Needmore Cemetery Represents Thriving Area Lost To History   Clyde Smith Saved a Part of Nicholas County's Heritage for Future Generations to enjoy. by Barbara Smith - 2009 Photo courtesy of Leona Smith   Rick Smith placed, in honor of his father, Clyde Smith, The American Flag, a bench, and a beautiful sign where the Needmore Church once stood in Nicholas County, Kentucky, in 2008. Clyde worked many hours on clearing the Needmore Cemetery which is located behind where the church was located. Because of an amazing man, Clyde Smith, a small cemetery, with around 80 gravesites, has survived and has become a showplace. No one has been buried there in over 36 years, but it didn't matter to Clyde. He wanted to save some of Kentucky's heritage for furture generations to learn from and enjoy. On this very spot used to stand a small country church, which was established in the 1800's, where all were welcome to Sunday services to worship, sing, and socialize. Over the years the church has disappeared due to nature and neglect, but the cemetery remains. The project took four years to complete, with a lot of help from family and friends. Even a church youth group came and offered help when Clyde first started the clean up. Clyde worked effortlessly on cleaning and clearing until all the graves had been uncovered and repaired, and then he was diagnosed with cancer. Even after his surgery and radiation treatments, he continued to keep up with the mowing, cleaning up of fallen branches, and even leveled the ground where the church once stood. He never asked of anyone to help with the cost of gas, the grass seed, or anything else. He did it out of repect. It was his way of giving something back to where he was reared and where he reared his children. Clyde died in July of 2008. He was the angel who watched over and made sure the cemetery stayed preserved. It was one of his last wishes for the family to continue doing what he started. Since his death his beloved wife, Leona Smith, and his children: Rick, Vickie, Mike, Jo Ann, Jesse, and William, along with his grandchildren have taken on his request. Rick has placed an American Flag, a bench, and a beautiful sign on the place where the church stood, in honor of his father. Clyde was a unselfish man and his family feels he should be recongnized, not only for this unselfish deed but for everything he accomplished over the years. He was an Army veteran, a wonderful neighbor, a forever friend, an honest and hard worker, a farmer, a wonderful husband, and an extraordinary father and grandfather. His family misses him very much, but we all know he is finally taking time to rest. If any readers are ever in the neck of the woods in Nicholas County and are looking for some history or just out for a country drive, come see the Needmore Cemetery and reflect on time gone by. It is hoped that Clyde Smith will be remembered for wanting to save the past for all to see and enjoy, and that this might inspire others to do the same. Leona Smith, 4389 Sugar Creek Road, Carlisle, Ky. 40311, submits this article for readers to enjoy.

The Needmore Cemetery as it appears today. The cemetery is all that's visible of what once was a thriving community.

This information and pictures came from
Kentucky Explorer Magazine   Volume 24, No. 2 -- June 2009
it was on pages 17 and 18.