About the Friends

Since its inception in 1999, members of the Friends of Oconee Hill Cemetery have undertaken or supported a number of projects including:

• Sandblasting and painting of the 1899 bridge across the Oconee River
• Preparing nomination of Oconee Hill Cemetery to the National Register of Historic Places
• Restoration of the Well House near the cemetery entrance, a project of the Heritage Garden Club
• Installation of sturdy iron railings beside steps throughout the cemetery (railings were donated by Emmanuel Episcopal Church, and a dozen new custom built railings were purchased by the Friends)
• Major clean-up of the Valley Section
• An analysis of the broken water lines throughout the cemetery
• Through a generous donation by JoAn and Tony Salloum, the restoration of a retaining wall near an infant's grave
• Assessment of plantings, retaining walls, iron railings, etc. with the assistance of the University of Georgia's School of Environmental Design and preservationists from the school
• Placement of an historic marker near the entrance of Oconee Hill Cemetery, a project of the Thomas Miller Chapter, the National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century
• Initiation of the Adopt-a-Lot Project, whereby interested individuals or organizations care for forgotten plots not under perpetual care
• Work on a database to identify all graves not under perpetual care, research by the Athens Town Committee, The National Society of The Colonial Dames in America
• Restoration of the Sexton's House
• Planting new shade trees
• Development of a memorial plaza and flagpole near the entrance of the cemetery that is dedicated to veterans of all wars
• Helping families with restoration projects