A dedication of a memorial stone placed at the Fayette City Cemetery acknowledging several unmarked graves in the area will take place at 3 p.m. on Friday, November 3. The dedication was originally scheduled for 1 p.m.

The graves were discovered in October 2021 when crews were replacing sewer pipes in the area between the cemetery fence and Highway 240 as it enters town.

Work immediately ceased, and the city was notified. A decayed wooden coffin was located approximately eight feet below ground level and within a few feet of the highway. Two more coffins are suspected to lie within inches of the exposed coffin but were left unearthed. 

Later observations with ground-penetrating radar suggested other coffins could be buried nearby.

The Fayette city council voted to place a memorial stone to recognize the unknown people buried there.

An anonymous donor has paid for the memorial stone, which has been inscribed and installed by Audsley Monument of Glasgow. The public is invited to a dedication ceremony at 3 p.m. on Friday, November 3. Those attending should park in the cemetery and not along the highway.