Minutes
Wimberley Cemetery Association
Annual Meeting
February 24, 2024
DRAFT
Packets with the Agenda, the 2023 minutes and the 2023 financial report were distributed as the
members registered.
President Joe Pendleton welcomed everyone to the meeting and encouraged comments/discussion
from the group throughout the meeting and thanked them all for coming. Next, he introduced the
current Officers and Trustees.
President: Joe Pendleton Trustees: Carmen Polhemus
Vice President: Carroll Czichos Kelley Shand
Secretary: Nancy Kyle Mario Perez
Treasurer: Diane Pollard Matt Meeks (absent)
Minutes: Joe asked for a motion to dispense the reading of the minutes and asked if there were any
corrections to the minutes. Mac McCullough made a motion that the minutes be approved as presented
and Paul Dunn provided the second. The minutes were approved.
Nancy asked everyone to please state their name before speaking because she is writing and not looking
at who’s talking, plus she doesn’t know everyone’s name! Joe told everyone that if they have any
questions throughout the meeting, please do not hesitate to raise their hand and ask.
Summary of Burials, Plot/Niche Assignments & Available Plots: Joe reported that we had 18 full burials
and 19 cremation burials. Of those 19 cremations 3 were inurnments into the columbarium. About a
50:50 split unlike last year where there were 13 full burials and 27 cremation burials. The plots assigned
were 12 (10x10), 10 (5x10), 6 (5x5) and 4 (Niches). There were 4 plot relinquishments back to the cemetery and all were 10x10’s. With the move of the south fence and finding a few spots in other
sections, we have increased our plots by 37 (10x10), 25 (5x10), and 30 (5x5) plots. Out of these plots, in
the South section alone there are 34 (10x10), 13 (5x10) and 30 (5x5) plots. The total available plots
currently are 33 (10x10), 12 (5x10), 68 (5x5) and 151 (Niches).
Summary of Projects from 2023 (With Slide Show presentation):
Ice Storm: Pictures were shown as Joe explained the damage that was done to the trees and
the fence. The fence was damaged in 2 places and ended up costing $1,200 for repairs. Our deductible
is $1,000 so no claim was issued. Bartlett Tree Service put in a bid of $7,000 to clean up the debris,
remove broken tree limbs and a couple of trees. Since our budget is $4,000 without a full membership
vote, the job was broken up into 2 parts. $4,000 was spent first for the debris removal that was on the
ground by another debris removal company since Bartlett was booked up. Then much later because of
so many people needing help in the community, Bartlett Tree Service came in to remove many broken
limbs, a couple of dead cedars along with created debris from all the trimming which cost $3,929. No
oaks were lost. So, the overall cost for the fence and tree cleanup was $9,129.48. Because of the
constraints of the $4,000 budget, we asked the membership during last year’s annual meeting (which
was after the ice storm) if we could raise that amount to $10,000 and it was approved.
South Fence: Pictures were shown of this new area. There are plans to plant Lantana along the
inside of the new fence line. The original cedar posts were integrated into the new wrought iron fence
line. The cedar post dates back to before the cyclone fence was put in, so we are thrilled that the post
has been saved. Crushed granite was placed on the roads too. Unfortunately, not long after the fence
was completed a big box truck was turning around and backed into the fence and caused damage
totaling $692. Again, not enough to claim on insurance. The estimated cost of the new fence was
$27,920 and the actual cost was $28,670. We ended up with more plots than we anticipated:
Estimated: 25 (10x10) Actual: 34 (10x10)
8 (5x10) 13 (5x10)
Several (5x5) 30 (5x5)
We have already assigned 5 (10x10) plots and 2 (5x10) plots in the new South section. Matt Dunn asked
if we have room to expand more and Joe said that there is nowhere to expand to, we are out of land.
He also asked about the plot distance from tree roots and Joe said that we typically stay about 15 feet
from roots except for cremation burial plots. We have several areas that are designated for cremation
only because of tree roots. Joe thanked Paul & Carmen Polhemus for all their work in helping to mark
the new plots in the South section, he couldn’t have done it without them. Carmen gave more credit to
her husband, she said she only held the dummy end of the tape measure … hahaha!!! She really does
more than she gives herself credit for. It was a lot of work and Joe was very appreciative.
