Historic headstone refurbished at Bethel United cemetery

  • James Smith (from left), stands with Al Williams, Chuck Denmark, Jordan Thrasher and Derek Smith around the headstone of Thomas C. Strange, a Columbia County resident who was reportedly the first Confederate soldier killed in Florida during the Civil War. The Smiths are descendants of Strange, while Williams, Denmark and Thrasher serve as trustees for the cemetery. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)
    James Smith (from left), stands with Al Williams, Chuck Denmark, Jordan Thrasher and Derek Smith around the headstone of Thomas C. Strange, a Columbia County resident who was reportedly the first Confederate soldier killed in Florida during the Civil War. The Smiths are descendants of Strange, while Williams, Denmark and Thrasher serve as trustees for the cemetery. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

    Trustees at the Bethel United Methodist cemetery, Chuck Denmark and Al Williams noticed a problem.

    A number of the headstones in the cemetery were in a state of disrepair.

    “Most of them didn’t even have…