The Fluvanna Cemetery Association held its annual meeting Wednesday to discuss the continued “slow business” seen by the cemetery regularly over the past several years. Treasurer Roger Lundell reported one burial, one cremation and one lot sold over the first four months of 2018.

“People just aren’t buying graves anymore,” said Ted Card, Fluvanna Cemetery sexton. “It used to be the cemetery was a community thing, and philanthropy played a big role in keeping things operational. But that hasn’t really been the case for a while now.”

“I think it might be a generational thing and a change in society that have affected the cemeteries most of all,” he continued. “We see very few young people stopping by and visiting graves. So I would just ask the community to consider helping us out if they can.”

It was discussed during the meeting that the association’s chief option for continued operation would be to transfer ownership and maintenance of the cemetery to the town of Ellicott. This route seems inevitable, however it was decided that the association would attempt to continue as is for the remainder of the year.

Pictured is the maintenance building at the Fluvanna Cemetery. The association fears the building will need a new roof within the next couple of years. P-J photo by Gavin Paterniti

Adding to the financial burden experienced by the association is the need for a new roof atop the maintenance building. It’s yet to be determined as to whether a full roof replacement will be necessary, but it was unanimously agreed that the roof would not hold up for another two seasons.

Lundell reported that the association currently holds two CD accounts and a checking account totaling a $13,177 operating account balance.