Nov 14, 2003 By Jennifer Harr 2 min read

In a little over two weeks, the Friends of the Fayette County Cemetery have collected more than the $3,000 needed to buy a granite angel monument to memorialize the children buried in the cemetery. President Roger Victor said the group received just under $3,400 in donations as of Thursday, including two $1,000 donations – one from funeral director Andy Ferguson, the other from Elmer and Nina Porter. Approximately 50 people sent in donations, including a woman in Michigan.

The money will go toward a 4-foot-high black granite angel to be placed in the Menallen Township cemetery. The monument is to memorialize the 738 youngsters buried by the county since 1930, when the cemetery was first stared, said Victor.

Of those children buried there, only two have headstones, said Victor. One of those children was buried in 1992, the other this year.

The angel, sold to the group at a reduced price by Marshall Monuments in Uniontown, will have a plaque placed on it with the “Now I lay me down to sleep” prayer many children say at bedtime.

“We want to thank all the generous people who donated,” said Elsie Dvorchak, the secretary/treasurer of the group.

But, said Dvorchak and Victor, they will still accept contributions from anyone who wishes to donate. Their goal is to try and buy headstones for the other 736 children buried without them, as well as to have funds in place for future pauper burials.

“We can still use this money in the near future if people continue to donate,” said Victor, noting that it is not up to the county to buy headstones for those buried in the cemetery.

While the monument should be ready sometime next week, Victor said that it won’t be installed until the weather cooperates. When it is, the donors who made the purchase possible will be invited to its dedication.

In addition to the children buried at the Fan Hollow Road cemetery, at least 7,000 adults have been laid to rest there, said Victor.