Help Maurice Save Monrovia Cemetery

Hello, my name is Maurice Lee, and I started this fundraiser to take care of the lawn maintenance and upkeep of Monrovia Cemetery in Charleston, South Carolina.

Monrovia Cemetery is a historic site established in 1872, making it 152 years old. Despite its age, people from all over the country still visit this cemetery daily to pay respects to their deceased loved ones. Unfortunately, for several years, the cemetery grounds have been neglected and unkempt. As a result, weeds have taken over, and the grass is extremely overgrown, making it unsafe for visitors to enter. Snakes, rats, and other undesirable animals have made it their home. Some graves are now buried under the overgrown grass, often making it impossible for family members to locate their loved one's gravesites.

This has been an ongoing issue and struggle for the family members and the community.

How I Got Involved With Monrovia Cemetery.

In September of 2022, my wife received a phone call concerning the horrible condition Monrovia Cemetery was in, in particular, her grandmother's grave could not be found even though the location was known. The grass and weeds had covered her grave completely.

That night my wife could not sleep thinking about what she had seen. So the next morning, I got up, went out to the graveyard, and cut and cleaned around my wife's grandmother's gravesite plus 18 other gravesites.

2023 Monrovia Cemetery Is A Non-Perpetual Care Cemetery.

In 2023 a sign was placed on the grounds of the cemetery informing family members that Monrovia Cemetery was a non-perpetual care cemetery and that they (The family members) were responsible for maintaining their loved ones' gravesites. This notice caused much confusion and frustration because according to family members, this was never told to them.

After hearing the stories, and seeing the sadness, and heartbreak that many members of the community were experiencing, I got involved and offered to cut gravesites for a very small fee to cover basic expenses. I did well during 2023 but there was and still is so much more that needs to be done at Monrovia Cemetery.

2024 We Need Funding.

I am asking for donations to properly fund this initiative.

All funds donated will go toward purchasing equipment like lawnmowers, string trimmers, protective gear, fuel, etc., and hiring dedicated crew members to ensure the graveyard is maintained continuously.

I have tried to maintain the cemetery myself while working a full-time job, but one person can't maintain 3.5 acres of land with the many obstacles and objects, which makes it nearly impossible to use regular lawn equipment.

However, with your generous contribution and collective help, I can organize a dedicated maintenance crew, and we can collectively Save Monrovia Cemetery.

Please help me Save Monrovia Cemetery and make it safe for our loved ones to visit once again.