Shockoe Hill Cemetery

Shockoe Hill Cemetery is a beautiful place to visit that would take a visitor anywhere from an hour to stroll through, or days if one is engaged with the history there. Of course, if you are really engaged, it will take you a lifetime of research. There is a rich military history along with some of the Who’s Who of old Richmond. There are also several connections to Virginia writer, Edgar A. Poe.

The cemetery is fortunate because The Friends of Shockoe Hill Cemetery is an active and engaged organization. They host military marker dedications after raising money to add grave markers to military graves, organize clean-up days, and offer free Sunday cemetery tours. 

For those who are interested in touring, the dates are listed on their Friends website as September 18th, 2PM; October 2nd and 16th, 2PM with the instructions to “meet at the keeper's house.” 

They do good work; and, they’re a friendly group of people if you are ever interested in visiting or volunteering.
 
Today I want to spotlight Shockoe Hill Cemetery because once again the Friends organization is trying to raise money for another individual interred in Shockoe Hill Cemetery. I have to admit that this one is a bit puzzling for me because the University of Richmond, a private college known for alumni philanthropy, has one of its founders buried in an unmarked grave.  

From the Shockoe Hill Cemetery Facebook page:

Reverend Henry Keeling was a prominent Virginia cleric and a founding father of the University of Richmond. Sadly, Keeling's grave in the Keeling family plot at Shockoe Hill Cemetery is unmarked.

The Friends of Shockoe Hill Cemetery would like to mark the Rev. Keeling's grave, and $700 is needed for this project. To donate to this project, in full or in part, contact Clayton Shepherd (cshepherd@shockoehillcemetery.org). All gifts are tax deductible. For more information, see shockoehillcemetery.org/

More information about Keeling can be found in his Find a Grave memorial by FoSHC board member Jeffry Burden. oday we remember the Reverend Henry Keeling.
Born 26 December 1794, Keeling was a prominent Virginia cleric and a founding father of the University of Richmond. Sadly, Keeling's grave in the Keeling family plot at Shockoe Hill Cemetery is unmarked. He is buried near his wife and his son Robert, who was killed in action near Richmond in 1862 while serving as an officer in the 12th Alabama Infantry.

The Friends of Shockoe Hill Cemetery would like to mark the Rev. Keeling's grave, and $700 is needed for this project. To donate to this project, in full or in part, contact Clayton Shepherd (cshepherd@shockoehillcemetery.org). All gifts are tax deductible.
More information about Keeling can be found in his Find a Grave memorial by FoSHC board member Jeffry Burden.