In response to numerous requests for information about ancestors graves, location of cemeteries and preservation of Union County cemeteries, the County Historian, Bonnie Heiskell Peters in June of 1999, requested the County Executive - now County Mayor, Larry Lay, to appoint an exploratory committee to undertake the formation of a Union County Cemeteries Association with the mission:

To actively seek ways to preserve these historic cemeteries sites and to make recommendations to the County Executive on a variety of preservation, restoration, maintenance, and perpetual care needs.

A group of interested person began meeting each month. Workshops were scheduled for drafting a charter and by laws. Attending these workshops were Robert and Ollie Ellison, Linda Coppock, Martha Carter, Bonnie Peters, Ellen Perry, Lula Clevenger and John and Mary Ann Cabage. Officers were elected. The UCCA was chartered by the State on March 14, 2001. Board members were elected at the annual meeting on May 19, 2001. The UCCA was given a 501(c) 4 classification by the IRS.

About eighty UCCA members and other volunteers revisited and catalogued 331 cemeteries including (GPS) readings. Of these cemeteries 129 were located since the previous edition of FOOTPRINTS. This information was given to the Union County Historical Society and they published it in a third edition of FOOTPRINTS, UNION COUNTY CEMETERIES.

UCCA members have spent many hours working on the clearing of cemeteries throughout Union County. The UCCA worked with the State Forestry Division and Joe Elkins, who put cemeteries in the Chuck Swan WMA on a map.

The UCCA has aggressively worked toward getting signs on as many Union County cemeteries as possible. We are happy to report that only a few cemeteries are without signs now.

In order to educate persons and to keep our members informed on what the Union Counties Cemeteries Association is doing, a website has been created at:  http://www.usgennet.org/usa/tn/county/union2/

The Fieldstone, Newsletter of the Union County Cemeteries Association is mailed twice a year. A number of fundraisers have been held by the UCCA, also

The UCCA has members from all across the country who are interested in the preservation of the graves of their ancestors and loved ones. They have supported the UCCA by memberships and contributions. If you are not a member and would like to join us, annual memberships are $10.00 per person.