CEMETERY SERVICE IN LEWISBURG, WV Individual and competent advice in all matters concerning funeral methods and more

The history of cemeteries is as varied as the descriptions and types. Our burial customs in the United States have evolved reflecting our multicultural heritage of early settlers to what it is today.

Prior to the Civil War, most burials were restricted to interment in the grounds of churches or meeting houses. Graveyard, a term meaning surrounding a church, dot this country from shore to shore. Many still are in operation today with new burials each year.

Church graveyards, however, have long reached capacity, forcing towns and cities, out of necessity to look to other places for interment. New freestanding areas outside the church, and many times outside the city limits were developed. Private, public, religious, and military are but a few types.

The "rural" cemetery models with access roads, avenues, and pastoral vistas outside towns and cities are a popular cemetery type and can be found in all areas of the US.

The problem many rural cemeteries face is what was once thought to be rural have

become urban quickly.

Rosewood Cemetery would be classified as a rural style cemetery, located on almost thirteen acres of gentle sloping land situated less than one mile from the center of Lewisburg. Its location today is well within the city limits, but at its inception was outside the boundary of Lewisburg.

Earliest records indicate that RP Bell, a local businessman, purchased 10 acres (more or less) from the Lipps family-Ava and RH, on October 5th, 1923. Mr. Bell was then listed as a trustee, on a deed from him to Rosewood Cemetery Association, a WV corporation, dated September 19th, 1925.

The original certification of incorporation document for Rosewood Cemetery Association, Inc. dated June 19, 1925, listed five incorporators-RP Bell, EE Livesay, HB Moore, Charles S. Dice, and Charles N. McWhorter.

One of the earlies records of burial in Rosewood was for an infant child of Mr. Bell in 1923. Interestingly, Rosewood records (from headstone markers) indicate burials dating to 1909. With approximately 20 burials prior to land transfers and the 1925 incorporation. An assumption could be made that Mr. Bell was the original owner of the Lipps boundary, or more likely, one of the businessmen who became the incorporators of Rosewood Cemetery Association, Inc. in 1925.

The need for additional cemetery space in Lewisburg mirrors trends throughout the early 1900s, and these businessmen were possibly motivated by civic duty to proceeded with the early development of Rosewood.

Sales and burials during the 1930s and 1940s required the purchase of an additional 2½ acres from Georgia Piercy on December 9, 1952 as conveyed by recorded deed. This represents the size of Rosewood today, approximately 12-13 acres.

Originally, Rosewood Cemetery Association was a for-profit corporation, and operated accordingly until the beginning 2000s. The board of directors under the leadership of Richard E. Ford began the difficult process of amending by-laws and restated articles of incorporation to reflect the formation of Rosewood Cemetery, Inc. Finally, in 2007 Rosewood Cemetery, Inc was granted non-profit 501(C) (13) IRS status. The purpose for developing non-profit status was two-fold: continue to strive to maintain an affordable location for burials with reasonable grave pricing and allowing endowment capabilities for future maintenance and repair.