Williamsburg Memorial Park

Your community cemetery.

Sensitive Journey II

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It happens every day. A family member is diagnosed with a serious illness. Friends and relatives arrive to help, but a few months later the family member succumbs to his or her illness. The mood suddenly changes from caring to chaos, as the family is forced to plan an impromptu funeral with little to no information about their loved one’s final wishes.

The funeral director and clergy try to help, but in the end, they are simply guessing. As the number of decisions begin to mount, so do the expenses–all of which are due before the service is performed. The stress and financial burden continues to build, and the family, who should be peacefully mourning the loss of their loved one, is stressed beyond imagination. What if there was a better way? Thankfully, there is.

Last month, I participated in an end-of-life conference called, “Sensitive Journey II.” This wonderful event was held at the King of Glory Lutheran Church in Williamsburg, Virginia. In a comfortable group setting, local professionals shared ideas and advice about pre-planning with area seniors. Some attendees chose to ask questions in private, while others participated in a group Q&A session.

It was one of the most productive and helpful conferences I have ever attended. In fact, I’m already looking forward to the third installment of this extremely worthwhile event, which is slated to take place in the Spring of 2019.

But you don’t have to wait two years to discover the advantages of pre-planning. Our staff is ready to help you today. We’ll teach you about the entire pre-planning process–from the decisions you’ll need to make to the various burial, cremation, and memorization options that are available–all in the comfort of our new Customer Care Center.

Talking about end-of-life decisions is never easy. But leaving your family alone with no instructions is worse. As my grandmother used to say, “no one is getting out of here alive,” and she was right. Save your family the emotional and financial burden of your death by pre-planning your funeral today.

In closing, I’d like to personally thank the folks at King of Glory Lutheran Church for having the courage to tackle such a sensitive subject. To learn more about the benefits of pre-planning please visit the Pre-Planning section of our website or call us today at 757.565.2006. We look forward to helping you.

2017 Memorial Day Celebration

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Honor Our Fallen Heroes
Join us, Monday, May 29, 2017, as we honor the men and women who gave their lives to protect our nation and its citizens. These heroes served as members of our armed forces, police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and first responders.

Enjoy Patriotic Performances
This event will feature patriotic music, an honor guard, a ceremonial wreath-laying, a 21-gun salute, special guest speakers, and more. Programs will be distributed at the park or you can download one in advance from our website. Please try to arrive early for the best seating.

NEW Off-Site Parking
Due to our ongoing Cambridge Gardens park expansion, ALL personal vehicles, except those with disabled tags, stickers, or placards, must park off-site at the AMF Williamsburg Lanes. A complimentary shuttle will run from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm to ensure everyone makes it to and from the celebration as quickly and safely as possible. For more information, please call us or visit our website.

General Parking
AMF Williamsburg Lanes
5544 Olde Towne Road
Williamsburg, VA 23188

Disabled Parking
Williamsburg Memorial Park
130 King William Drive
Williamsburg, VA 23188

Additional Information
Printed programs will be handed out at the park
Limited seating is available
Parking is free

Program
Click on the image below for a PDF of the 2017 program.

Cambridge Gardens

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At the end of 2016, we began construction of our most ambitious park expansion to date. It’s called Cambridge Gardens, and it’s unlike anything in Virginia. The centerpiece is a ten-foot-tall granite obelisk ossuary, inspired by the Washington Monument and handcrafted right here in the USA. Circling the ossuary will be 12 four-foot-wide cremation benches for quiet reflection. Cambridge Gardens will also feature a premium landscaping package, six-foot-wide paved pathways, and a brick columbarium wall. In keeping with the Williamsburg area, everything will have a colonial look and feel.

Our Community Commitment
Cambridge Gardens is an important part of our 20-year expansion plan and ensures that we’re able to meet the growing needs of our community. Once complete, this new section will offer more than 1,000 traditional burial sites and 2,500 cremation niches. The ossuary will accommodate an additional 800 burials and 20 private cremations. With easier accessibility, upgraded landscaping, and a unique design, Cambridge Gardens will surely become our most popular section. Don’t wait. Reserve your space today.

