More about Graham Cemetery
Graham Cemetery Association (GCA) is a nonstock, not-for-profit corporation, lawfully constituted pursuant to its charter and by-laws to operate and maintain the cemetery, to the extent that it is so authorized and empowered by the Trustees, who are volunteers elected by the association and appointed by the Circuit Court of Orange County.
GCA Handbooks are available digitally upon request. Information covered includes Planting and Landscaping, Grave Sites and Interments, Sales and Purchases of Grave Sites, Funerals and Burials, Markers and Other Cemetery Fixtures and Property Perpetual Care.
The Trustees are working on a number of special projects including a long range comprehensive landscape plan, street signs, and a walking tour. Many thanks to the Rapidan River Master Gardeners for this help with our landscape plan. You may request a digital copy of this plan. Please let us know if you would like to help with any of these projects!
We invite volunteers to help us with Spring and Fall Clean-Up of out of season flowers and decorations. Watch the website and our Facebook page for dates and times. The annual meeting of the GCA is usually held at the conclusion of our Spring Clean Up.
Graham Cemetery Columbarium
Several years ago a columbarium was purchased and placed for the purpose of giving individuals an alternative to in ground interments. Two urns may be placed in each niche.
Spring and Fall Volunteer Clean-Up Guidelines
Remove all mowing obstacles, safety concerns, out of season items and with some exceptions noted below.
On the Ground
What Remains:
- New in-season decorations where it is understood Graham will not mow this area as long as the items remain
- Neutral season decorations that are not clearly old and weathered
- American flags – volunteers will move these against the base of the monument and/or between monuments to reduce their mowing impact
- Shepherd hooks in active use (volunteers will move them to monuments side and turn hook inward towards monument wherever possible to reduce their impact on mowing)
What is Removed:
- Anything else on the ground that is a mowing or safety obstacle that can not be relocated out of the mowing area onto the monument base except those items noted in “What Remains”
On Monuments
What Remains:
- Any flowers that are not faded and not clearly out of season.
- Saddle bases
- Saddle oasis and other arrangement installation material
- Vases on monument bases that are not at risk of being blown over in the way of the mower
What is Removed:
From the monument base (where they exist)
- Glass or metal objects that could be a safety hazard while mowing if they are likely to fall or blow off.
- Any decorations that have faded or become tattered by weather to the point of being an eyesore.
From saddles and side-of-monument vases
- Any flowers that are weathered and faded to the point they appear to retain less than half their original color. If uncertain, they are to be left in place.
- Any flowers clearly out of season. Examples include:
- During the spring clean-up – arrangements with poinsettas and christmas balls will be removed whether they appear brand new or not.
- During the fall clean-up, arrangements with with Easter themes (lilies, bunnies, Easter eggs), or obviously out of date with words like “Mother’s Day”, “Father’s Day”, or “4th of July” will be removed.