Cemeteries

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Cemetery Fees

Grave Spaces
Adult	$1080.00

Columbrarium
Standard Niche	$1,000.00
Custom Niche	$1,400.00

Grave Services:
Adult:
Weekdays Before 3:00 pm	$ 840.00
Weekdays After 3:00 pm	$ 960.00
Saturday	$1020.00
Sunday and Holiday	$1140.00

Infant (See Notes):
Weekdays Before 3:00 pm	$ 500.00
Weekdays After 3:00 pm	$ 600.00
Saturday	$ 650.00
Sunday and Holidays	$ 750.00

Cremation:
Weekdays Before 3:00 pm	$ 420.00
Weekdays After 3:00 pm	$ 480.00
Saturday	$ 540.00
Sunday and Holidays	$ 660.00

Double Depth Burials:
Weekdays Before 3:00 pm	$1080.00
Weekdays After 3:00 pm	$ 1,200.00
Saturday	$ 1,200.00
Sunday and Holidays	$ 1,440.00

Mausoleum Fees:
Weekdays Before 3:00 pm	$ 600.00
Weekdays After 3:00 pm	$ 660.00
Saturday	$ 720.00
Sunday and Holidays	$ 840.00

Foundations:
Monument	$ 130.00 / Square Foot
Marker	$ 100.00 / Square Foot

Disinterment Service:
Same as Adult Grave Service	$840.00

Re-interment Service:
Same as Adult Grave Service	$840.00
NOTES:
1. City Staff will designate an adult grave for infant burials. The grave space will be divided into 6 2' x 3' infant internment spaces. The vault /burial receptacle must fit into one space.
2. Only a 1' x 1' marker will be placed on an infant internment space.
3. Fees for infant services include internment rights and opening and closing services.
4. A family may choose to inter an infant in an adult grave at regular costs.

For more information call 540-587-6065.

History of Bedford Municipal Cemeteries

The City of Bedford, formerly known as Liberty, was established in 1782. Bedford's cemeteries date back prior to that time and have served as a focal point of the community for over 200 years. There are burials from the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the War in Vietnam.

The original cemetery was Longwood Cemetery. It was in the northern suburbs of Liberty, adjacent to the fair grounds. The cemetery once featured hitching posts for the convenience of people visiting gravesites on horseback. In the early days the cemetery was operated by a Board of Trustees. All maintenance was performed by surviving family members. The markers from that era are some of the best examples of cemetery art available (the regulations on the types and variety of monuments and markers were few if any). The markers were typically commissioned for individual construction. Most of the markers from this era are hand carved marble with intricate artwork and inscriptions.

Longwood Cemetery served as the town's cemetery until the early 1800's. Oakwood Cemetery was added just prior to the Civil War and was developed on the grounds to the south and east of Longwood Cemetery. Liberty played an important role in the Civil War. Over five hundred Civil War soldiers are buried in the cemeteries.

The last section of Oakwood was designated as the Elks National Cemetery and served as the burial place for residents of the Elks National Home from the mid 1800's until the Elks home constructed its own cemetery around 1960.

In the late 1700's a separate cemetery called Fairmont was created in the eastern section of town. From the founding of Liberty to the desegregation of the 1960's, Fairmont Cemetery was run by various churches as a black cemetery.

In 1968 the City of Bedford was chartered and officially took over running Fairmont Cemetery. Fairmont was expanded by adding Sections Two and Three. Section Three did not open until the 1970's.

Longwood, Oakwood and Fairmont served as the town's cemeteries until the fair grounds were developed as cemetery property in the 1940's. The new cemetery was named Greenwood Cemetery. Sections One and Two were opened after completion and section Three was not opened until 1985. Section Four of Greenwood Cemetery was opened in July, 1997.

When Bedford became a city, all cemeteries within Bedford City limits were included as municipal cemeteries. This included Longwood, Oakwood, Fairmont, Greenwood, and three small family cemeteries. The family cemeteries include Jackson Street Cemetery, Otey Street Cemetery and Fuqua Cemetery. These family cemeteries date back to the early 1800's.

A private family cemetery was relocated to construct the water reservoir for the new water plant. After relocation, this cemetery was placed under the care of the City. This cemetery is located in Bedford County and is referred to as "The Mountain Cemetery". It dates back to the
Revolutionary War.

These eight cemeteries represent the current "Bedford Municipal Cemeteries". Only Longwood, Fairmont, Oakwood and Greenwood are active and only Greenwood and Fairmont have spaces available for sale. These cemeteries are maintained as a public service by the City of Bedford.

The Cemeteries represent a total of 75 developed acres of land containing an estimated 30,000 monuments and markers. The number of the markers is so great that it would take one person using a modern gasoline line trimmer over one month to trim around every marker. However, cemetery maintenance is done by a team and an average cycle takes five men 3 and a half days to mow, trim and blow grass off the markers.

The Cemeteries are evolving in terms of their role in the community. They were once on the outskirts of town and were maintained by the family members. Today they are in the center of town and serve as a focus for the City's urban forest.

