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“Show me your cemetery, and I will tell you about your town.”

That oft-referenced Benjamin Franklin quote is perhaps nowhere as on-point as in Natchez, where cemeteries like the Natchez City Cemetery, Beulah Cemetery and the Natchez National Cemetery hold the testaments to thousands of men, women and children who shaped our history and the built the foundations for our present and future.

And, it’s not surprising that here in Natchez we hold a particular appreciation for those cemeteries – touchstones of our communities that do, indeed, tell our stories for anyone who will listen.

The volunteer leaders of the Natchez Cemetery Association have long understood that importance and continue to work as stewards for the cemetery, working to maintain it today and ensure its future for generations to come.

An important step in that future was marked last weekend, as a new columbarium was officially dedicated at the cemetery.

This structure will provide a resting place for the cremated remains of up to 720 individuals. The columbarium reflects the growing practice of cremation instead of traditional burial, an important factor in a land-locked cemetery that has served its community for more than 200 years.

The columbarium project came to fruition thanks to the direction of Al Walker and Dianne Bunch; the work of and the generosity of hundreds of donors and supporters – with gifts both large and small. It’s an addition that ensures the cemetery’s continued role in telling the story of our community.

As Mayor Dan Gibson said at the dedication “Truly, the story of Natchez is right here where we are today. (The cemetery) honors and values our past and honors our diversity and our various cultures. … It shows lessons about building a community. … We learn that people of all walks of life contributed to the building of the rich, colorful and inspiring Natchez community that we all love.”