LEWISVILLE, Texas — Since it's re-discovery of sorts, improvements have come to the Champion-Macedonia Cemetery, a historic Black cemetery just a few yards from I-35 in Lewisville.
But a year-and-a half after that first MLK Day cleanup effort, the cemetery is still a small L-shaped grove of trees surrounded by a freeway, a car dealership, delivery warehouses and plenty of modern neglect.
So a new "champion" is stepping up next.
"It's hard because I don't know much about it. And it hurts that I don't. Because I should know more," said Victoria Myers, a 17-year-old Girl Scout who has decided to make the cemetery her Gold Award project, an effort to help fix a community problem and "make a lasting change in the world."
She and her mom Delores Myers admit they didn't know much about the cemetery until they saw coverage of the previous cleanup efforts on TV.
"And there's no information on them. Just what you see here, born and died," Delores Myers said standing next to a grave from the 1800's.
Many of the graves, dating back to slavery, are marked only with blank stones and with sticks tied in the form of crosses. Other graves are believed unmarked entirely.
"I might be stepping on one right now. That's the crazy part, "Victoria Myers said. "I don't know who could be under here."
Her Girl Scout Gold Award project then, is to raise the $20,000 needed to replace chainlink with a proper iron fence, an entry-way arch bearing the cemetery name, better lighting, better landscaping and better respect. She calls her effort Project 80 Roots.
"To bring light to those who are buried here and those who may have been forgotten," she said.
Because, just as very little is known about someone named L.B. Berry, who died in 1897 at the age of 26, Victoria doesn't know much about her own heritage either -- where she came from.
"Just that mystery, is hard to live with," she said.
But, the stories buried here, maybe she can help resurrect them.
"Some people might be able to know their heritage. And if it's not me I hope I can bring that to someone else."
The grave marker for LB Berry reads - "This happy soul has winged its way to one pure bright eternal day." One of more than 100 souls a Girl Scout begs us not to forget.
"It was heartfelt to be here and to start learning the history of this place and the people, the people that are buried here," Delores Myers said. "It's a privilege to be here and just to give honor to them."