Plans are currently under way to construct a cremation garden in Greenwood Cemetery. The intention is to provide a location for both above and below ground interment of cremains.

A casual walk through the cemetery reveals a startling contrast between the older sections of Longwood and the newer sections of Greenwood. This stems from the standardization of the monument and marker industry and from the need to allow for more efficient maintenance of the grounds. The older cemeteries feature a diverse amount of marker designs that are in square plots representing individual family plots. A typical family plot in the 1800’s included space for ten people. Modern families are much smaller and typically purchase only two or four graves. The newer cemeteries are laid out in rows to facilitate access to each space.

Section Four of Greenwood Cemetery was opened in 1997. It is projected that the currently available space will last until Bedford's tri-centennial birthday, around 2050.

Cemetery Rules and Regulations

6.4 Decoration of Burial Lots, General Information
No tree, shrub or flowers shall be planted or pruned in or removed from a cemetery without the consent of the Cemetery Supervisor. The Supervisor may plant, prune, remove or transplant any tree, shrub or plant in a cemetery or at any burial space or lot whenever it is necessary to do so in order to economically maintain and care for burial spaces or lots to prevent the impairment of or interference with the use of other burial spaces or lots or to promote, preserve or improve the appearance and dignity of the cemetery.

Under no circumstances may glass vases be placed on the grounds.

Artificial or fresh cut flowers may be placed in an invertible metal vase at any time; however, they will be discarded when dead, faded, broken or of a similar nature.

Sprays and wreaths made from fresh cut flowers are allowed, but they will be removed within two weeks or sooner if they become unsightly or detrimental to maintenance in the Cemetery Supervisor's opinion.

Christmas blankets and wreaths are allowed from December 1st through March 1st. But will removed when they become unsightly.

Potted plants are allowed at any time but they will be removed within two weeks or sooner if they become unsightly or detrimental to the maintenance in the Cemetery Supervisor's opinion.

Metal vases that are part of a marker must be inverted by the owner when not in use. The City shall not be liable for any damage done to these vases.

Saddle type artificial arrangements are permitted on the top of monuments only. They will be removed when they become worn and unsightly at the discretion of the Cemetery Supervisor.

The Cemetery Supervisor shall order the removal of all artificial sprays and wreaths when they become unsightly or are blown off the burial spaces.

The Placing of boxes, shells, stones, boulders, toys, metal designs ornaments, chairs, settees, glass, urns, fences, wood or metal cases, temporary grave markers and similar articles upon lots or burial spaces shall not be permitted.

The City shall not be held liable for lost, misplaced or broken flower vases or for damage caused by the elements, thieves, vandals or by caused beyond its control. The City reserves the right to regulate the method of decorating lots and the right to regulate decoration so that a uniform beauty may be maintained.

6.4.1 Flowers
All persons are prohibited from gathering flowers, either wild or cultivated, or breaking trees, shrubs or plants, or feeding or disturbing birds or other animal life within the cemeteries.

6.4.2 Floral Designs
After an interment, funeral designs and floral pieces will be removed by the cemetery from the grave after five business days. Persons wishing to retain such flowers must remove them from the grave site within 72 hours after the interment.

6.4.3 Removal of Flowers, March 1-15 and October 1-15
The cemetery will conduct two flower removals per year on the first of March and October. At that time all artificial and live flowers, potted plants, wreaths, baskets will be removed. They will not be allowed back in the cemetery until the 16th of the respective month. Saddle type arrangements attached to the top of a monument are exempt from this procedure, but will be removed when considered unsightly.

6.4.4 Floral limits
There shall be permitted no more than two wreaths, decorations or arrangements per grave space except on Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Any floral arrangements in excess of two per grave space for the aforementioned holidays shall be removed by sundown on the 10th day following such holidays by the owner or cemetery personnel will remove them.

6.4.5 Floral Materials
Baskets, glass, crockery, wire and metal are not permitted in the cemetery and will be promptly removed when found. Floral Easels are exempt from this.

6.6 Lounging on Grounds
No person shall be permitted to sit or lounge on any of the grounds, graves or monuments within the cemeteries or in any of the cemetery buildings except in connection with a visit to a particular space or lot or persons attending a special event sanctioned by the cemetery.

6.8 Rubbish
Throwing rubbish on any part of the grounds or buildings except into designated receptacles is prohibited.

6.9 Automobiles
Automobiles shall not be driven through the cemetery at a speed greater than 15 miles per hour. Automobiles are not allowed to park or come to a complete stop in front of an open grave unless the occupants of said vehicle are in attendance at a funeral.

6.14 Notices or Advertisements
No signs, notices or advertisements of any kind shall be permitted within the cemetery grounds.

6.15 Animals
No dogs, horses or any other animal shall be allowed in the cemeteries or in any of the cemetery buildings with the exception of animals aiding the handicapped. The City shall not be liable for any damage done by animals and does not assume responsibility for keeping animals out of the cemeteries. The owner or keeper of any animal which trespasses upon the cemetery grounds shall be liable for any damage done by said animal.