Talladega Commission approves relocation of forgotten cemetary

The Talladega County Commission unanimously approved a request by an Imerys representative to relocate a defunct cemetery in an extinct town during a commission meeting Monday evening.  Attorney Barry Vaughn, speaking on behalf of Imerys operating officer Craig Stickly, introduced an application for petition for grave removal at a historic cemetery near Gantts Quarry.  Stickly said Imerys expects to pledge more than $150,000 to pay the cost of relocating the cemetery. Vaughn stated the last time someone was buried in the cemetery was some time from the late 1800s to 1940s. Stickly explained the company was unaware it had purchased a plot of property containing the cemetery and had been using the area for other purposes prior to this discovery.  Vaughn said Imerys has gone through a lot of trouble trying to determine if anyone is still alive and listed who has family members buried in the Gantts Quarry cemetery, but so far, they’ve only found two.  Imerys has hired the University of Alabama’s Office of Archaeological Research to aid in the excavating, mapping and removal of the skeletal remains, coffins, vaults, coffin hardware and other related materials. Vaughn said“In their opinion, there are 15-25 gravesites there — maybe even more.Though the new cemetery site hasn’t been picked just yet, Stickly said he welcomed feedback from family members of the deceased to help determine the future site. Vaughn encouraged family members of individuals buried at Gantts Quarry to contact him