ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — Albany residents are raising concerns about the condition of Union Memorial Park Cemetery, and recent storms have made an ongoing problem even worse.

Located near the intersection of Holloway Avenue and South McKinley Street in Albany, the cemetery has become a source of frustration for some who say overgrown grass, scattered debris and storm-damaged trees are making it difficult to visit and honor loved ones.

Residents described headstones throughout the property are covered by tall grass, while trash and debris remain scattered across parts of the cemetery. Dead trees and broken limbs left behind after recent storms have added to concerns about the site’s appearance and safety.

“It’s a lot to maintain,” Thomas Mohoran, an Albany resident who frequently helps with maintenance, said. “You need at least a three-to-four-man crew here constantly every day.”

However, there is another side to the story.

Robert Price, the man who oversees the cemetery, said he has managed the property for the past 15 years and is now 81 years old. He says only two other people consistently help him maintain the cemetery’s roughly eight acres, making upkeep a challenge.

“My effort here is comparative to any other cemetery where there’s only two people working,” he said.

Despite the limited manpower, he said efforts are ongoing to keep the property maintained.

Price said the cemetery also operates on limited funding, relying on low-cost burial plot sales to support families facing financial hardships.

“We don’t charge as much as everyone else,” Price said. “People that come here are using their last funds to get someone buried.”

Community members are extending assistance to help Price improve conditions and preserve the cemetery for the families who visit it.

Donny Green, a pastor and community activist, is organizing a cemetery cleanup at Union Memorial Park. He said the date and time will be announced soon and asks those interested to contact him.

Green lists the items to bring: wheel barrels, chainsaws, lawn mowers, weed eaters and rakes.

Above all, “bring a good spirit to work in God’s kingdom,” he said.

To learn more about the cleanup, contact Pastor Donnie Green at 229-669-5808 or [email protected].

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