Features You’ll Love

  • Affordably priced
  • Easy payment options
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Traditional colonial design
  • Premium landscaping package that adds seasonal color
  • Handcrafted in the USA by Eickhof Columbaria

Affordably Priced
Traditional in-ground sites start at $1,895 and ossuary placements in the granite obelisk are just $795. For more information, please call one of our Family Service Counselors or use our 24/7 Contact Form and be sure to check our our Special Offers page for our latest promotions.

Forward Air Controllers 2016 Wreath-Laying

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On behalf of everyone at Williamsburg Memorial Park, we’d like to thank the members of the Forward Air Controllers for allowing us to host their 2016 Wreath-Laying Ceremony.  Although the weather wasn’t very cooperative, we were able to honor the 224 Forward Air Controllers who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War.

To view the official program please click the image below.

Forward Air Controllers 2016 Wreath-Laying Ceremony

2016 Memorial Day Celebration

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On Monday, May 30, Williamsburg Memorial Park proudly hosted the Annual Memorial Day Celebration for the 48th consecutive year. In spite of the rain, which was sometimes heavy, more than 200 people braved the elements to show their respect for the men and women who gave their lives to protect this great nation, its communities, and its citizens.

Because of our ongoing park expansion, all guests, except those who are disabled, were asked to park at the AMF Williamsburg Lanes, which graciously let us use its parking lot. Once parked, guests were promptly shuttled directly to tent-covered seating in two vans, including an environmentally friendly Mercedes-Benz donated by Bucktrout of Williamsburg, a local, family-owned funeral home.

“The new shuttle system worked great! Everyone I spoke with was in good spirits and seemed to appreciate the curbside service,” said Andy Bradshaw, Williamsburg Memorial Park Board of Directors VP and shuttle rider.

At the cemetery, which was adorned with more than 1,100 small American flags, several disabled guests began arriving by car. Sensing the potential safety risks imposed by people trying to park and then navigate the rain-soaked grounds, Scoutmaster Bruce Laubach from BSA Troop 103 quickly organized our very first valet parking. It was a stroke of genius that proved to be immensely popular.

The main event began under a light rain at 10 am with a traditional bell ceremony performed by Commander Bill White from American Legion Post 39. Afterward, Jerry Fields, Brigadier General, US Army (Ret), started the program, which was followed by an invocation by Rev. Charles Mullally, Lt. Colonel, US Army (Ret), and the advance of colors by the James City County Fire Department Color Guard.

This years program featured patriotic music performed by a variety of talented people, including Sydney Snowden, Dalia McCoy, Alberta Prather, and Scherry Barra; a moving speech by Dr. John Pittman III, Colonel, US Army Reserves; and a 21-gun salute by the VFW Post 4639 Honor Guard. The ceremony concluded with Taps, played by Jake Sanford from Toano Middle School, and the ever-popular God Bless the USA, beautifully sung by Ray Gresham, 1st Sergeant, US Army (Ret).

At the end of the celebration, speakers, organizers, and performers received a standing ovation from event attendees, with several guests seen wiping away tears. “No words can express the tremendous gratitude we have for the various organizations that made this event possible, including AMF Williamsburg Lanes, Bucktrout of Williamsburg, the Combined Veterans Groups, and especially the young men of BSA Troops 103 and 155,” said Angela Byrum, General Manager Williamsburg Memorial Park.

The 2016 Memorial Day Celebration was a resounding success, in spite of adverse weather conditions, and demonstrates the tremendous resolve and respect our community has toward its veterans and first responders. Williamsburg Memorial Park is honored to have once again hosted this wonderful event. We look forward to an even better celebration next year.

Additional Info
Printed programs will be handed out at the park
Limited seating is available
Parking is free

Program
Click on the image below for a PDF of the 2016 program.

Williamsburg Memorial Park 2016 Memorial Day Program