Corinth Cemetery News
NOTICE OF ANNUAL CORINTH CEMETERY ASSOCIATION MEETING
The Corinth Cemetery Association held its annual meeting at 2 PM on Sunday, May 19, 2024 at the Centerhill Methodist Church on FM 1733.
The business meeting agenda included a report on the progress made since the last annual meeting toward achieving the Association’s goals for improving the cemetery and the election of Board members.
Due to the continuing low rate of interest currently available on Permanent Fund investments, the Board continued to encourage Association members to designate contributions to the Maintenance Fund to sustain and enhance the appearance of the cemetery.
Members attending were reminded that contributions could be sent to:
Corinth Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 191, Kennard, Texas 75847
An updated Plot Reservation Form can be downloaded from the Board of Directors page on the website. If you are unable to access the form, please contact our Secretary, Shannon Starr-O'Berry, via email at starr7498@yahoo.com for an emailed copy.
Due to the Covid epidemic, no Annual Meeting was held in 2020.
The following are unofficial minutes from the 2024 Annual Meeting on May 19, 2024. The minutes will become official when they are approved at the 2025 Annual Meeting.
CORINTH CEMETERY ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING
May 19, 2024
President Clifford Currie declared a quorum, and the Annual Meeting of the Corinth Cemetery Association was called to order at 2:00 pm.
Clifford Currie led an opening prayer. Directors present were Clifford Currie, Mike Curry, Danny Gallant, Jerry Morgan, Pam King and Shannon Starr-O’Berry.
The minutes of the May 2023 meeting were read and approved.
Motion to approve – Wanda Stephens
Second – Carolyn Harrison
Motion carried.
President’s Report
President Currie introduced the Board members, explained their positions on the Board and expressed his appreciation for the Board’s work during the past year. President Currie talked about the progress that has been made on getting the pavilion fixed since the last annual meeting –several people have looked at it but nobody has given a bid.
Treasurer’s Report
Danny Gallant presented the financial report, explaining various expenditures over the past year.
Motion to approve financial report with correction – Jim Tom Ainsworth
Second -- Carolyn Harrison
Motion carried.
Historical Report
Pam King read the historical report of the people who have been buried since the last annual meeting – Jane Harkins, Richard Beard, and George Childs. President Currie asked the Association members to observe a moment of silence in honor of the lives of these family members.
Motion to approve – Randy Harkins
Second – Belinda Vanglahn Motion carried.
Property Committee Report
The grounds have been kept up by Ricky Burton. The Board has had several people look at the pavilion, have not have a bid for repair or rebuild from anyone. The Board has sent in all information asked for to Vulcraft and are still waiting on a decision on whether or not they are going to donate any material for repair or rebuild.
Election of Officers
Election of officers for the term ending in 2027 – Pam King, Jerry Morgan, Danny Gallant. No nominations from the floor.
Mike Curry made a motion to nominate Pam King, Jerry Morgan, and Danny Gallant and re-elect by acclimation.
Belinda Vanglahn seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
Motion to adjourn was made my Wanda Stephens.
Carolyn Harrison seconded the motion.
Meeting was adjourned at 2:35 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Shannon Starr O’Berry
Secretary
Corinth Cemetery Association, Annual Meeting, May 21, 2023
President Clifford Currie declared a quorum and the Annual Meeting of the Corinth Cemetery Association was called to order at 2:04 pm. Tommy Hutto led an opening prayer. Directors present were Clifford Currie, Mike Curry, Danny Gallant, Jerry Morgan, Pam King and Shannon Starr-O’Berry. John Morgan was absent.
The minutes of the May 2022 meeting were read and approved.
Motion to approve - Tommy Hutto, Second – Wanda Stephens - Motion carried.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
President Currie introduced the Board members, explained their positions on the Board and expressed his appreciation for the Board’s work during the past year. President Currie talked about the progress that has been made on getting the pavilion fixed since the last annual meeting.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Danny Gallant presented the financial report, explaining various expenditures over the past year.
Motion to approve financial report - Jim Tom Ainsworth, Second -- Carolyn Harrison - Motion carried.
HISTORICAL REPORT
Pam King read the historical report of the people who have been buried since the last annual meeting. President Currie asked the Association members to observe a moment of silence in honor of the lives of these family members.
MAINTENANCE/PROPERTY COMMITTEE REPORT
Jerry Morgan reported that there were several tombstones that needed repair after a storm, and they were repaired for less money than was originally quoted. Mike Curry stated that he had sent pictures of the damage to the pavilion to Charles Wells for a grant proposal for Vulcraft on materials. There is a chance that Vulcraft may donate all the materials that are needed to fix the pavilion.
DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED BY-LAW AMENDMENTSA mailing of proposed by-law amendments was sent to the membership earlier in the year and read at the meeting. The proposals are as follows:
Current By-Law No. 2:
No lots in said Cemetery shall ever be sold. All lots are reserved for members of the Association who are descendent or other family members of those who are already interred in the cemetery.
Suggested Change: Remove current By-Law No. 12 (below), add to current By-Law No. 2, with changes, to have definition of ‘member of the Association’ and ‘direct descendent’ near the beginning of the By-Laws. Add the word ‘direct,’ define ‘direct descendent’ and add date of the signing of the By-Laws.
