelma Alaveena Greene Reagan

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