Group hopes to restore historic Joplin cemetery - KOAM TV 7

Members of the Paranormal Historical Preservation Society look to restore one of the oldest cemeteries in Jasper County, Missouri.

It is believed by many people and investigators the Peace Church Cemetery in Joplin is haunted and full of paranormal activity.

The body of the convicted serial killer, Billy Cook, is said to be buried near Peace Church and some say he still haunts the old cemetery.

But brush as tall as the tombstones currently cover the burial ground.

To ensure everyone who is underground is not neglected and rests in peace, paranormal investigator and founder of the Paranormal Historical Preservation Society (on Facebook), Kira Pfeifle, wants to clean up the historical landmark.

"We think it's an important part of Jasper County's history and we think we need to preserve it for other future generations to know about it as well as the history," says Pfeifle.

Headstones date back into the 1800's.  In addition to cook, many pioneers and soldiers were said to have been buried here.

Pfeifle showed us the Cook family plot.

"This is where Billy Cook's mother and father were buried, basically to the left of it all the way towards the back where the road widens is where we have a lot of activity."

While Pfeifle admits it was her passion for paranormal activity that led her to the cemetery, it was the neglect that really caught her attention.

"Right now we are in the process of getting a fundraiser started."

The group hopes to raise enough funds to smooth out a gravel road, repair some of the headstones and get rid of all the weeds.

"We are going to want people to come out to help de-weed it, plant trees, flowers, help fix the gravel road and the main entrance too," says Pfeifle.  "So we just need a lot of labor work."

Society members say the expect to have fundraising events in the next couple months.