Columbarium: More pictures shown while Joe explained what all is included in the purchase of
a niche at the Columbarium. The niche includes 2 urns, the engraving of the front tile, the engraving of
plaques for the inside door and for each urn. There is also a key to the door that is given to the assigned
member. The Cemetery keeps a key too. There are 149 niches still available, 11 have been assigned.
Carroll mentioned that to get to a niche further down the column, all the tiles in that column must be
slid upwards to get to the appropriate niche. They must be put back in order because they may not fit
otherwise, and they are also numbered on the back to ensure this happens.
Unfinished Business:
Marking of Known, but unmarked graves: Joe reported that 30 permanent markers have been
installed. They are 8”x16” stone markers and one was on display at the meeting. Tri-County is handling
all the engraving, and they donated the first 10 markers. The cost for the rest is $95 each. Twenty-three
letters have been sent out to members who have not marked their plots for over 3 years, and we have
received $100 checks from 8 people so far. There are some plots that have no family contacts, and the
cemetery is going to handle some of those. Pictures were shown of the temporary markers and the
permanent markers. The slide show continued showing pictures of the Unknown Burial Memorial and
some of the stones throughout the cemetery representing unknown burials.
More pictures were shown of the Pavilion while Joe explained what is posted at the Pavilion. There is
Information about the Cemetery, a contact list, and a cost sheet of plot/niche assignments. He also
explained how to find your plot from the spreadsheets and the map. There is a list of burials and a list of
members with the plot number and grid. From this information you can look up on the map to pinpoint
its location. There is an explanation posted to tell you how to look the plot up. The pavilion map has
been used a lot by people coming out to visit and we’ve received many compliments on the Pavilion.
Peggy Jo Kendall asked if the map was on the website and Joe said Yes, just below the plot list.
The last picture on the slide show was a headstone of “Billy the Kid” from Fort Sumner in New Mexico.
It has a framework around it that is locked so no one can steal the headstone. Their cemetery has had
issues in the past with this headstone. Carroll thanked Kelley for taking a lot of these pics for the
presentation. This concluded the slide show.
Recovery of abandoned Plots: Joe reported that letters are being sent out to see if these
unused plots are still needed or would they like to relinquish them back to the cemetery. We have no
contact information for some of these members. To recover plots with no contact available we must
follow the Texas Health & Safety Code (114.003) and send out a registered letter to the last known
address and post a statement in the newspaper asking for contact information which will remain in the
paper for 4 weeks. If no response is received, then we can take this to court to have them declared
abandoned. Joe went through a long process trying to figure out which court would handle this for us.
He started with Judge Cable, then to the County Court, then to the District Court and finally the
Cemetery Association of Texas. No one had an answer as to who should handle this situation, so they
suggested going to Attorney Joe Malone to see how we can handle the abandonment issue. After a few
months he couldn’t find an answer. So, Carroll talked with Judge Cable about not having any luck and
when the Judge realized it wasn’t a land deal, he said that he would take care of it! So, now we have the
right direction for handling this through the court. We have declared 2 plots abandoned at this time,
but the Judge said not to bury anyone there for at least 6 months. Joe went on to explain that when a
person dies and does not state in a Will who is entitled to use the plot then it goes by the Heirs at Law in
order of need. The Executor of the Will does not automatically get preference to the plot unless stated
in the Will.
History Committee Project: Carmen first wanted to thank and compliment Joe on his
dedication and time spent every day doing something at the Cemetery. He’s always saying “we”, but it’s
way more often just him that does the work! The Membership erupted with Applause. Carmen
explained that she has 4 different stories about the beginnings of the Cemetery and she’s working on a
fifth. She has an article about the Historical Marker that is placed at the front entrance. She said that
Joe found all the original deeds for the Cemetery. The Cemetery went through the hands of the
Saunders, the Dobies and then to the Cemetery Association. The Cemetery Association was founded in
1946 and the unincorporated non-profit organization 501 (c) (13) letter is in place. Carmen has gone
through all the minutes from 1969- 1991 to list all the Officers and Trustee’s. She said the meetings
originally were held only once a year, but since Joe became President, the meetings are regularly held
every month on the 2 nd Monday. A lot more is being accomplished with this new schedule. A team of
volunteers was created to help with finding the history of the people buried at the cemetery. They are
working on finding obituaries and any other information or articles they come across in their search.
