Thrive
‘Theatrics:’ Gulfport dismisses St. Pete’s annexation efforts
“It’s their own in-house fighting that is preventing anything from moving forward.”
Gulfport Mayor Karen Love believes St. Petersburg officials recently pressured the pastor who oversees Lincoln Cemetery into supporting its annexation.
City Manager James O’Reilly said Gulfport is “becoming political fodder for things that are taking place” in St. Petersburg. The latter city sent the remains of Black pioneers to Lincoln Cemetery during segregation.
O’Reilly said Gulfport, at the behest of previous property owners, annexed the nearly century-old burial grounds in 1967. A resident, who said the city has a “moral imperative to act with dignity and urgency,” was the first to broach the topic at a city council meeting Tuesday evening.
Love subsequently pushed back against claims that “we’re somehow blocking de-annexation; that we refuse to go to nonexistent meetings.” She expressed a “real problem with that.”
“I feel like almost daily, nightly, I’m watching these political theatrics, which I don’t understand,” Love said. “And it’s not fair to the descendants, who would really like to get something moving.”
The latest chapter in Lincoln Cemetery’s saga stems from a Dec. 4 committee meeting. St. Petersburg officials invited Rev. Clarence Williams, who leads Cross and Anvil Human Services, to discuss long-proposed plans to reclaim the property.
Cross and Anvil took control of Lincoln Cemetery in 2023. Williams, a pastor at Greater Mount Zion AME Church, can no longer afford to continue maintaining and rebuilding the storm-damaged burial grounds, which opened in 1926 at 600 58th St. S.
In an Oct. 7 memo to the council, Mayor Ken Welch noted that he supports annexing the cemetery and has discussed the issue with his current and former colleagues in Gulfport. He pledged that St. Petersburg would work with Cross and Anvil and other stakeholders to “maintain the facility with the dignity it deserves.”
“Not one person from the council picked up the phone and has called me or reached out in any form or fashion,” Love said Tuesday. “Nobody from St. Petersburg has asked me to attend a meeting. Pastor Williams has not called me.”
Gulfport must initiate the de-annexation process. Cross and Anvil could also petition the city.
When asked Dec. 4 if he would support annexation, Williams paused and said he felt “wounded.” He explained that his immediate concern is finding the money to survey and restore burial plots, construct a security fence, remove hazardous trees and complete routine maintenance.
St. Petersburg cannot fund projects outside of the city, and Williams eventually offered his support for starting a lengthy annexation process. Love said Tuesday that Williams previously pledged to ask for help when needed, and she awaits the call.
Love considers it “silly” to discuss annexing Lincoln Cemetery with St. Petersburg officials before consulting with Williams. While she “heard what he said” at the committee meeting, “he was under no pressure when he was talking to me.”
“I felt like he was on trial watching it,” Love said of Williams. “It’s their (St. Petersburg) own in-house fighting that is preventing anything from moving forward.”
A map illustrating the boundary between St. Petersburg and Gulfport. Screengrab.
She subsequently noted that Welch reached out in June to gauge her support for annexing the cemetery. Love requested related documents, which Welch provided a few weeks later.
According to Love, the annexation documents stated, “No give-backs allowed.” She added that “now they want us to.” She believes it is “not in our best interest to hold that property back from these people.”
Gulfport will determine associated costs and “who’s going to pay it” once Williams petitions the city, Love said. “I do think that morally, it’s the right thing to do for the descendants, and it’s unfortunate … how it all ended up with us.”
O’Reilly said the cemetery’s plight is “obviously a political issue” in St. Petersburg. He believes some officials “want no part of this topic because it’s not politically beneficial.”
St. Petersburg council members unanimously approved a resolution Dec. 11 that advocates for Lincoln Cemetery’s annexation. “We’re getting pulled into something that I think is a lot different than what we’re truly trying to do here,” O’Reilly said Tuesday.
Gulfport Councilmember April Thanos disagreed with Love’s assertion that Williams was pressured into offering his support for annexation. “Mainly because they can’t afford to pay for the upkeep,” she explained, and St. Petersburg is “willing to pay.”
Multiple council members implored the administration to initiate the annexation process. O’Reilly said he and the city attorney would first “attempt” to schedule a meeting with Williams.
“Gulfport is getting a bad shake out of this,” Love concluded. “I don’t want to play that up, because it’s not nearly what the descendants have gone through over many, many years.”
