Forks Church Cemetery

 

News

• Forks Cemetery has been GPS mapped thanks to a local Forks Township young man, Elliot Sweeney.  During late 2014 Elliot adopted Forks Cemetery as his Eagle Scout project.

The project involved more than 300 hours and the photograghing of and establishing GPS coordinates for nearly 4,000 monuments on the cemetery grounds.

Elliot's  work can be found by visiting Billiongraves.com.  After downloading the App, a search conducted will display the requested headstone and its location on the cemetery.  We are currently in the process of uploading approximately 1750monuments placed on the cemetery since 2014/2015.

Thanks, Elliot.

Plot transfers

If you wish to transfer ownership of a plot, you will need proof of ownership (original deed, last will and testament, bill of sale etc.)

A deed grants the right for burial of human remains in a designated area of the burial grounds.

Winter season

During the winter season, the main roads will be plowed following snow storms as soon as is reasonably possible.  Please be patient and use good sense in navigating the roads.

 

Benches on cemetery

If you wish to place a bench on the perimeter of the cemtery, please contact a cemetery official through info on the web site.  Approval from the Board of Directors is required.

 

Cemetery Finances

In modern times many older cemeteries are challenged financially as a result of the trend toward cremations.  Families electing cremation may not purchase plots.  The sale of plots is extremely important to the financial viability of a cemetery.

Cemeteries are regulated by the states.  A large part of the revenue derived from plot sales must be set aside in a perpetual care fund.  Only the investment earnings from the funds set aside may be used for paying current operating expenses such as grass mowing and trimming, general grounds and road maintenance and administrative expenses maintaining and safe guarding records, maps, deeds etc.

Forks Cemetery has been well manged for hundreds of years and is presently under the direction of a dedicated Board of Directors who devote many, many volunteer hours to the operational and financial success.  Nonetheless, it is imperative that we conduct a Capital Fund campaign periodically to make possible the re-paving of roads and the purchase of equipment - expenditures which fall outside the bounds of ordinary mowing and general maintenance needs.

Our October, 2022 Capital Fund Drive was a huge success resulting in gifts of nearly $7,500 - all of which will be directed toward major improvements in the coming months.

Thank you to all who generously give when asked.  Your consideration of making a bequest to the cemetery is, likewise, encouraged.