Civil War Era Cemetery in Austin Gets Makeover
By: KXAN
Updated: February 15, 2013
(KXAN) Sue Spears noticed some grave markers near her Austin, Texas home 15 years ago when she used to see children play in a dirty overgrown lot near a school.
When she took a closer look, Spears noticed there was something special hidden under the weeds.
"You could see maybe one of the stones at the front," said Spears. "But I had no idea there was six acres of graves here."
What started as curiosity turned into a crusade. Cleaning up the Bethany Cemetery, which was founded in 1893, became a mission for Spears who says there is a lot of history still waiting to be uncovered.
"Once I started finding out that there was actually slaves buried here," said Spears, "it just had a place in my heart. ... I wanted it to have the respect and the dignity that you know those that have gone before us really deserve."
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