Holmes County Guardianship Program honors the forgotten

On Sunday, May 31 at Oak Hill Cemetery, the Volunteer Guardianship Program of Holmes County honored nearly six dozen overlooked lives by laying to rest their cremains during a ceremony.

Holmes County Probate Judge Thomas Lee served as the emcee of the event, one that featured a trio of speakers who helped paint a picture of why this event is so important.

Lee was joined by the other guardianship board members, several village and county administrators, and many others who came to pay their respects to the 71 souls being honored.

Lee thanked the many entities that have been involved with the five-year process of making this act a reality.

Lee connected this event to "The Gettysburg Address," where President Abraham Lincoln said, “It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.”

Lee said that perfectly captures the essence of why the board felt this act was so necessary.

Lee said the details of the 71 people’s lives are unknown, from their history and life story to how they lived their lives or how they ended up having never been claimed by loved ones.

The headstone details include each name, date of birth and date of passing.

“We don’t know their jobs. We don’t know their struggles, their wins and losses in life, or even how they died,” Lee said. “But we do know these were sons and daughters. They were fathers and mothers. They were brothers and sisters, and they all had their hopes and dreams. But most importantly, these folks were created by God in his image. He loved them and loves them still. For that reason it’s very important we do this and we honor, respect and recognize them.”

The ashes of the 71 Holmes County individuals who had passed away over the last half century were stored at Alexander Funeral Home in Millersburg, and the board felt a desire to provide them with a respectful burial site.

Lee said the cremains were unclaimed by family members at the time of their death, and it was only through the compassion of Ron Alexander at the funeral home that the remains were kept at all.

Pastor Ken Smailes of Killbuck United Methodist Church paid homage to those whose remains will now reside at the gravesite.

Smailes said it is important to never forget those who have passed away.

“These lives are about more than dates and dashes. Behind each name is a story,” Smailes said. “We may not know the details, but we aren’t just dedicating a monument. We are creating a permanent place of remembrance, recognizing that all are special to God. We all have value.”

He said this spot now serves as a quiet reminder that all people are created in the image of God.

He also spoke about how God commanded Joshua and the nation of Israel to build an altar in remembrance after crossing the Jordan River, noting it was for the generations to follow.

“I pray this monument serves as a reminder that these souls who called Holmes County home are not forgotten,” Smailes said.

Father Tom Gardner, former Catholic pastor in Millersburg who now resides over the mass at St. Francis de Sales in Newark, also offered words of comfort.

Gardner spoke about the song “How Great Thou Art” and led those present in the prayer for those who have passed in connecting them to God.

“The reason we do that is to connect our prayers to all the saints in heaven so that the Lord’s grace would draw those souls who have passed to himself and be purified in strength,” Gardner said.

A large marble headstone now denotes each person’s name, the year they were born and the year they passed. The headstone was paid for by funds provided by the Holmes County Commissioners, and Commissioner Dave Hall shared some words about why the commissioners felt a desire to support the endeavor.

“This was an opportunity for us as a county to give back to these individuals,” Hall said. “This is so peaceful here. They will be able to rest in peace.”

Lee said if someone ever wants to claim one of the loved ones, they may do so through the guardianship.

The area created for the site is a serene section of the southeast side of the cemetery, a resting place for the 71 cremated remains.