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Restoring Dignity to Wildwood Cemetery

Sheila Kunick
Terrell State Hospital, Community Relations Representative

September 23, 2008

The Terrell State Hospital Wildwood Cemetery Association is in the process of completing a community fundraiser designed to erect an ornamental fence around Wildwood Cemetery.

Wildwood Cemetary was consecrated as burial land soon after TSH opened and the first burial was held on October 22, 1885. Providing a dignified resting place for many patients seperated from family, Wildwood Cemetery has over the years become the resting place for over 3,600 people.

Concrete blocks with numbers were used to identify grave sites and some families provided head stones, but most graves were marked only with an identifiying patient number.

The dedicated volunteers of the Wildwood Cemetery Association are currently seeking Preservation Partners needed to complete a very special project. Approximately 335 decorative fence panels are needed to surround the perimeter of Wildwood Cementary.

Wildwood Cemetery Board Member, Sarah Kegerreis said, “the preservation efforts began in 1997 by then Superintendent, Bea Butler. At that time the cemetery was in several stages of disrepair. It was overgrown, many markers were tumbled over or broken, and there was no fence.”

She stated how unhappy she was with the condition of the cemetary, stating, “We are doing what is right; everybody deserves dignity.” Ms. Kegerreis went on to say that the people buried at the cemetery deserve the same dignity as anyone in the community.

The “Restoring Dignity...Numbers to Names” campaign centers its focus on replacing each numbered grave maker with a marker with the person’s name, date of birth and date of date.”

To date a total of 2,105 markers have been placed at the cemetery. There are a total of 3,533 gravesites. The volunteers will continue to research until all gravesites have a new marker although there is no way to measure the amount of time that volunteers will spend researching and working on this heartfelt project.

Gravesite markers may be purchased for a $70.00 donation, and an eight-foot fence panel may be purchased, with or without a name, for $375.00. The cost includes up to 14 letters in the panel with each additional letter costing $8.50.

Those interested in purchasing a fence panel or a marker at Wildwood Cemetery should contact Terrell State Hospital Community Relations office at (972) 551-8639. The Volunteer Council for Terrell State Hospital is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. If you do not wish to purchase a marker or panel of the fence, any donation is greatly appreciated.