Current By-Law No. 12:
Any person who is a direct descendent of any person interred in the cemetery at the time of the signing of these By-Laws is a member of the Association.
By-Law No. 2, with proposed changes, would read as follows:
2. No lots in said Cemetery shall ever be sold. All lots are reserved for members of the Association who are direct descendants or other family members of those who are already interred in the cemetery. Any person that is a direct descendant of any person interred in the cemetery at the time of the signing of these By-Laws (05/18/1986) shall be considered a member of the Association and entitled to interment. For the purpose of these By-Laws, a direct descendent is a person whose lineal ancestor (parent, grandparent, etc.) is interred in the cemetery.
Current By-Law No. 5:
The directors shall have the sole and exclusive decision as to whom shall be interred in the Cemetery, with the express provision that any person who shall be a member of the Association at the time of his or her death shall be entitled to be interred in the Cemetery, and that any direct descendent of any person interred in the Cemetery on the date of the signing of these By-Laws shall be entitled to interment.
Suggested change: Add the sentence regarding ‘rare conferring of Association Membership’ and remove the following repetitive phrase starting : ‘and that any direct descendent of any person interred in the Cemetery on the date of signing of these By-Laws shall be entitled to interment.’ This phrase is in proposed By-Law No. 2.
By-Law No. 5, with proposed changes, would read as follows:
The Directors shall have the sole and exclusive decision as to whom shall be interred in the Cemetery, with the express provision that any person who shall be a member of the Association at the time of his or her death shall be interred in the cemetery.
On rare occasions, the directors, at their discretion, may confer Association Membership to persons who are not direct descendants of those interred in the Cemetery.
Motion to approve remove By-Law No. 12 and add to By-Law No. 2 with modified language
Jim Tom Ainsworth, Second – Chris Ivins - Motion carried.
Motion to approve change made to By-Law No. 5
Tommy Hutto, Second – Carolyn Harrison - Motion carried.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Election of officers for the term ending in 2026 – Clifford Currie and John Morgan. The Nominating committee were Mike Curry and Shannon Starr-O’Berry. Nominees were Clifford Currie and John Morgan. No nominations from the floor.
Motion to re-elect – Pam King, Second – Carolyn Harrison - Motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS
President discussed the change in burial fees that was made in the last Annual Meeting and the changes that were made in the January 2023 Board Meeting. The burial fee was changed to $300 with no charge for urns at the Annual Meeting in 2022. The Board discussed the fees and decided to change the burial fee to $200 for caskets and the same for burial of urns in the January Board Meeting.
Wanda Stephens made a motion to adjourn. Mikey Curry seconded. Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 2:45 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Shannon Starr-O’Berry
Secretary
CORINTH CEMETERY ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL MEETING
May 15, 2022
President Clifford Currie declared a quorum, and the Annual Meeting of the Corinth Cemetery Association was called to order at 2:05 pm. Tommy Hutto led an opening prayer.
Directors present were Clifford Currie, Mike Curry, Danny Gallant, Jerry Morgan, Pam King and Shannon Starr-O’Berry. John Morgan was absent.
The minutes of the May 2021 meeting were read and approved.
Motion to approve – Gaylon McClinton
Second – Joe Bob Jennings
Motion carried.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
President Currie introduced the Board members, explained their positions on the Board and expressed his appreciation for the Board’s work during the past year. Jerry Morgan has had several people look at the pavilion.
No one is interested in fixing/wants to fix it. It has been basically keeping up with the physical maintenance of the cemetery. There was discussion about what would it cost to fix and what it would cost to replace completely. The discussion was tabled and will be discussed at the September Board meeting.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Danny Gallant presented the financial report, explaining various expenditures over the past year. Check 1443 check was lost and was canceled and re-issued.
He explained what the Maintenance Fund is and why we have it separate from the Permanent Fund.
Motion to approve financial report – Irene Curry
Second - Lisa Wade
Motion carried.
HISTORICAL REPORT
Burials since last annual meeting were Francis Leroy Hoffman in plot 214 and Ricky James Starr in plot 919.
President Currie asked the Association members to observe a moment of silence in honor of the lives of these family members.
MAINTENANCE/PROPERTY COMMITTEE REPORT
Mike Curry had Charles Wells come look at the pavilion and get a materials list together with some figures – needs some pictures and thinks his son Justin Wells may be able to get the materials through Vulcraft.
Gaylon McClinton asked if anyone had asked Ronnie/Kenny Cole for a bid. The consensus after some discussion was that they would be approached if materials are not through Vulcraft.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Election of officers for the term ending in 2025 – Mike Curry and Shannon Starr-O’Berry. Nominating committee were Pam King and Jerry Morgan. Nominees were Mike Curry and Shannon Starr-O’Berry. No nominations from the floor.
Motion to re-elect – Jerry Morgan
Second – Gaylon McClinton
Motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS
Gaylon McClinton asked if there was a fee or cost for cremation. If we are charging to bury a casket, there should also be a fee for cremation. The January 2022 Old Business minutes were read and fees were discussed.
