Current Year Events at Oconee Hill Cemetery
Wreaths Across America Project
Oconee Hill Cemetery honored its veterans for their service to our country by participating in the Wreaths Across America project in December. A live balsam wreath with a red bow was placed on veteran gravesites on Saturday, December 16th , which was known as National Wreaths Across America Day. 2 million volunteers and supporters joined in to support this special day. If you are interested in learning more, please download the attached form here which was used in December. We hope our cemetery will looked even more beautiful this holiday season!
This was our inaugural year for this project, and we were encouraged by all who ordered wreaths to be placed on gravesites in Oconee Hill Cemetery which honored your Veteran family members and other forgotten Veterans. With support from our Friends group and others, our Cemetery was even more beautiful after the wreaths were laid. Families and friends were invited to ride through Oconee Hill Cemetery on Sunday, December 17th , or any day after, to view the beauty of these wreaths during the holiday season.
Dinner on the Bridge - October 2023
The first ever Dinner on the Bridge event was a smashing success! Over 130 guests gathered to celebrate the re-opening of the historic iron truss bridge that connects the two sections of the cemetery. With 20 local businesses and families helping to sponsor the event, combined with many individual ticket sales, the dinner raised funds to help offset the unexpected costs that arose in repairing the bridge. Event sponsor Lee Epting Events pulled off one of the most unusual dinner events Athens has ever seen. The cocktail hour at the Wingfield Chapel began the evening with fantastic live jazz music. Guests then made their way to the bridge for dinner as dusk was settling in and the chandeliers illuminated the bridge in unexpected ways. After the meal, dessert and after dinner drinks were served in the chapel area as guest enjoyed music into the evening. We are especially pleased to announce this was one trip to the cemetery where all guests were able to return home at the conclusion of the gathering!
Easter 2022 Sunrise Service
The Board of Trustees of Oconee Hill Cemetery and the Board of Directors of the Friends of OHC… ...invite you to an inspiring Easter Sunrise Service at the Wingfield Chapel on Sunday, April 17, 2022, at 6:45 a.m.
The Carr’s Hill gate will open at 6:15 a.m. The Rev. Dr. Ryan Baer (First Presbyterian Church of Athens) will lead the service. Mr. Geoffrey Wood will provide trumpet accompaniment for the service. The ground around the chapel is somewhat uneven, so please wear good walking shoes. Also, bring a flashlight and a folding chair, if desired.
Please note that the front gate on East Campus Road and the internal bridge across the Oconee River will be closed for ongoing construction. To reach the Wingfield Chapel, all visitors must use the back gate on Carr’s Hill. (As you cross the river coming down the hill from Broad Street, stay on Oconee Street and go up the hill in front of Oconee Street UMC; continue two blocks on Oconee Street and then turn right onto Carr Street, which will dead-end at the back gate of Oconee Hill Cemetery; we will have directional signs to the chapel once you enter the cemetery.)
Oconee Hill Grounds Crew Recognized
Recently, our grounds crew received some well deserved recognition for their hard work to keep the cemetery looking so good. Please see the nice write up they received in the UGA student paper, The Red and Black. The article can be found HERE.
Veterans Day Self Guided Tour
Oconee Hill Cemetery and the Friends of Oconee Hill Cemetery encourage all interested persons to visit the cemetery and take a self guided tour in place of the ceremony. The cemetery is home to veterans from most every war or major conflict in American history. The tour highlights many of these brave citizens who served our nation. Below, please find the tour as well as a two sided map - one side showing all locations throughout the cemetery and the other side showing those only in the historic sections. Please print these out and come visit on 11 /11 to honor our past and current veterans.
