Cemetery Preservation Group

Since starting Cemetery Preservation Group, Inc. in 2019, I have learned a great deal about working with historic marble, granite, and now handmade brick.

In some of these photos, you will see examples of brick spalling caused by previous repairs that used the wrong type of mortar on the cemetery walls. When working with old handmade brick, whether on cemetery walls or historic buildings, it is extremely important to test both the brick and the mortar to determine their strength and compatibility.

The mortar should always be softer and more breathable than the brick itself. If the mortar is too hard or too strong, the brick can begin to crumble and spall, especially during wet weather and freeze-thaw cycles. In a properly repaired brick wall, the mortar is the sacrificial element. It should be the part that eventually fails, while helping preserve the historic brick.

I am also including a few photos showing the work in progress as we continue restoring these brick walls. There are many thousands of feet of walls to repair, and it will probably take us until the end of the year to complete this work in Old Live Oak Cemetery — maybe longer!

Thank you for your continued support as we work to restore and preserve Selma, Alabama's historic cemeteries.

Tax-Deductible donations can be made to C.P.G (Cemetery Preservation Group, Inc) PO Box 2341, Selma, AL 26702-2341 or by clicking in this link: https://www.cpgllc.org/donate

Cemetery Preservation Group, Inc. is making great progress on the restoration of the interior division and walkway walls within Old Live Oak Cemetery in Selma, Alabama. We hope to have this project completed by December of this year.

These walls have stood for approximately 145 years and were constructed using hand-made bricks, representing a level of craftsmanship that is difficult to find today. We are reusing as many of the original bricks as possible for this project. Over time, much of the original mortar has naturally deteriorated. Our goal is to restore dignity to this historic cemetery by returning it as closely as possible to its original condition while honoring and showing respect to those who rest here.

Old Live Oak Cemetery is one of a limited number of cemeteries listed on the National Register of Historic Places. During the mid-1800s, Selma was a thriving center of commerce and transportation in the United States. People from around the world came here seeking opportunity and a new beginning. Cemetery Preservation Group has documented individuals buried here representing at least 12 different nations, and many of their grave markers still bear inscriptions written in their native languages.

The artistic beauty of the hand-carved marble monuments, many crafted in Italy, combined with the majestic Live Oak trees draped in Spanish moss, beautiful blooming azaleas, and the historic hand-crafted brickwork throughout the cemetery creates a truly remarkable place to visit and experience.

Cemetery Preservation Group, Inc. is a volunteer-led, non-profit organization dedicated to the restoration, preservation, and protection of historic cemeteries.

Special thanks to The Alabama Historical Commission for providing grant support for this restoration effort, as well as to all of our loyal donors who continue to make this work possible.

If you would like to support supplies and materials for our many restoration projects, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to:
Cemetery Preservation Group, Inc.
P.O. Box 2341
Selma, AL 36702-2341

Thank you for helping us preserve and protect these important pieces of history for future generations.

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