January 2025 Minutes of Zion Cemetery Preservation & Maintenance Society Board Meeting

Regular Board Meeting Thursday, January 16, 2025 - 4:31PM

CALL TO ORDER
Fred Hearns called the meeting to order.
Board Members Present: Fred Hearns, Leroy Moore, Reva Iman, Woodrow Simmons, Michael Randolph,
Jeraldine Williams, Kiah Wilson
Board Members Absent: Byron Pressley, Robin Lockett
Non-Board Members Present: Ronan Barnes (PMG), Rose Lugo (THA), Billy Somerville (TBHC)

APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approval of the minutes from the Board meeting of December 19
th was motioned, seconded and approved
by unanimous vote of the board.

PUBLIC COMMENT
NAACP - The President of NAACP, Yvette Lewis, sent a letter to the Zion Cemetery Preservation and
Maintenance Society, requesting the board's 2024 meeting minutes and future invites to board meetings.
Ronan Barnes - Ronan Barnes provided an update on Robles Park Village Redevelopment. Ronan reported
that one of the phases, which consists of two hundred twenty (220) apartments on the corner of Lake and
Avon, will be funded by Florida Housing Finance Corporation.

SUMMARY
The meeting began with Fred Hearns opening the floor for public comments. A public comment, in the form of a
letter, from the NAACP. An agreement was made for Leroy Moore to respond to the letter from the NAACP, via
email, honoring the request listed in the letter.
Mr. Hearns continued by requesting approval of the board meeting minutes from December 19, 2024. All approved.
Fred Hearns resumed by providing updates on old business, starting with the historic marker signage and
installation; giving the floor to Billy Somerville.
Billy Somerville introduced himself as the Director of Marketing and Communications at Tampa Bay History
Center. Mr. Somerville shared that he and his team are working on the marker dedication for Zion Cemetery. He
has visited the physical site and has created a plan, which includes the help of Rose Lugo, Director of Public
Relations & Strategic Commutations at Tampa Housing Authority.
Fred Hearns shared that the marker signage and installation ceremony can be held at Sacred Heart and is an option
to consider that will safely allow more space.

Rose Lugo confirmed that Sacred Heart welcomes Zion Cemetery Preservation & Maintenance Society to host the
marker installation at their location. Rose Lugo continued with sharing the names of city and county representatives
she has sent the event invitation to. She proceeded with asking the board if there was anyone else who should be
invited to speak at the ceremony. Senator Darryl Rouson and State Representative Dianne Hart was suggested.
Zion Cemetery Preservation and Maintenance Society Board of Director, Jeraldine Williams, was also suggested
to speak at the ceremony as an active living descendant of a relative buried at Zion Cemetery.