By John Brice
Correspondent
Community leaders and local residents gathered for a dedication of the memorial gazebo and brick walkway of remembrance at Essie J. Handy Memorial Cemetery on B Street in LaFayette during the afternoon hours of Thursday, July 11th of 2024.
LaFayette native Albert Einstein Handy passed away at ninety-three years old this past January after having settled and spent much of his adult life in Westbury, New York where he met and married his wife Catherine who he started a family with as they both excelled in careers as school teachers. Catherine Handy was on hand to continue Albert’s work in support of the cemetery, visiting from New York alongside her daughter Cathy who resides in Baltimore, Maryland and was joined by husband Byron and their children.
Formerly serving as a LaFayette City Councilwoman in the district where the cemetery is located as well as having been its Historical Society Executive Director, Charlotte Blasingame emceed the event and welcomed the attendees who sat in chairs arranged under tents set beside the new gazebo.
Pastor Reverend Ed Vines led an invocation to start off the event and was followed by Miss Paulette Morse who provided a brief history of the cemetery. Mayor Kenneth Vines was up next to speak and subsequently Councilman Michael Ellis who is currently Cemetery Committee Chairperson addressed the audience. Superintendent of Cemeteries George Green, Vines Funeral Home President and Manager Merilyn Vines and Catherine Handy also spoke before the guests.
Powell Chapel United Methodist Church Pastor Kelsey Barnes led a ribbon cutting ceremony alongside members of the cemetery’s historical society and the guests of honor stood for a group portrait. Pastor Barnes then performed a benediction to close out the event.
In the official program for the ceremony, a message from Catherine Handy stated “At the time of the passing of my husband, Albert Handy, our families, friends and members of the LaFayette community wanted to know what they could do for us. Some donated to the Westbury Schools Retirees Association and subsequently two scholarships were given to graduating seniors from the Westbury High School where Al taught for 27 years. Others gave very generously to the Essie J. Handy Cemetery Association so that the beautification of the Handy Cemetery could continue. Today we are witnessing the love of the donors and the Committee as we dedicate this Gazebo to all of our loved ones who are interred here. May the Gazebo become a place of solace and comfort for all of us as we sit on a bench under the canopy and reflect on all that our loved ones did for us and meant to us.”
It went on to continue “The kindness and generosity of our donors enabled us to purchase the gazebo and brick walkway. We wish to thank Mr. George Green and his staff for assisting us throughout this project. The Handy family is especially grateful to the City of LaFayette for purchasing the additional land and paving roads in the cemetery so that families always have a beautiful place of rest for their loved ones.”
