Historic Oliver Cemetery

October 2025 Update
Oliver Cemetery: A Caroline County Historic Site

The Caroline County Cemetery Group has made remarkable progress since our last update!

Thanks to extensive research and interviews with descendants, we’ve identified several individuals buried at Oliver Cemetery. We now have names, stories, and even photographs that help bring their legacy to life.

We’re proud to share that Oliver Cemetery is now officially recorded with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, granting it protected historic status. Restoration and preservation efforts are funded entirely through grants and generous donations.

In partnership with the University of Richmond, GPS mapping of the site has been completed, followed by Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), which revealed 216 burial sites. A safe and accessible path has been constructed, including the removal of hazardous trees along the way and within the cemetery grounds.

It’s important to note: Virginia law requires property owners to provide access to cemeteries located on their land from the nearest public road.

We’ve actively engaged the Caroline County community to gather historical insights, presenting at events such as:

• The Sunday School Union Annual Community Christmas Dinner

• The Caroline County Historical Society

• The Saint John Baptist Church Cemetery Committee

Our outreach even led to a feature article in the Free-Lance Star, which was picked up by newspapers in Richmond and Roanoke!

Research continues through local archives, libraries, heritage centers, and visits to other historic cemeteries. We remain committed to honoring this sacred space in a way that reflects the wishes of the descendants, with whom we are working closely.

How You Can Help

We welcome new volunteers in a variety of roles:

• Grounds maintenance

• Grant writing

• Financial support

• Historical research

• Community outreach

• We are especially in need of a webmaster to help us share our story online.

If you have questions, comments, or would like to get involved, please reach out to a committee member. Your support helps preserve history and honor those who came before us.