PROJECTS.
Help MAGIC Preserve Highland Cemetery
GET INVOLVED IN A WORTHY INITIATIVE!
Highland Cemetery Preservation Group recognizes the importance of this cemetery and its relevance to Kansas City's history. There are many individuals who are friends, relatives, musicians, military, professionals and religious leaders, who were laid to rest, over the many decades of operation since 1909. Originally, the cemetery was designed for over 3,200 burial plots as a final resting place for many United States veterans, nationally renowned Jazz musicians including recording artist and band leader Bennie Moten and his family members. Physicians, surgeons, masonic orders; founders of Metropolitan Spiritual Church of Christ, founder of Sweet Hour of Prayer Temple, 2nd Baptist Church minister of Kansas City, and just everyday Kansas City citizens. Those who are buried at Highland Cemetery deserve so much better.
A preservation group, formerly headed by Pam Hider Johnson, Michael O'Shiver, and Jennifer Enderson, were working with the Jackson County Land Trust to bring the property out of receivership; to establish 501(c)3 status of the group; to mark and honor veterans' resting places; to restore the cemetery's appearance; to repair stones and fill-in sunken burial pits that have no concrete vault; and, to establish a plan for perpetual maintenance.
As of March 2019, the above part of the project is "on hold."
Meanwhile, we send Ms. Johnson and her family thoughts and prayers for her swift healing.
One aspect of the project that continues:
MAGIC joined the effort to transfer, preserve, and maintain extant burial records.
Further, MAGIC is working to produce a published index from these records.
Individuals accessing the published index may then be able to find their ancestors' burial locations.
For any questions, try e-mailing: [email protected]; or, calling: 816-810-9233 or 913-908-1791
A preservation group, formerly headed by Pam Hider Johnson, Michael O'Shiver, and Jennifer Enderson, were working with the Jackson County Land Trust to bring the property out of receivership; to establish 501(c)3 status of the group; to mark and honor veterans' resting places; to restore the cemetery's appearance; to repair stones and fill-in sunken burial pits that have no concrete vault; and, to establish a plan for perpetual maintenance.
As of March 2019, the above part of the project is "on hold."
Meanwhile, we send Ms. Johnson and her family thoughts and prayers for her swift healing.
One aspect of the project that continues:
MAGIC joined the effort to transfer, preserve, and maintain extant burial records.
Further, MAGIC is working to produce a published index from these records.
Individuals accessing the published index may then be able to find their ancestors' burial locations.
For any questions, try e-mailing: [email protected]; or, calling: 816-810-9233 or 913-908-1791
In 2017, MAGIC began a long term collaboration with Highland Cemetery Preservation group. The preservation group, Jackson County Parks and Recreation, James David Carmichael and Barbara Mcadams (who took and posted the images below on the Highland Cemetery Preservation Facebook page), Jackson County Land Trust, and students from Kansas City schools, have all taken monumental steps to "making things right" with regard to Highland Cemetery.
We Want YOU!
Start by learning more at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1506358342959045/photos/
and
https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/29293/highland-cemetery?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1506358342959045/photos/
and
https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/29293/highland-cemetery?
Then, pledge a contribution to help the monumental efforts:
https://www.gofundme.com/highland-cemetery-preservation
https://www.gofundme.com/highland-cemetery-preservation