Great Things in Jacksonville

Great Things in Jacksonville Come be our partner. We need YOU to get things done. We produce completed projects of excellence fulfilling upon the needs of Jacksonville residents. We need YOU!

Great Things In Jacksonville holds dear our vision of creating a community of ‘DO’ers who will create, change and improve Jacksonville increasing livability and neighborliness for all. We are a cornerstone for positive growth and change. We do this by working in teams and partnerships creating, funding, and completing exciting valuable projects within the city limits of Jacksonville. By utilizing

the talents of citizens and partnerships we will complete a variety of undertakings. There is no other group doing what we do. Our current projects include city beatification, creation of recreation areas, utilization of technology to access information, and creating groups of people willing to work to bring joy and excitement to our small town. Current statistics show Jacksonville has about a 25% rate of poverty and a very high rate of obesity across all age and socioeconomic groups. Our city schools have enrollments at all-time highs. As a result of Covid there is pent up demand with young families and other groups who are ready to get outside, meet their neighbors and friends creating a dynamic community. Our projects will impact these groups and benefit our local businesses. We are tackling projects the community has often talked about doing. Imagine groups of children enjoying community gaming days. Imagine watching our community enjoying welcoming street art murals and taking selfies to share. How about the joy when a person in a wheelchair can enjoy a swing set built with them in mind? What would happen with a nice dog park built for people and their dogs to play? We can create these types of projects, but not alone. Your partnership with Great Things In Jacksonville can build a better Jacksonville. Together, in PARTNERSHIP, we can do this. Here’s how, its easy. Stop in at 9 Public Square in Jacksonville or mail your donation to Farmers Insurance, Attention Great Things In Jacksonville, 9 Public Square East, Jacksonville, AL 36265. Send us a message if you’d like to participate as a volunteer or become a board member. YOU can make great things happen in Jacksonville.

06/14/2026
Jim and Dee Dee have been busy with a number of PRIVETT family headstones. They scrubbed with a special soap then follow...
06/14/2026

Jim and Dee Dee have been busy with a number of PRIVETT family headstones. They scrubbed with a special soap then followed up with the Endurance wash. Now you can read them and the stones are continuing to evolve.

They’ve been busy on other areas as well and their I CARE ATTITUDE is making a big difference. If you see em, wave….

If you are at the 4 way stop on Church and the cemetery check out the stones which as of 6/14 look brown/ gold. Those ju...
06/14/2026

If you are at the 4 way stop on Church and the cemetery check out the stones which as of 6/14 look brown/ gold. Those just got the start of their ‘spa treatment.’ Over the next few days they will evolve on their way to looking clean and restored!

Also, a pink flag means this is a stone volunteers can start, yellow means cleaning/data collection has begun.

06/14/2026

Great Things in Jacksonville proposed Tuesday, May 26 to City Council that a Safe Haven Baby Box be installed at the new fire station being built on the north side

06/14/2026

I want to share this with you all. I think there is inspiration in her work that may apply to our Historic Cemetery Renovation project.

Here is the FRANCIS monument from 6/6 and again on 6/13. Coming along nicely!
06/13/2026

Here is the FRANCIS monument from 6/6 and again on 6/13. Coming along nicely!

Heres a story I have been so anxious to share with you…..We spotted this gravesite before we even took on the project. I...
06/13/2026

Heres a story I have been so anxious to share with you…..

We spotted this gravesite before we even took on the project. Inside the fence it was so covered with privet and vines and old leaves you really couldn’t even see the stone let alone read it. So Connie and her friend Karen took this on and thought they found an archaeology project right at their fingertips!

Once they got a huge bag of debris out of there, they noticed that sticking out from under the edge of the upright stone, the white one, was just a funny area. Best way I can describe it. After close examination, they determined it was yet another headstone! So by walking the first one forward with a little help from Michael, they unearthed the smaller red one that you see in the photos.

A SECOND STONE WAS DIRECTLY UNDER THE OTHER STONE LAYING ON ITS FACE!

Turns out it was two siblings. Last name was MATHEWS. It’s hard to see on the stones since both of them are rather worn the date of death, etc.

Johnne died in 1884. The smaller one is Amanda Matthews and the larger one is her older brother Johnnie Miles Matthews. He dies the month before she was born. The big clue in the white stone was the lamb at the top, common on infant/children’s graves. I will update this post if the stones change enough to read them better.

Is there any MATHEWS FAMILY AROUND WHO MIHHT KNOW ANYTHING MORE?

This is an excellent example of a servants heart and flexing their “I care about my community” muscle. All the Great Things In Jacksonville volunteers make us proud and we are thankful for all of you.

Please post your comments on the fine work being done!

David look at your stones! 6/6 to 6/13
06/13/2026

David look at your stones! 6/6 to 6/13

Do you have a pop up shade tent we can use for our Cemetery Restoration project?With it getting hot and sunny we could s...
06/12/2026

Do you have a pop up shade tent we can use for our Cemetery Restoration project?

With it getting hot and sunny we could sure use the shade for our volunteers? Ive posted a generic photo just so you can see what I'm referencing.

UPDATE: with it getting hot, we can certainly meet much earlier than 9. Just ket us know if you’d like to begin earlier...
06/11/2026

UPDATE: with it getting hot, we can certainly meet much earlier than 9. Just ket us know if you’d like to begin earlier, we are early risers!

The Jacksonville City Cemetery Restoration Project will hold a volunteer work day on SATURDAY, JUNE 20, from 9:00 AM until about noon-ish.

We will be working in Section A, the oldest part of the cemetery, beginning near the Pelham monument and working outward from there.

Our focus will be:
✅ Learning the cleaning process, and tackling as many stones as we can, starting with the worst ones.
✅ Having a little fun while preserving Jacksonville history.
No experience is necessary. We will provide instruction, supplies, and guidance.

Please wear:
• Closed-toe shoes (no sandals)
• Clothes that can get dirty
• Eye protection
• A hat and water bottle are recommended, maybe bug spray and sunscreen.

****DO YOU HAVE ONE OF THOSE POP UP SHADE TENTS? PLEASE BRING IT IF YOU WOULD SO WE HAVE MORE SHADE TO WORK IN THAT MORNING.*****

If you have any soft brushes, clean paint stirring sticks, or garden pump sprayers to donate, please bring those also.

This may involve working around some hazardous stones, so this may not be appropriate for your children, There will be a release form to sign to participate.

*****If you have ancestors buried in SECTION A and would like to work on their stones as a family project, please let us know. We are happy to help with materials and guidance. ****** We need to hear from you your specifics asap.

This is a unique opportunity to help preserve one of Jacksonville's most historic places while creating a lasting record for future generations.

Come spend a few hours with us, meet some great people, and help make a difference in our community.
📍 Jacksonville City Cemetery – Section A
📅 Saturday, June 20
⏰ 9:00 AM until noon (or thereabouts!)

Watch this page for updates, and feel free to invite a friend!

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Jacksonville, AL
36265

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