Caron Schwartz
December 19, 2025at10:38 pm
The headline of the story is inflammatory and misleading. The headline should be “Gulfport waits for Lincoln Cemetery owner to request annexation.” The author buries the lede here to sensationalize what actually happened. I attended the Gulfport City Council meeting on December 16, where this discussion took place. No one in Gulfport is “dismissing” St. Pete’s annexation efforts. It’s up to the property owner to request annexation, and that hasn’t happened yet. Additionally, both the Gulfport City Manager and City Attorney stated that the issue is a property transaction that should not be politicized. Mayor Love is a strong advocate of property rights and will not take action without knowing the property owner’s true wishes. She is also sensitive to the suffering of the descendants and wants to alleviate their pain. You can watch the Gulfport City Council meeting on mygulfport.us.
Debra Schoofs
December 21, 2025at10:09 am
Caron, we are both Gulfport Residents and have met
Documented Facts for your reflection. AFTER Gulfport Mayor Karen met with St Petersburg Mayor Welch August,
City of St Petersburg Recorded August Mtg Employee James Corbett stated Karen was NOT SUPPORTING Lincoln Cemetery DeAnnex.
3/24/25 I met as a Constituent with Karen at Gulfport City Hall and Provided her Lincoln Cemetery 2Pg UNDATED NON Legally Compliant Annex Petition. Karen took a Page of Public Records Notes on a Yellow Legal Pad. Karen Has Refused to Provide Gulfport City Clerk her Public Records Notes Taken, though I have Requested.
Karen like all City Council Members have received Mayor Welch 2 pg September DeAnnex Supporting Memorandum and St Petersburg 12/11/25 DeAnnex Resoultion 2025-6011. Karen saying at Gulfport 12/16/25 Council Meeting Pastor Williams was Pressured by St Petersburg for DeAnnex is exactly why News Articles are Documenting her Dishonoring Errors to Descendants and their Civil Rights Leaders. Plus Slaves and Lynching Victims buried in 2 Mass Unmarked Graves at Lincoln Cemetery. Next step is a simple written DeAnnex consent as Property Owner Cross & Anvil Ministries/Pastor Williams. AND Karen keeping her mindless Thoughts to herself
Billy Miller
December 19, 2025at5:26 pm
This cemetery football has been kicked back n forth since I was a kid in the early 60’s. Always overgrown and poorly kept. You’d think the black community of churches would step up, but apparently few have. Ten years from now the same discussion will continue. Sorry, just my take.
S. Rose Smith-Hayes
December 19, 2025at10:52 am
Please let’s get this transfer of ownership done. I and others are ready to assist with donations to help fund this cause.
Salty Sol
December 19, 2025at10:17 am
St Petersburg should maintain Greenwood Cemetery if they are serious about their intentions.
Velva Heraty
December 19, 2025at9:07 am
Charlotte Ray. Please accept my deepest and most heartfelt condolences. It’s clear this is about land and not people. You point the way. 🌹
Charlotte Ray
December 18, 2025at9:32 pm
As I type a response to the issue at hand it’s with tears in my eyes. I was told 37 years ago at the age of 23(not knowing anything about cemeteries) that my son that drowned would be in a children’s area of this cemetery. I felt compelled to have him at Lincoln. Over the years I have been depressed at times seeing the up keep was no where what I expected. I have spent countless hours out there cleaning and weed eating on people I had no ideal of who was who. I was surprised on the last few trips at how decent it lookS. I have meet Pastor Williams out there and told him how much I appreciate what he has accomplished from removing trees to keeping the grass maintained. Saturday December 20th is my son’s birthday. I wish this could be handled without all the who’s right and who’s wrong. Like me the people should have a decent place to go visit their love ones that have passed on and have good memories. I have had to go pay someone to remove a tree that prevented me for even seeing my son’s grave. PLEASE stop this power struggle, it hurts families that can’t even find their love ones graves. By the way I clean all the kids around my son.
Debra Schoofs
December 18, 2025at7:31 pm
During Gulfport 12/16/25 Council Mtg Mayor Karen stated during Discussion follow Public Comments,
That the Afternoon of 12/16/25 She had Reviewed Lincoln Cemetery Annex Petition. YET she FAILED to Inform Gulfport Constituent’s Lincoln Cemetery Two Pg Annex Petition is not DATED and hence is NOT LEGALLY Compliant.
Debra Schoofs
December 19, 2025at12:32 pm
Gulfport Resident & Lincoln Cemetery Advocate,
Courtney Prokopas
Was Quoted in this article SPEAKING Up for the Moral Responsibility to DeAnnex Lincoln Cemetery outta of Historically Documented Sundowner Gulfport
Mac McLaughlin
December 18, 2025at5:46 pm
It is political only!!!