CHESAPEAKE, Va. — A final resting place for departed loved ones is now in need of care.
"It brings satisfaction to the families to know that there are people out there are people out there that still do care," said Tyler Gray, a member of the Community Resource Opportunity Project (CROP) Foundation.
Past President Will Bronson said the local nonprofit supports children and families.
"We're providing hunger and malnutrition relief to families across the area, we're... providing mentoring services... and then we're providing scholarships," said Bronson.
Delegate Cliff Hayes is on the board of directors and said he brought the idea to the group of beautifying a small, black-owned family cemetery in the South Norfolk section of Chesapeake.
"On the city's rolls, it's called the Old Anderson Family Cemetery, which was purchased in 1903," said Hayes. "Just across the street from this cemetery is where, as a young kid, I had a paper route in the community... but never knew that this was an African-American cemetery."
Member Daryl Jones said they don't know much about who's buried there, but it was clear their gravesites had fallen into disrepair.
"We saw grass up to waste level. We saw dead animals... it was nothing beautiful about that," said Jones.
After teaming up with the community for cleanup, Jones said the group plans to take charge of upkeep to honor the lives of those who have passed on.
"Once a month, every third Saturday, we will be heading out there to just make sure that it remains respectable, it remains clean," said Jones. "And it's amazing how we get the support, and how people have donated their lawn equipment and actually their two hands and feet, and actually coming out there to actually get the work done."
The Old Anderson Family Cemetery is located near the intersection of Kay Avenue & Franklin Street in Chesapeake. To learn more about the CROP Foundation, click here.