2025 Autumn Fundraiser

Dear Friends of Lexington Odd Fellows Cemetery, Inc. (LOFC):

It has been a busy and productive year for Lexington Odd Fellows Cemetery (LOFC). Despite escalating maintenance costs, the cemetery grounds look quite beautiful, particularly with the approach of autumn. However, our mission -- to maintain and preserve our historic cemeteries -- is a 24/7 undertaking.

Our monthly expenses for mowing the grass, trimming around the graves, keeping the fence maintained and lines clear, removing any fallen trees or limbs, applying ant control treatment and removing dead flowers and debris from graves have increased to over $5,000 per month. In addition, we recently had to correct another erosion issue that cost $6,500. Our monthly expenses, which initially were approximately $4,000 per month, are now almost double or $8,000 per month. As I write, our donations at the end of July year-to-date were just over half of what they need to be at that point in time. LOFC is a private cemetery; therefore, we do not qualify for grants and are totally dependent on private donations. As a valued member of our community, we need your help to continue our work!

Last year I wrote to you about the importance of an endowment. Many of you responded with generous donations to help grow our endowment as well as assist with monthly maintenance. Several of you joined our Maintenance Club on our website contributing a certain amount monthly. Although our endowment continues to grow, we have not reached our goal of $1.5 million, to protect us during lean economic times. We do not want to invade our endowment, but if we do not receive sufficient donations to meet our expenses this year, we will have no alternative.

This year has also seen changes to our board. Sadly, Phil Cohen, who was a founding member died after bravely battling cancer. Phil was an essential member of LOFC and, as President of Temple Beth El Cemetery (TBEC), played a key role in the 2020 agreement that transferred TBEC’s maintenance and preservation to LOFC. In exchange, TBEC transferred $72,679.28 to the LOFC endowment. Replacing Phil’s unexpired term is Gina Hyman, who divides her time between residences in Dallas, Texas and Lexington. Gina is an accountant, so brings welcome talents to the board. Jonathan Barrett stepped down from the board because of his professional obligations, and Danny Pepper from Lexington took his place. Danny is a retired school administrator as well as retiring from the Mississippi National Guard as a Brigadier General. He has already earned his “wings” by being of invaluable help to Chris Hammett in continuing to map the cemetery.

We are also most grateful to Don Barrett, a generous donor, who has volunteered to pay for the restoration of damaged headstones in the old sections that have no surviving relatives. Yellow flags on graves show that the damaged headstones have been repaired or are planned for repair.

If you have not donated this calendar year, please consider doing so. You may either click on https://LexingtonOddFellowsCemetery.com/giving or mail a tax deductible check to LOFC, P. O. Box 1213, Lexington, MS 39095. If you are a member of either the TBEC or LOFC community, please consider donating, as LOFC maintains and preserves both cemeteries pursuant to our agreement. Although all donations go into a general fund supporting both cemeteries, if you would like to note that you are donating in memory or honor of a specific family or family member, you are welcome to do so. Thank you for being a part of our community and our continuing story.

With kind regards,

Amanda Povall Gibbs, Secretary
On Behalf of The Board of LOFC 

To Donate by check

Please mail your tax-deductible checks to:
Lexington Odd Fellows Cemetery, Inc.
PO Box 1213
Lexington, MS 39095-1213

To Donate online

CLICK HERE TO MAKE YOUR ONLINE DONATION

To Join the LOFC Maintenance Club
(Make a monthly recurring donation for ongoing maintenance)

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE MAINTENANCE CLUB

Lexington Odd Fellows Cemetery, Inc. is a 501(c)13 organization, and your gifts are deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.