Rules & Rates

1. Definitions: “Subscriber” is an individual who has paid all fees for the reservation of a niche or crypt.

“Niche” is a space in the Columbarium walls designed to hold cremated remains.  There are a total of 288 double niches in the Columbarium.

“Crypt” is a space beneath the brick floor of the Columbarium designed for in-ground burial.  There are a total of 12 full-size crypts in the Columbarium.

“Inurnment” refers to the placement of urns containing cremated remains in the niches or crypts of the Columbarium.

“Entombment” refers to the placement of caskets containing un-cremated remains in the crypts of the Columbarium.

“Remains” may refer to the contents of an urn or casket.

2. Authority: The use and care of the Columbarium are subject to the management and control of the Board of Directors of the Southern Memorial Association (hereinafter “SMA”) and its Chapel and Columbarium Committee operating under the authority of the Board.  The Board reserves the right to make, amend and repeal such regulations and policies as it deems appropriate.

3. Ownership: The Columbarium and all niches and crypts remain the property of the City of Lynchburg.  Reservation of a niche or crypt and full payment of the established fees entitle the Subscriber to the privilege of use and not the rights of ownership.

4. Chapel and Columbarium Committee: Management of the Columbarium is entrusted to the Chapel and Columbarium Committee of the SMA (hereinafter “Committee”), which shall have the authority to establish reasonable procedures for the care and use of the Columbarium and to collect and disburse funds therefor.

5. Use of Niches: Each niche may be used for the inurnment of the remains of one or two eligible persons designated by a Subscriber who is responsible for the payment of established fees.  Each Subscriber may appoint an Alternate Subscriber to make or change designations in case the Subscriber dies or becomes incapacitated.  In the event an Alternate Subscriber is not named or fails to serve, the Committee shall function as the Alternate Subscriber or appoint a substitute.  If a Subscriber desires to change one or both niche designees, he or she must do so in writing to the Committee prior to inurnment.  If no inurnment occurs within five years after the death of a designee, the Committee may terminate that person’s reservation unless a spouse or lineal descendant has advised the Committee in writing of an intention to inurn the remains at a later date.

6. Use of Crypts: Each crypt may be used for the entombment of the remains of one eligible person designated by a Subscriber who is responsible for the payment of established fees.  Each Subscriber may appoint an Alternate Subscriber to make or change designations in case the Subscriber dies or becomes incapacitated.  In the event an Alternate Subscriber is not named or fails to serve, the Committee shall function as the Alternate Subscriber or appoint a substitute.  If a Subscriber desires to change the crypt designee, he or she must do so in writing to the Committee prior to entombment.  If no entombment occurs within five years after the death of a designee, the Committee may terminate that person’s reservation unless a spouse or lineal descendant has advised the Committee in writing of an intention to entomb the remains at a later date.

7. Eligibility: The remains of any past or present resident of Lynchburg, his or her spouse, parents and children, and others who in the opinion of a majority of the members of the Committee have a sufficient connection to the City of Lynchburg, shall be eligible for inurnment and/or entombment in the Columbarium.

8. Responsibility and Disclaimer: The SMA shall endeavor to protect the remains, including their receptacles, before and after they are placed in the Columbarium, but it shall have no responsibility for failure to do so.

9. Use of Chapel and Rites and Services: The Chapel and Columbarium are both available for use by a Subscriber for services in connection with inurnment or entombment.  All rites and services, including officiants, shall be at the preference of the Subscriber, but the time and date must be cleared through the office of the SMA in the Cemetery Center.

10. Urns, Containers, and Caskets: All urns, caskets, and other containers for remains shall be of dimensions and construction approved by the Committee.  Failure to observe such requirements of the Committee shall void the Subscriber’s agreement, but shall not be a basis for the refunding of fees.

11. Memorial Plaques and Inscriptions for Niches: Each niche shall be marked by a plaque and, in order to ensure uniformity, only plaques authorized by the Committee and purchased by the SMA may be used.  Inscriptions shall likewise be uniform in style, size, and structure, and may include only the name of the decedent and the dates of birth and death.  When a niche is used for the inurnment of the remains of a second decedent, the original plaque shall be replaced by one bearing the names and dates of both decedents.  The expense of these plaques is included in the Subscriber’s fees.

12. Memorial Tablets and Inscriptions for Crypts: Each crypt shall be marked by a stone memorial tablet and, in order to ensure uniformity, only tablets authorized by the Committee and purchased by the SMA may be used.  Inscriptions shall likewise be uniform in style, size, and structure, and may include only the name of the decedent and the dates of birth and death.  The Subscriber shall be responsible for the expense of inscribing the tablet.

13. Reservation of Niches/Crypts: Niches and crypts shall be available to Subscribers upon payment of all fees in effect at the time of reservation.  Full payment of fees entitles a Subscriber to the use of a niche or crypt space, but does not convey the ownership of these spaces.  If a Subscriber determines to cancel a reservation before use, he or she may do so in writing, but the reservation fee will not be refunded.  A Subscriber may name alternate designees for niches or crypts in writing to the Committee prior to inurnment or entombment.  If a niche or crypt is used and then vacated for any reason, it reverts back to the Committee without reimbursement of fees.

14. Flowers, Candles, and Other Memorial Items: The SMA will continuously provide flowers or greens in the Columbarium.  At the time of a funeral these may be temporarily replaced with other flowers of choice by the Subscriber.  The use of candles in the Columbarium is strictly limited to funeral services, and then only candles provided by the SMA, used in areas designated by the Committee, will be permitted.  No other greens, flowers, candles, cards, photographs, or other memorial items are permitted in the Columbarium at any time other than a funeral.

15. Fees and Charges: Unless waived or determined otherwise by the Committee, charges shall be made as follows:

Niches
Reservation* . . . . . . . $1,500
    (No additional charges)

Crypts
Reservation* . . . . . . . $5,000
    Opening and Closing†
    Determined at Time of Entombment
    Memorial Tablet Inscription†
    Determined at Time of Entombment

* It is anticipated that fees will change but no increases will be retroactive for those with existing reservations of niche or crypt spaces.

† These services shall be furnished only by persons or businesses approved by the Committee.

16. Chapel and Columbarium Fund: Funds received from the reservation of niches and crypts shall be deposited in a special account known as the Chapel and Columbarium Fund and administered by the Treasurer of the SMA.  Donations and memorial contributions to the Chapel and Columbarium Fund are encouraged, in order to minimize necessary fees and charges and to assure the proper maintenance of the Chapel and Columbarium and their surrounding grounds.

17. Records: Records pertaining to the Columbarium will be maintained by the Cemetery Archivist in the office of the SMA in the Cemetery Center of the Old City Cemetery.  The exact location of a prepaid, reserved niche and/or crypt will be recorded in a form such as: “Section 3, Row 2, Niche 5” or “Row 2, Crypt 2.”  A chart showing this reservation of space will be provided the Subscriber on full payment of fees.

18. Accessibility: The Chapel and Columbarium are kept locked on a daily basis, but are easily accessible to visitors by obtaining the key from the Cemetery Center staff during office hours or by appointment.  The interiors of the Chapel and Columbarium are always visible through windows in the doors, in a manner similar to the other Cemetery museums.