The Trustees of the Parks Cemetery on Wetzel-Tyler Ridge in Tyler County will be present at the cemetery Saturday, May 23, 2026 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. to answer questions, discuss perpetual care of the graves, explain future beautification and preservation projects and propose fundraising ideas.

Land was deeded in 1902 from L. W. and S. J. Parks, F. M. Parks, John W. Edwards and Elias Haught to create the burial ground, although there are several graves that date much earlier than that. Over the years, the original 15,000 square feet has expanded to 26,250 square feet with over 300 marked graves.

Recently, the trustees approved the use of Ground Penetrating Radar to identify marked and unmarked graves within the cemetery’s boundaries. Civil & Environmental Consultants Inc. of Bridgeport, WV completed the mapping in July 2024.

The Trustees have also discussed purchasing grave stones to compliment some of the oldest grave markers that are now nearly illegible or broken.

“Cemeteries contain a wealth of information for amateur genealogists and while Find-A-Grave and similar websites are helpful, they’re only as good as the information they are provided,” said Barbara Minor, secretary-treasurer of the Parks Cemetery Trustees. “If we are financially able to purchase new stones to compliment the worn stones, then family members and genealogists will benefit for decades to come.”

What originally began as a burial ground for members of the Parks family has now expanded to include residents of Wetzel-Tyler Ridge (formerly known as Eight Mile Ridge) and descendants. Family names include Haught, Lemasters, Tennant, Ferrell, Straight, Lancaster, Ring, Gorby, Lively and many others. The Parks Cemetery is the final resting place for many veterans of the Armed Forces who served in the past two centuries.

The main funding source for the perpetual care of these graves is donations.

“We have one of the best maintained cemeteries I’ve ever seen,” said James Lemasters, Parks Cemetery Vice-Chair. “Greg (Kirkhart) takes meticulous care of the graves and the grounds. You know, up around Wheeling, a lot of the cemeteries have gotten some negative publicity because of the lack of care; they can’t find anyone to do the mowing. But that’s not the case here.”

Trustees have discussed compiling information on the Parks Cemetery for the publication of a book to raise additional funds for the perpetual care of the graves and replacement of the broken and worn stones.

Meeting with members of the public on May 23, 2026 will help gauge interest in such an endeavor.