FORT WORTH, Texas — There's a renewed effort to find descendants of people buried at Lake Como Cemetery.
Glenda Tisby's family roots run deep in the Como community. Her siblings, cousins, and other family members agreed to meet her at the Lake Como Cemetery on Wednesday.
"I put the call out for everybody, and this is not all of us," said Tisby, "We love Como. We have been in Como all of our lives. We bleed Como."
Como is a historically African American neighborhood in West Fort Worth. Much of Tisby's family is buried at Lake Como Cemetery. After years of neglect, the cemetery is being brought back to life.
"All our ancestors are buried here and our baby brother who died on Christmas Day," Tisby said.
The Lake Como Cemetery Association gave several families a sneak preview of a much sought-after marker installed to show the cemetery is now designated a historical site.
Dozens of people, young and old, watched crews prep the spot for the marker at the cemetery entrance. Organizers hope to connect with all descendants.
Keisha Burke serves as a Trustee of the Lake Como Cemetery Association. She is coordinating with families interested in making sure loved ones' gravesites are properly marked.
"For any descendants, even if they are out of state, please have them reach out to us," Burke said.
Some headstones throughout the cemetery are still intact. However, others are knocked over, damaged, out of place, or missing.
Over the years the cemetery ground has shifted and has caused some underground movement that needs correction. Leslie Alaman whose grandfather donated the land will help oversee restoration.
"The markers and head markers that are somewhere in here buried and because of the rainwater they just sunk," Alaman said, "You could not tell it was a cemetery because the weeds were so high. Down at the far end of the field, there is shrubbery, and we have people who have volunteered to come and remove all of that."
The volunteers include Boy Scout Troop 50 who are helping with landscaping, clearing plots, and building wooden frames for concrete bench flats.
For the families, the restoration and historical designation is a way to preserve their past for future generations. Especially since there are several military veterans buried in the cemetery.
The Lake Como Cemetery Association hopes to partner with other community organizations for the upkeep of the property. They also hope the newly obtained historical designation sparks new interest from descendants in the Fort Worth area and around the country.
"We will bring this place back," Alaman said.