Community Comes Together to Raise Over $3,500 for Preservation of Historic Mt. Olive Cemetery

May 28

On Tuesday, March 24, 2026, Madison ROOTS hosted hosted its Fourth Annual Soup Supper Fundraiser at Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church supporting the preservation and beautification of Historic Mt. Olive Cemetery. Originally scheduled for February, the event was postponed due to snow but the rescheduled gathering brought a standing-room-only crowd, reflecting the strength of growing community support behind this effort.

A Record-Breaking Evening of Community Support

This year’s event marked a new record in the fundraiser’s four-year history, raising more than $3,500 for the continued preservation of Historic Mt. Olive Cemetery. That brings the four-year total to nearly $14,000 raised in support of ongoing maintenance, beautification, and remembrance efforts.

Guests gathered for a warm meal, fellowship, and a shared commitment to preserving an important piece of local history. With every bowl served, donation made and conversation shared, the evening reflected the power of community and the importance of honoring the past.

About Mt. Olive Cemetery in Mars Hill

Founded in 1936, the Mount Olive Cemetery was purchased from the County School Board and is located adjacent to the Historic Anderson-Rosenwald School. The cemetery serves as the final resting place for generations of community members, including the descendants of Mr. Joseph Anderson, one of the founders of Mars Hill University, and Ms. Viola King Barnette, whose advocacy helped ensure that all children across North Carolina could access public secondary education.

Preserving Historic Mt. Olive Cemetery is about more than caring for a physical site. It is about safeguarding stories, honoring community leaders, and ensuring future generations can learn from those whose lives helped shape Mars Hill and Madison County.

The overwhelming turnout on March 24 made one thing clear: this work matters, and the community is showing up in a big way.

Thank You for Your Support

To everyone who attended, donated, baked, volunteered and helped make this event possible, thank you. Your generosity made this year’s Soup Supper the most successful yet.

Together, we are preserving more than a cemetery. We are preserving history, memory, and community.

A special thank you to our volunteers and our supporters for their generous donations, contributions and support of the Mt. Olive Cemetery: