The Time has Come.
Pictured above is the house where Rufus and Mary Paschel raised their 12 children and where a man who graciously served his community influenced a generation...
Who was Rufus Paschel?
Imagine being a 46 year old black man living in Montevallo, AL in 1951. You're married to a beautiful woman named Mary with whom you have 12 children. It's a strenuous time period in American History. The launch of the America's Civil Right's movement is afoot and you work as a plumber/electrician throughout your community. It's hard work but it's enough when combined with God's gifts to provide for your family. Everyone knows you and people tend to gravitate to your family when it comes time for folks to get together, especially since you've got some of the best barbecue in town and a garden to match. You're well respected in the community because you've helped plumb Montevallo's water filtration system, worked at the University of Montevallo and provided your expertise whenever you were called upon to help. Everyone loves you.
Rufus graciously served his community influenced a generation of individuals who would march in the Civil Right's Movement, become educators, soldiers, and community leaders throughout the state of Alabama and beyond. Rufus, like so many other African American men of his generation was an inspiration to his community and provided an excellent example of how a man should provide for his family and how we all have a responsibility to be the best that we can possibly be at whatever it is we do. He lived to be 64 before dying of pneumonia in the fall of 1970 but left behind a legacy that will not be forgotten.
Below is the grave site where Rufus was buried.
At that time, it was common place to bury individuals without marking their final resting place with a head stone. Today, we realize that Rufus must have a head stone to honor his contributions to the city of Montevallo. We realize that community servants today and yesterday must be honored to inspire the people of today to continue building their communities and raising their families with a spirit of excellence. On July 5th, 2014, the Paschel family will honor Rufus Paschel by placing a headstone at his unmarked tomb and establishing the site of his home as a historical land mark for the city of Montevallo.