92-year-old resident urges county help to secure and repair Cottage Cemetery after storm damage

At the June 3 commission meeting, Augusta resident Anne Sherman, age 92, appealed to commissioners for help repairing gates and improving security at Cottage Cemetery following storm damage.

Sherman, who gave her address and described her long-standing interest in the cemetery, told the commission that a storm had damaged the cemetery’s access gates and weakened security, allowing people to enter the grounds. She said the cemetery—located at the corner of Marvin Griffin Road and Winesap Road—contains graves of early community members and that descendants and volunteers had raised funds and performed repairs but needed the county to replace gates and restore security.

“Both of the main gates and down that path are the responsibility of the county,” Sherman said, asking the commission to help obtain gates that would secure the cemetery. She said she had tried to reach officials previously by phone and letter and had not received responses that satisfied her.

Commissioners expressed concern and said staff would investigate. Mayor Garnett L. Johnson said he had not previously heard about Cottage Cemetery and told Sherman he had texted staff during the meeting to request follow-up. Commissioner Tony Lewis said he had tried to coordinate a meeting and asked Sherman about previous contact; he said he would continue to pursue the issue. Staff indicated they would look into the easement agreement Sherman referenced and explore repairs and options to secure the site.

No formal vote was taken; the mayor and commissioners instructed staff to review the cemetery’s easement and security needs and to report back to the commission.