In the News
Historic Local Cemetery Given Stewardship Award
The 2023 Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation Kegley Preservation Award for stewardship was presented to Donald Wilson, president of Evergreen Memorial Trust, for Evergreen Burial Park, one of the region's oldest continuing businesses. Wilson has worked at the park for over 40 years.
Under Wilson’s leadership, the park has become a community mainstay, hosting a variety of public events each year. These events include a fall history walking tour conducted by Wilson himself that highlights the stories of some of the more prominent figures buried there; an Arbor Day walk for observing the park’s specimen trees, many of which were planted in the original 1916 landscape design; and a Memorial Day celebration which includes the placement of American flags on all veterans’ graves, a veteran-centered tour, and the nationwide Taps Across America tribute.
Wilson was nominated for the award by Anne S. Beckett, who wrote, “What brought a country boy from Iowa to Roanoke in 1982 to work at one of the valley’s most long-lasting and successful businesses? Don Wilson came to work at Evergreen Burial Park as a natural-born salesperson! After working his way up, he bought the company and serves as the President of Evergreen Memorial Trust. The trust is headquartered at Evergreen Burial Park and also oversees their four other burial parks throughout the Roanoke Valley.”
Beckett also commented on the burial park’s rich history, saying, “Evergreen Burial Park began in 1916 on the Old Solitude Farm in what was then Roanoke County before being annexed by the city in 1926. The cemetery was designed by the Hare and Hare architectural landscape firm of Kansas City, Missouri, and its popularity was established from the start. Many notable individuals and their families are buried there, including a Virginia governor, fifteen Roanoke mayors, several Norfolk and Western presidents, and over 3,000 veterans of all wars dating back to the Civil War. There have been 25,000 burials in the 54-acre cemetery.
“The cemetery has always been a welcoming place for visitors. […] Under the forward-thinking management of the staff since 1916 and Don’s leadership, the cemetery and its parklike setting provide a unique setting to tell the stories of Roanoke, Virginia.”
Nominator Information
Name: Anne S. Beckett
Phone: (540) 354-STAR (7827)
Email: asbeckett@cox.net
Nomination Category: Adaptive Reuse, Restoration, Rehabilitation, Advocacy, Stewardship
Awardee Information
Name: Don Wilson
Address: 1307 Summit Avenue SW, Roanoke, VA 24015
Phone: (540) 342-2593
Email: dwilson@evergreenmemorialtrust.com
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Evergreen Burial Park takes a step back in time to recognize Roanoke historical figures
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Roanoke residents take walk through history to honor veterans at Evergreen Burial Park
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Roanoke volunteers place flags on veterans’ graves ahead of Memorial Day
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Robert E. Lee monument set to move to Evergreen Burial Park, goal is to promote history
September 25, 2020 Watch the WDBJ-7 story
Snow tampers with timing of last goodbyes
The Roanoke Times featured Evergreen Memorial Trust in an article revealing the affect winter weather has on funeral services. Read the full article in the link below.
Snow tampers with timing of last goodbyes – Roanoke Times_ Local News
Memorial Day Observance
In observance of Memorial Day, members of VFW Post 1264 will place flags on the graves of veterans in Evergreen Burial Park beginning at 9:00 a.m. Thursday May 25, 2012. The cadets of the Patrick Henry High School ROTC under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Steven Boyd will assist, weather permitting.
An estimated 4000 veterans are buried at Evergreen, including Russell William “Jack” Ingram and Rudy Obenchain who were killed on D-Day and Andre Portevin Fallwell who penned “Lest We Forget,” the poem engraved on the Veterans Memorial in Lee Plaza.
Evergreen Burial Park is located between the Wasena and Raleigh Court neighborhoods in southwest Roanoke City.
For further information contact Donald E. Wilson.
Among the notables whose lives and contributions will be recalled include: Governor (1958-1962) J. Lindsay Almond, an early advocate of school desegregation; Martha Anne Woodrum Zillhardt, Virginia’s first instrument-rated female aviator, founder of Woodrum Flying Service, and the first woman president of the Virginia Aviation Trade Council; Carter Burgess, one of many distinguished veterans interred at Evergreen, served as Secretary of the General Staff to European Commander Dwight Eisenhower; and Sallie Weaver Robertson, who, at her death at the age of 95 in 1937, was one of the last members of the Real Daughters of 1812, a group dedicated to promoting patriotism. Other memorials recognize significant events in national history. Evergreen is also home to the North America Champion Red Buckeye tree.