Permission:
Requests for new grave markers must be made in writing to the Southern Memorial Association:
c/o Old City Cemetery
401 Taylor Street
Lynchburg, VA 24501
The location of a new marker must be confirmed with Cemetery staff before installation.
Marker Specifications:
Style
A new marker must be installed flat on the ground (“ground flush”).
Material
A new marker must be made of gray granite stone, with a steel-brushed or “velvet” finish.
Size
The size of a new marker will vary, depending on the inscription, but it should be approximately 24 inches by 12 inches by 4 inches.
Foundation
The new marker must have an 8-inch-deep foundation of concrete or gravel. The foundation shall not be visible.
Inscription
The new marker’s inscription must be approved by the SMA in writing. If the exact location is impossible to determine, the marker should state, “Near This Spot Are Buried…,” “Believed to Be Buried with John Smith Are…,” “In This Plot Is Buried…,” or a similar phrase.
*Please note that the inscription on a government-issued marker is limited in content and follows a very specific format that cannot be altered.
Your Options…
- Order a new granite marker from a monument company in Lynchburg. Installation is usually included in your estimate.
- Order a new granite marker from a monument company in your hometown and have it shipped to the Cemetery for installation. The SMA/Cemetery charges $50 to install a new marker outside the Confederate Section.
- If your ancestor was a veteran of the United States or Confederate States military, order a “flat granite marker,” free of charge, from the Department of Veterans Affairs: www.cem.va.gov
-AND-
Arrange for the SMA/Cemetery to install the new marker in the proper location and according to the above specifications. There is a $50 fee for this service.
Please Note: The inscription on a government-issued marker is limited in content and follows a very specific format that cannot be altered. For example, a soldier’s place of birth or residence cannot be included on a VA marker.
Local Monument Companies Familiar with Our Policies:
The SMA has worked with these two companies before, and both are reputable and professional. They can provide flat granite markers and installation of the finished product.
Baer & Sons Memorials, Inc.
3008 Wards Road
Lynchburg, VA 24502
(434) 239-0551
Toll free: (800) 321-0043
Fax: (434) 239-6251
Heritage Funeral Service & Crematory, Inc.
427 Graves Mill Road Lynchburg, VA 24502
(434) 239-2405
Toll free: (866) 341-2405
Fax: (434) 239-0784
www.heritagefuneralandcremation.com
The Southern Memorial Association will gladly arrange for your marker to be made and installed by a local monument company. There is a $50 fee for this service. If the monument company does not install the marker, add $50 for installation by SMA. For more information please contact:
Southern Memorial Association
c/o Old City Cemetery
401 Taylor Street
Lynchburg, VA 24501
Telephone: (434) 847-1465
Fax: (434) 856-2004
E-mail: occ@gravegarden.org
Thank you for your interest!
The Southern Memorial Association is anxious to work with you to preserve the history of the Old City Cemetery and the community it represents.
