Wimberley Cemetery Association

Annual Membership Meeting

February 22, 2025

President Joe Pendleton welcomed the members and expressed appreciation for their

attendance in poor weather conditions.

Joe introduced the Officers and Trustees: Vice-President Carroll Czichos, Treasurer

Diane Pollard and Trustees: Kelley Shand, Mario Perez and Carmen Polhemus. He

recognized Secretary Nancy Kyle and Trustee Matt Meeks who were unable to attend

due to family commitments.

The 2024 Annual Meeting minutes were available to members prior to the meeting.

After allowing time for all members to read the minutes, Joe asked for changes or

questions. Kathy Gold moved that the minutes be approved as presented, Victoria

Virnelson provided the second and the minutes were approved.

The 2024 Financial report was also available prior to the meeting. Treasurer Diane

Pollard presented a summary.

Yvonne Thompson moved to accept the report with Kathy Gold and Susan Johnson

providing the second. The Financial report was approved.

Plot Inventory:

Joe reported on plot relinquishments and niche/plot assignments. The Association

obtained seven (7) relinquishments: one(1) 5’x10’ and six (6) 10’x10’. In Joe’s

explanation of assignments, Joe reminded the members that plots are not sold as real

estate but assigned when the Membership and Loving Care fees are paid. Plots are not

owned by members.

ASSIGNMENTS: Traditional plots (10’x10’) – Nine (9), Traditional plots (5’x10’)- 2,

Cremation plots (5’x5’)- Eight (8), Columbarium niches- Five (5).

Joe clarified that cremation interments could be done alongside traditional burials in the

same plot.

PLOTS/NICHES REMAINING: Most of the remaining plots are in the newer South

Section. 10’X10’- twenty-nine (29), 5’x10’ – eleven (11), cremation – sixty (60),

columbarium niches – one hundred, forty-six (146).

Patti Morgan asked what the fee is for a columbarium niche. Joe explained that the

$2900 fee was an all-inclusive fee for 2 inurnments, two urns, the brass plate identifying

the urn and the engraving on the external granite plate.

Updating general maintenance, Joe shared Kelley Shand and some of her students

from the Blanco River Academy planted lantana in the South Section and will plant

more in the spring. Bartlett Tree Company raised the canopies on the Heritage Oaks

(older oak trees) in the cemetery while doing other tree maintenance. The work cost

$3917.00. Taking care of the trees is a priority as expressed by the membership over

the years.

Joe reported that he had installed twenty (20) 8 inchx16 inch permanent markers on

known graves. Tri County Memorials donated ten (10) of the memorials, and after

contact, eight (8) of ten (10) families paid the $100.00 fee for their respective markers.

The recent policy change that families must place a permanent marker within three (3)

years of an interment has had the positive effect of fewer graves with no or temporary

markers.

Carmen reported on the progress of the history project after recognizing research

volunteers present at the meeting: Mario Perez, Diana Schindler and Mary Pendleton.

Of the initial 32 pages of burials, 20 pages have been distributed to project volunteers.

Thus far, five hundred and seventy-two (572) individuals have been memorialized in

some way. Carmen shared a brief newspaper article from 1888 that included the name

of the person buried but also gave a written picture of life in 1888 Wimberley. The

success of the project comes from the extra effort given by volunteers to take the steps

necessary to track information.

Joe presented the Bylaw change to add a Historian position to the Board of Trustees.

Susan Johnson moved to accept the change, seconded by Patti Morgan and Diana

Schindler. The Bylaw change was approved.

Joe presented the slate of 2025 Officers and Trustees:

Joe Pendleton – President

Carroll Czichos – Vice-President

Nancy Kyle – Secretary

Vanessa Jones – Treasurer

Carmen Polhemus – Historian

Diane Pollard – Trustee (two years)

Kelley Shand – Trustee (one year)

Mario Perez – Trustee (one year)

Matt Meeks – Trustee (two years)

Kathy Gold moved to accept the slate and Erin Pate provided the second. The 2025

slate was approved.

Victoria Virnelson asked if the tree on the plot adjoining her family plot was going to be

replaced. Joe explained that the young oak had died and was removed. The Board’s

decision was to make the plot available for burial and to not replace the tree. There was

no question regarding the decision.