Cemetery

The tombstones of an infant and a few World War II veterans were among about a dozen grave markers that were vandalized recently at the cemetery neighboring the Manor Church of the Brethren near Boonsboro. Pastor Joy Zepp said she received a call on Monday morning notifying her that vandals had pushed over the headstones. “I'm disgusted,” she said. “I don't understand why people have to destroy other people's property.” Roughly 12 tombstones, including those marking the graves of World War II veterans and an infant who died in 1918, were lying on the rain-soaked ground Tuesday.

When Beverly Reeder went to visit her husband's grave Sunday, she was shocked to discover that it wasn't in the same place it had been for 14 years. It turns out that Lee G. Reeder was buried in the wrong plot in February 1984, said Geoffrey and Rick Freeman, president and vice president of Cedar Lawn Memorial Park. The cemetery superintendent thought he would spare the family's feelings by not telling them about the mistake and putting Reeder in his rightful resting place, about 10 feet away, the Freemans said.

HEDGESVILLE, W.Va. - Seventeen-year-old Will Stuller didn't need to think too long or hard for an Eagle Scout project, because an idea was right at hand. His family's church, Harmony United Methodist in Marlowe, W.Va., was hoping to clean up its dilapidated former cemetery, so Stuller took on the task. After more than a year of planning, Stuller and a work crew set out about six weeks ago to clear overgrown brush, cut down trees and dig up stumps at the Little Georgetown Cemetery, the site of about 75 graves.

For the relatives of those who've died, the final resting place of their loved ones is sacred ground, meant for quiet reflection, prayer and memories. But for a group of young people in Martinsburg, W.Va., the Old Norborne Cemetery is a place where they can drink, party and tip over tombstones, their mindless deeds concealed by darkness. We urge police to round up this crew and make an example of them. To those who might argue that police have more important things to do, we say this: Recent research has shown that in areas where law-enforcement officials ignore the small things, perpetrators are emboldened to do worse.

A federal judge on Wednesday ruled in favor of a Hagerstown cemetery owner challenging Maryland's restrictions on funeral home ownership, according to the plaintiffs' attorneys. However, the extent of the plaintiffs' victory wasn't clear, said Charles Brown, who owns Rest Haven Cemetery in Hagerstown. Brown was one of four plaintiffs suing to overturn Maryland's requirement that funeral home owners be licensed directors. Members of the Maryland State Board of Morticians, which regulates the state's funeral industry, were defendants.

Cindy Jones, standing by her father-in-law's grave, couldn't help but get emotional as the sun went down and Rest Haven Cemetery began to glow with the light of 8,700 luminaires. "I just miss him. It's just going to be bad without him," said Jones, 53, of Falling Waters, W.Va. Jones has come to the cemetery's Festival of Lights before, but this was the first time since the death of Harry Jones last year. "It's really nice. All these people give up their time," she said.

Descendants of those whose bodies may be disinterred from a cemetery on property slated to become a Washington County landfill have been using genealogy and historical sites on the Internet to exchange information and organize opposition. Washington County Public Works Director Gary Rohrer said he has been planning the move for five years, but several descendants of those buried in the small private family cemetery said they did not know about the county's plans until they read stories about it last week in The Herald-Mail and on the newspaper's web page.

ROHRERSVILLE - Pleasant View Cemetery Company will hold its annual meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 29, in the social hall of Central United Brethren Church, Main Street. The meeting is open to all voting members who include stockholders, plot owners, descendants of stockholders and plot owners and those who have donated $100 to the trust fund. Nomination and election of company officers and board members will be held along with a report of the finances for 2006. For information, call the Rev. Charles R. Holder at 301-739-5034.

Slideshow: Memorial Day in Washington County HAGERSTOWN -- Sen. Donald F. Munson encouraged audience participation during the Memorial Day service at Cedar Lawn Memorial Park Sunday afternoon. Between his remembrances, Munson, R-Washington, asked the crowd of about 70 people to repeat after him in saying "For freedom is never free. " "Thank you. This is getting better and better," said Munson, after encouraging the crowd to join in several times. Attendees sat in chairs and stood just inside the entrance to the cemetery along West Washington Street as Munson reflected on the sacrifices veterans made so peace and freedom could prevail.

