Happy New Year and thank you to all who volunteered, attended our events, or made a monetary donation in 2018. We could not do what we do without our volunteers and your support, so thank you and please know we sincerely appreciate each and every one of you.

Despite a summer of smoke that not only impacted the number of visitors, it also resulted in our having to cancel some work activities and limit the number of hours we were able to safely work in the cemetery, 2018 was a very successful year.

Approximately 1,600 volunteer hours were contributed in 2018, to the following:

  • Grounds Maintenance – 400 hours
  • Headstone and Monument Restoration – 232 hours and 41 markers restored
  • Marker Cleaning Workshops – 182 hours and 109 markers cleaned
  • Honoring our Veterans – 100 hours
  • Presenting History Programs – *520 hours
  • Leading Tour Groups – *128 hours

*Does not include time spent researching and preparing for actual presentations.

Note: Of the 41 grave markers that were restored, 11 had been in storage as a result of vandalism years ago. They are all now repaired and back on the grave sites where they belong. Since our Marker Cleaning Workshops began in 2013, volunteers have cleaned 672 grave markers in the cemetery.

Thank you to the Cemetery Commission and the City of Jacksonville for the beautiful restoration project of the cemetery entrance gate.

We look forward to another productive year and hope that you will plan to join us in caring for this wonderful and beautiful Jacksonville treasure, our Pioneer Cemetery. A complete listing of all our upcoming events and activities can be found on our website: friendsjvillecemetery.org.