Summer is peak season for cemetery visits — families traveling for reunions often make stops at family burial grounds, and the longer days make extended visits more comfortable. Here’s how to make the most of these visits.

Documenting the Family Memorial

A summer visit is an excellent opportunity to photograph family memorials thoroughly — front, back, sides, and any ground-level markers. High-quality photographs taken in the right light preserve a record of the memorial’s current condition and can be uploaded to genealogical databases like Find A Grave.

Identifying Maintenance Needs

Look for tilting, staining, biological growth, or damage during your visit. Addressing these issues before they worsen is significantly less expensive than waiting until deterioration becomes severe. A monument company can provide an assessment if you’re not sure whether what you’re seeing requires attention.

Reconnecting with Family History

Older sections of family cemeteries often hold memorials for relatives several generations back. Mapping these out, photographing inscriptions, and cross-referencing with genealogical records can yield significant family history discoveries — particularly in historic cemeteries that predate digital records.

If you identify maintenance needs during a summer visit, contact Blackmon Memorials. We serve families throughout our region and can assess and address most restoration needs.