FEB. 15, 1943-DEC. 2, 2008 FALLING WATERS, W.Va. - Freda Marie Shifflett, 65, of Falling Waters, died Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008, at Frederick (Md.) Memorial Hospital. Born Feb. 15, 1943, in Maryland, she was the daughter of the late Fred Sexton and Viola Hopkins Sexton. She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Suttie Shifflett Jr.; three sons, Mark Shifflett, Mike Shifflett and Kevin Shifflett; one sister, Virginia Thompson; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

The Fort Loudon Historical Society is sponsoring a self-guided tour of local cemeteries from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday. Visitors are asked to come to the Patton House Museum at the fort site to pick up a brochure and map, and enjoy some light refreshments. The tour is free and begins at Stenger Hill Cemetery on Main Street/Old Route 30, then proceeds to the lower cemetery. The next stop is the Old German Reformed Church Cemetery on Mill Street in the center of the village. Grave sites listed in the guide include: Rose Vance, Johnny Rotz, Stanley Hawbaker, Joseph Rotz Sr., Raymond Rotz, Jack Hassler, Alcesta Lininger, Unknown Confederate Soldier, Hezekiah Easton and Gen. James Patton.

The Fort Loudon Historical Society is sponsoring a self-guided tour of local cemeteries Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. Visitors are asked to come to the Patton House Museum at the fort site to pick up a brochure and map, and partake of light refreshments. The tour is free and begins at the Stenger Hill Cemetery on Main Street/Old U.S. 30, then proceeds to the lower cemetery (Fort Loudon Graveyard Association).  Next, the tour moves to the Old German Reformed Church Cemetery on Mill Street in the center of the village.

Authorities are investigating incidents at two cemeteries in Martinsburg, where approximately 50 to 60 crypts have been tampered with, according to a news release from the West Virginia State Police. According to the release, Trooper 1st Class R.D. Eshbaugh on Tuesday responded to the Pleasant View Cemetery on Charles Town Road, where a caretaker at the facility noted damage to the mausoleum buildings on the south side of the property. Further investigation revealed approximately 50 crypts between two buildings had been tampered with, according to the release.

Jean Marie Yost, 84, of Hagerstown, Md., passed away, Sunday, April 7, 2013, at her home. Born Wednesday, Aug. 8, 1928, in Washington, D.C., she was the daughter of the late John J. Werres and Violet Werres. Jean attended high school in Washington D.C., and Loretto Heights College in Denver, Colo. She was a former secretary to the U.S. Supreme Court. She also was employed with the U.S. District Court with Honorable John Tracy, Marriott Corporation, Bechtel, Frick Company, the Department of Juvenile Services and other various attorneys.

A Pennsylvania man accused to stealing hundreds of bronze grave decorations from a Hagerstown cemetery was found guilty in a bench trial Thursday in Washington County District Court and sentenced to four years in state prison. Bryan Lynn Fishack, 27, whose address was previously listed as Lindale Avenue in Greencastle, Pa., was charged in November by the Washington County Sheriff's Office with stealing 293 bronze vases valued at more than $40,000 from graves at Rest Haven Cemetery on Pennsylvania Avenue on the night of Oct. 15-16, according to court records.

P. Jeffery McDaniel died Friday, Feb. 8, 2013, at City Hospital in Martinsburg, W.Va. The family will receive friends Monday from 7 to 9 p.m. at South Berkeley Funeral Chapel, Inwood, W.Va. The service will be Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral chapel. Burial will be in Rest Cemetery in Frederick County, Va. Editor's note: This obituary was edited Feb. 11, 2013, to correct the name of the cemetery.

Frances Ellen McCarty, 88, of Martinsburg, W.Va., died Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, at her home. The family will receive friends Thursday from 1 to 2 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home, Martinsburg. The service will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in Hedgesville (W.Va.) Cemetery.

Thelma Virginia Cornell, 90, of Harpers Ferry, W.Va., died Monday, Dec. 17, 2012, at Blue Ridge Hospice in Winchester, Va. The family will receive friends today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. The service will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at Eackles-Spencer & Norton Funeral Home, Harpers Ferry, with Pastor Joanna Marceron officiating. Burial will be in Hillsboro (Va.) Cemetery.

Wallis Lee Boland, 87, of Berkeley Springs, W.Va., died Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, at Berkeley Springs Rehabilitation and Nursing. The family will receive friends Saturday from 1 to 2 p.m. at Mount Olivet United Methodist Church, Berkeley Springs. The service will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at the church, with the Rev. Dennis E. Jackman officiating. Burial with military graveside honors by the Tri-State Honor Guard will be in the adjoining cemetery. Arrangements are by Helsley-Johnson Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Berkeley Springs.

The tombstones of an infant and a few World War II veterans were among about a dozen grave markers that were vandalized recently at the cemetery neighboring the Manor Church of the Brethren near Boonsboro. Pastor Joy Zepp said she received a call on Monday morning notifying her that vandals had pushed over the headstones. “I'm disgusted,” she said. “I don't understand why people have to destroy other people's property.” Roughly 12 tombstones, including those marking the graves of World War II veterans and an infant who died in 1918, were lying on the rain-soaked ground Tuesday.