Cemetery Stroll on Sunday revives history

For the Madison City Historical Cemetery Stroll on Oct. 4 at Old Madison Cemetery, fifth- and sixth-graders from Horizon Elementary School will portray children of early Madison residents. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Madison pioneers, founders and their children will revive their stories during the Madison City Historical Cemetery Stroll on Oct. 4 at Old Madison Cemetery on Mill Road.

Katherine ‘Kati’ Bero has planned and is coordinating this free event from 2 to 4 p.m. as part of her project work to earn the Gold Award in Girl Scouts. Kati has enlisted student actors in fifth and sixth grades from Horizon Elementary School who are in classes with her mother, gifted specialist Beth Bero.

From fifth-grade, Thais Arslanbekov will portray Martha Cartwright. Other fifth-grade actors and characters are Marjie Baumback (Anna Corben), Aidian Reyes (James A. Watkins) and Tallulah Harlow (Elizabeth Fletcher).

Sixth-grade actors and their roles are D’Mar Tarront-Milton (Oscar Sullivan), Karen Romero (Nellie Sullivan), Reilly Stilwell (Louise Collier), Veronika Croan (Louise Collier’s maid), Adeline Barnes (Maddie Williams), Catherine Plott (Emma Whitworth), Liz Koifman and Bree Henson (Alabama Pocahontas Gewin), Cooper Skelley (James A. Watkins), Alia McGee (Martha Cartwright), Brooke Heath (Sarah Chilton Pickett) and Kaley Gilchrist (Elizabeth Fletcher).

“These children will dress in character portraying daughter/son or niece/nephew of an influential city business leader, founder, pioneer, judge or politician,” Kati said.

Kati said the success of the Cemetery Stroll depended on help from Heather Baumbach, who made the actors’ costumes; Beth Bero for help with coordinating the event; city historian John Rankin for factual biographies; Madison Station Historical Preservation Society; and Mayor Troy Trulock.

“And everyone else who helped and supported us for this event,” Kati said.

Kati is in Girl Scout Senior Troop 242. In other work to earn her Gold Award, Kati led a cleanup day at the cemetery in September. She also plans to present her work to Madison Board of Education for use as elementary curriculum.

Kati’s parents are Carl and Elizabeth Bero. Her sister Carolyn Bero graduated from the University of Alabama. Brother Chris is a senior at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.