John Edwards got quite a surprise last week from his friends who showed their respect for several decades of volunteer work at a community landmark.

The Hampton resident has for 35 years been a member of the five-person team that oversees the maintenance and operations at Berea Cemetery, contributing well into his 80s at a job that his father did before him. The cemetery itself has been in existence since the 1860s and is now owned and controlled by an independent board of directors, of which Edwards has long been a member.

Steve Nail, the current president of the board, said that Edwards expressed a desire to step down last year after his five-year term was completed but his peers persuaded him to stick around for just one more year. The board only meets once annually, and that took place May 10. Edwards was surprised that day with a plaque to commemorate his years of service as well as a gift certificate to show their appreciation.

“I didn’t know they were going to do that,” said Edwards, 84. “I really appreciate it, too.”

Edwards has lived in Hampton nearly his entire life, leaving only for a 20-year stint as a Department of Defense civilian working in the Panama Canal Zone. He started working at the cemetery upon his return in the mid-1980s.

The Berea cemetery is important to his family in a couple of ways. His parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles are buried there. Not only that, his family has been involved in the facility’s upkeep for nearly 100 years, starting before World War II. Edwards’ father, two uncles and two great uncles are among those who have lent a hand over the years.
The team charged with overseeing the cemetery makes sure the lots are maintained, handling sales to family members of deceased, communicating with funeral directors and making sure each body is buried in the right place. The last major project under Edwards’ leadership was the installation of a wrought-iron fence a few years ago around the entire property. The main issue today as far as actual maintenance is concerned would be cutting the grass, which is contracted out to a local lawn company.

Edwards stepped down from his leadership role a year ago and was succeeded by Nail, who “is doing an outstanding job,” Edwards said. “I couldn’t have turned it over to a better person. All the board members are very good.”

The cemetery has been a part of Hampton’s history for a very long time. The first burial is documented as having been in 1862, although it is uncertain exactly when the person actually died, according to Nail.

The first burial was a former Confederate soldier who actually died in Virginia, Nail said. The decedent’s brother-in-law traveled north to retrieve the body and bring it back to Hampton for its final resting place.

Today there are about 1,700 burial slots still available at Berea. Activity is far from predictable; after a busier-than-usual time in January and February, “there hasn’t been one phone call since,” Nail said.