North Carolina Department of Correction news release

Probationers prepare Raleigh cemetery for holiday memorial service

DECEMBER 10, 1997

Raleigh - Thousands of candles that will light Montlawn cemetery grave sites for a special ceremony this Saturday will be put in place by probationers from the Wake County Day Incarceration Center.

"Probationers worked with our grounds people and filled bags with sand and placed candles in them," said Randy Hill of Montlawn Memorial Park located at 3201 South Wilmington Street. "Their work has been a help to our staff and hopefully has been a sobering experience for them."

Hill worked with Nate Gay of the Division of Adult Probation and Parole and Tom McLoughlin with the Wake County Day Incarceration Center to arrange for the probationers to work on the project. McLoughlin says 13 probationers worked at the cemetery last Friday preparing luminaries for the ceremony. He says they’ll return this Friday to help place a luminary at each gravesite.

"We’re glad to put the offenders to work to give a little bit back to the community," McLoughlin said. "The men enjoyed working outdoors and helping prepare the cemetery for the holiday program."

The Saturday afternoon ceremony will provide families a special opportunity to gather during the holiday to remember relatives buried there.