Reported By  Heather Sorentrue

LAKE PANASOFFKEE -- Protesters came with signs and wearing red shirts, as a nod to the blood shed by many of the veterans who were laid to rest at the cemetery off County Road 529.
 
Historians also say the remains of African-Americans, including black slaves and Seminole Indians are located here.
 
But, for many in the crowd, including Ida Mae Mobley, digging up these graves is personal.

“Mrs. Mobley, she should be home having a cup of tea right now instead of being out here holding a sign saying please don't dig up my babies,” said Cynthia Martin, who has cousins buried at the cemetery.

“Just all the community support made the difference and they do listen when you speak loudly,” said Billy Ray, Sumter County Historical Society.

Commissioners were looking at digging up the graves because the cemetery is in an industrial park and they wanted to use the land to entice a business to the area.
 
But after the public outcry over the last three weeks, and a survey of the ground showing just how many people were buried there, they backed off.

Historians say one of the six marked graves in the entire cemetery belongs to a veteran of the Civil War. They say there are many veterans buried at the historic cemetery.  They believe there could be at least 70 people who were laid to rest there.

“It doesn't matter how many graves are there. It's the idea that they wanted to disturb their rest. I don't think anyone has the right to dig up someone, other than God. And I think it was unconscionable for them to even think of that,” Martin said.

While residents consider this a victory, they say Sumter County commissioners owe the families who have loved ones at the cemetery an apology for the last three weeks of worry that they have had to endure.

County commissioners voted to permanently set aside the land, and give it a bigger buffer in the industrial park. They say this way they won't face the same battle to preserve the historic cemetery down the road.