LCRA awards $24,800 grant for renovations to fellowship hall near Waelder
Upgrades to Thompsonville Cemetery Association meeting hall will create a brighter, safer space for community gatherings
Nov. 6, 2025
LCRA representatives present a $24,800 grant to the Thompsonville Cemetery Association for upgrades to its fellowship hall. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Grants program. Pictured, in front of the porch, from left to right, are: Dwana Kincaid, association secretary; Nanette Monaghan, association board member; Elizabeth Ehlers, LCRA Regional Affairs representative; Mark Mayo and Margaret D. “Meg” Voelter, LCRA Board members; Bill Davis, association vice president; Tessa Goodman, association board member; Larry Hamm, association vice president; Jim Monaghan, association president; Sherry Hill, association treasurer; and Hannah Pippin, association board member. On the porch: Charles Nunes, Jeanette Mayer and David Smith, community members; Keith Schmidt, Gonzales County sheriff; Bob Rawlings and Ann Rawlings, community members; Mark Redd, pastor; Derek Johnson, Gonzales County constable, precinct 3; Jim Rummage, Lisa Moore, Sharon Smith and Mary Rummage, community members; Allen Taylor, Gonzales County deputy constable, precinct 3; and Patrick C. Davis, Gonzales County judge.
GONZALES COUNTY, Texas – The Thompsonville Cemetery Association soon will renovate its fellowship hall in the Thompsonville community in northeast Gonzales County, thanks to a $24,800 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority.
The community grant, along with $8,370 in matching funds and in-kind contributions from the cemetery association and community volunteers, will pay for critical repairs and upgrades to the 55-year-old building, including leveling the foundation; replacing insulation, flooring and ceiling tiles; and installing brighter, more energy-efficient lighting.
“We are overjoyed to receive this grant awarded by LCRA,” said Tessa Goodman, board member of the Thompsonville Cemetery Association. “The fellowship hall has been the heart of our community for more than 50 years, serving as a gathering place for everything from birthday parties and anniversaries to educational programs. With this support, we’ll finally be able to address long-standing structural issues and make the space safer and more comfortable for everyone who uses it.”
Built by local volunteers, the hall has long served as a gathering space for residents of Thompsonville and surrounding communities. The planned updates will replace the building’s aging materials affected by time, moisture and wildlife, improving the health and safety of the space while also making it more inviting.
“The fellowship hall has been maintained with love by volunteers for years, but some of the repairs now require professional expertise,” Goodman said. “Once complete, it will be an even better gathering place for our growing area. We want both longtime residents and new families moving in to feel welcome and proud to use the space, ensuring it remains a hallmark of Thompsonville for years to come.”
This is one of 41 grants awarded recently through LCRA Community Grants. These grants are awarded twice a year as part of LCRA’s effort to give back to communities in its wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas.
Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in January. More information is available at lcra.org/cdpp.
About LCRA
The Lower Colorado River Authority serves customers and communities throughout Texas by managing the lower Colorado River; generating and transmitting electric power; providing a clean, reliable water supply; and offering outdoor adventures at more than 40 parks along the Colorado River from the Texas Hill Country to the Gulf Coast. LCRA and its employees are committed to fulfilling our mission to enhance the quality of life of the Texans we serve through water stewardship, energy and community service. LCRA was created by the Texas Legislature in 1934 and receives no state appropriations.
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