Carmen wanted to give a special thanks to 4 women who have done a lot of work with the group, and
they are Diane Shofner, Diana Schindler, Mary Pendleton, and Diane Pollard. They have accumulated
information on 150 burials to date. Carmen went on to tell a personal story that touched her heart.
Back in September of 1946 there was a little girl that was stillborn, and the father took her little body
just inside the fence-line of the Wimberley Cemetery and buried her. Fast forward to 2005 when a man
and his 2 sisters came to the cemetery to find their little sister. Through the help of the cemetery, by
dousing the ground along the fence line, they were able to locate the burial and the family has since put
a headstone on her little grave. Just goes to show how important history can be and every grave is
personal. This history project has become so much more meaningful to everyone. Mac McCullough said
he was extremely grateful for the good work that has been done in maintaining the Cemetery.
Election of Officers/Trustees: Nominees are as follows:
President: Joe Pendleton Trustees: Kelley Shand (2yr term)
Vice President: Carroll Czichos Mario Perez (2yr term)
Secretary: Nancy Kyle
Treasurer: Diane Pollard
Joe presented the slate of officers/trustees that were up for re-election. All officers are up for a one-
year term. Joe asked for nominations from the floor for any officer position or Trustee position, there
were none. Matt McCullough moved that the Officers/Trustees as slated be elected for another term,
Walt Shofner provided the second. The Officers/Trustees were approved. All were re-elected. Joe
thanked the Board for their service.
New Business: Workdays – Work that needs to be done is cutting back the lantana, planting new
lantana along the new fence line (Kelley and her students will work on planting) and replacing trees
which will be put off for a while until the water restrictions are lifted. There is a volunteer list, and the
committee leader will reach out to the volunteers to set up workdays. When a date is decided it will be
posted on the Wimberley Cemetery website. Mary and Joe drive through the Cemetery almost daily
and one thing they try to do is to return flowers to hopefully the correct location. Joe said Mary is the
best at spotting flowers out of place. The wind and the deer are the biggest cause of this issue.
Joe explained that he finally found the source of the water leak, it was the cutoff valve that was leaking.
He fixed it and put a new pressure valve in place and lowered the pressure to 45 psi. The water is
currently off due to the stage 4 water restrictions. Carmen said that one of the projects could be
cleaning the headstones and Diane showed a cleaner that can be used. The name of the cleaner is D/2
Biological Solution.
Closing comments:
A question was raised, when was the first known burial: First burial was in 1871, a 25-year-old
named Elisa Brooks Ferguson.
Emma Davenport asked if there is a list of instructions on what to do when a person passes?
Carmen told her that there are books to be found that walk you through organizing your final
wishes and she can find several on Amazon. This will give one location for her children to go to
when necessary. Emma plans to have a green burial and she is having someone weave her a
coffin. She also asked if the family could transport the body to the Cemetery and the answer is
yes. The body must be buried within 24 hours of death for a green burial.
Linda McDowell asked about an unassisted death. If you die at home the Justice of the Peace or
a medical professional will need to come declare the person deceased and determine if an
autopsy is necessary.
Peggy Jo Kendall asked if there any indigenous burials at the cemetery because there are some
segregated areas at other cemeteries. There are no segregated parts in the Wimberley
Cemetery. Carmen said that at one time there was a section called “Viva de Mexico”. But, after
doing ground penetrating radar there were a lot of gaps in the area that could be used for plots.
The designation “Viva de Mexico” was then removed.
Jerry Roberts moved the meeting to be adjourned. Walt Shofner provided the second. The meeting
was adjourned.