Programs – Heirs of Mountain Home

This special place has been around since the early 1860’s. In the many decades that have passed, the looks of the building have changed, the number and size of the trees have changed, the condition of the roads have changed, and the number of graves have increased. So it is with the passage of time.

There are a few things that have not changed. The beauty of the sun as it rises from the East and sprays its light on the property as it breaks through the trees on its rise over the mountain, the striking colors from the West as the sun sets creating beautiful streams of gold, red, orange, purple, and pink just before twilight as the day comes to a close. The deep seeded bond felt by so many tied to each other through blood of family, the blood of Christ, or brotherly love which binds us together.

It may only be a few acres of ground, but it’s filled a rich history, love, heartfelt sentiments and tokens, markers made by hand out of love in the 1800’s and early 1900’s, markers that pay respect and show honor and thanks, and memories that will flood your soul if you but pause for a moment. Also over a hundred graves that do not tell who was laid to rest in that spot – identified by a simple stone. Looking at those stones makes you wonder who they are, who they were, could they be an ancestor? But even though we don’t know who they were, God knows. God knows their name, what they did and endured during their life, who was there to morn their death, who remembered them and the way they lived their life long after they were gone. And most of all, on Resurrection Morning, they will meet Jesus in the air and he will know them by name.

As with all things we do, it takes time and money to maintain buildings, empty land, and certainly a cemetery like Mountain Home. The costs of basic maintenance has increased year after year, while volunteers to help do the work have declined. As discussed in detail in our history pages, life is lived differently now than it was 50 years ago, and certainly different than over 150 years ago.

In the 1940’s and 1950’s, Decoration Day was held on May 30th. It did not matter what day of the week it was, on May 30th, everyone with ties to the cemetery or the church were found on that hillside. Several of Mariah Lee Ballard’s great-great-granddaughters, place homemade paper flowers on every grave. Flowers that their Mother cut out, and they curled the petals and leaves, and they helped their Mother put them together with a single strand of wire. On September 30, 1861, when Mariah Lee Ballard participated in the founding of the church at Chestnut Grove, she didn’t know over 80 years later her descendants would be honoring traditions she was part of establishing.

It’s been many years since Decoration Day was held on May 30th. It was changed to the Sunday before the National Holiday, Memorial Day. And today, the last of the 4th generation, and the 5th and 6th generations of Mariah Lee Ballard’s descendants still work at the cemetery, attend Decoration Day, and place flowers at many of the graves that occupy that beautiful hillside.

Mariah’s family are not alone in their efforts, there are dozens of families, many dating back to the founding generations who care for this place, and have a warm place in their heart for what Mountain Home represents.

The Heirs of Mountain Home was established to support the ongoing maintenance and betterment of the church building, all of the grounds, and the graves and their markers. Part of caring for the past is understanding it, and understanding how it affected not only that generation but also the next generations.

The seven programs that have been established are designed to accomplish everything needed to care for and maintain this place, and to learn what we can about the past, as well as to pay respects and give thanks.

There is work involved in caring for Mountain Home, but there is joy in spending time with family, neighbors, and friends while doing the work. Our ancestors made time to take care of the cemetery. And like them, as the Heirs of Mountain Home, we honor their commitment and their promise, and we invite others to join us in our efforts.