There was no decision made on what/how to charge for interment of cremation remains. Will need to investigate and re-visit the topic.
Tommy Hutto made a motion to adjourn.
Lisa Wade seconded.
Meeting adjourned at 2:40 pm.
The following Annual Meeting minutes were approved at the May 2022 annual meeting.
CORINTH CEMETERY ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL MEETING
May 23, 2021
President Clifford Currie declared a quorum and the Annual Meeting of the Corinth Cemetery Association was called to order at 2:07 pm. Clifford Currie led an opening prayer. Directors present were Clifford Currie, Mike Curry, Danny Gallant, Jerry Morgan, Pam King and Shannon Starr-O’Berry. John Morgan was absent. Eighteen Association members were present for the meeting.
The minutes of the May 2020 meeting were read and approved.
Motion to approve – Morris Luker
Second – Gaylon McClinton
Motion carried.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
President Currie introduced the Board members, explained their positions on the Board and expressed his appreciation for the Board’s work during the past year. He discussed the strange 2020 year we had all experienced with no Annual Meeting or in person regular board meetings. President Currie explained that someone was scheduled to do the repair work on the pavilion, but he had health issues and was not able to complete the work. No one else has been found who is willing and/or able to repair the pavilion. President Currie explained that the cemetery has been maintained as best as can be done due to a lot of rain last year with an unusual amount of graves that needed to be filled in.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Danny Gallant presented the financial report, explaining various expenditures over the past year. Belinda Vanglahn asked about the $100 charged by the funeral home for the grave opening in Corinth – where does it go? Danny explained that it goes to the Maintenance Fund. There was discussion about other cemeteries and their regulations for burials, the amount charged, and that income was all that the cemeteries had to maintain the cemeteries. There was discussion about the fact that the fee was raised from $35 to $100 a few years ago. The discussion was concluded as it was not part of the financial report and was moved to new business.
Motion to approve financial report – Belinda Vanglahn
Second -- Benny Curry
Motion carried.
HISTORICAL REPORT
Burials since the last annual meeting were Claudine Oswald, William “Bill” Ainsworth, Mae Belle Stepleton Dominy, Charline Harkins Sims, Maxine Rain Johnson, and Donale “Don” Beard.
President Currie asked the Association members to observe a moment of silence in honor of the lives of these family members.
MAINTENANCE/PROPERTY COMMITTEE REPORT
The cemetery was mowed five times this last year. There was storm damage, and there was no place to dispose of the debris. Thankfully, a neighbor allowed the debris to be dumped on their property. James Kelsey cleared up the cemetery after the snow earlier in the year. As previously mentioned, there were issues with graves sinking in because of the amount of rain. Morris Luker complimented Jerry Morgan on how well the cemetery was maintained.
NEW BUSINESS
The discussion about the $100 charged at the funeral home for the grave opening fee was re-opened. There was a discussion about the fee, why it was originally changed, and why there is not a higher charge. There was a discussion about why it was designated for the Maintenance Fund and why all donations are designated for the Maintenance Fund since there was plenty of income showing on the Treasurer Report. There was a question about using a CD for maintenance and another about the reason for donations and grave opening fees going to the Maintenance Fund since the financial report indicated that only $1,800 out of $2,400 available was used for maintenance. Danny commented that there was not a cushion, and that the Maintenance Fund was lean. A question was asked about using the $25,000 in total funds available, mostly in CDs, to fix the pavilion and for mowing. Danny stated that the Board started funneling donations to the Maintenance Fund several years ago and because of that, the Permanent Fund had not been added to recently. A question was asked regarding filing a claim on the insurance to get the pavilion fixed, and President Currie explained that the cemetery was covered with liability insurance only, which does not cover damage to structures.
President Currie called for discussion to end and asked for a motion.
Belinda Vanglahn made a motion to raise the Grave Opening Fee from $100 to $300.
Second – Virgil Curry
Motion carried
Virgil Curry asked when the increased Grave Opening Fee would go onto effect. It was agreed that the increase would be effective immediately and would go into the Maintenance Fund.
Then there was discussion about appointing someone to create a committee to get ideas and people to check and see what the cost would be to fix the pavilion or what needed to be done. That led into a discussion about cremation. If a family member is cremated, there is no charge to bury the ashes. Someone suggested that if you are occupying a plot, you should have to pay the same as if you had a casket buried. Jim Tom Ainsworth stated that there needed to be a change to the bylaws about urns and ashes. Discussion regarding the burial of ashes was tabled. The Board will consider the questions regarding the burial of ashes at the September meeting.
Jerry Morgan stated if someone had a question or a concern, they needed to contact a board member; the board would discuss the concern, and put the concern on the agenda for discussion at the Annual Meeting.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Mike Curry made a motion that the nominated board members, Pam King, Jerry Morgan and Danny Gallant be re-elected. Morris Luker made a motion that the nominees be re-elected by acclamation.
Wanda Stephens seconded.
Motion carried.
Morris Luker made a motion to adjourn.
Benny Curry seconded.
Meeting adjourned at 3:17 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Shannon Starr-O’Berry
Acting Secretary