Cemetery Operations
Olivet Cemetery was founded in 1851 when George Casey and Sarah Harness granted two and one half acres of land to the Olivet Cemetery Company for the sum of $1 for the purpose of providing a "suitable public burying ground near the town of Moorefield." The cemetery sits high on a hill above Moorefield, the county seat of Hardy County, and provides wonderful views of the South Branch Valley
Olivet today is comprised of 40 acres, and is managed by a seven-member board of directors, headed by board President Roger Pratt and Vice President Harold Michael. Other board members are Greg Greenwalt, Linda Michael, Judy Patterson, Bill Robinette,and Rodney Weese. Cemetery staff includes Jeff and Chester Kelley, caretakers, and Barb See, secretary/treasurer.
More than 4,000 graves are cared for within Olivet Cemetery, with hundreds of lots still available.
Please visit the Services page to see more information about burial options and costs.
Olivet Cemetery Walking Tour
We invite you to take a walking tour of Olivet Cemetery, enjoy the scenery, and learn about some of the people who have been laid to rest in this peaceful place. Download a copy of the walking tour and accompanying map below.
In addition, there is a great deal of Civil War history contained without the cemetery grounds, including the remnants of historic Civil War battle trenches. In 2009, Olivet Cemetery was selected as a participant in the West Virginia Civil War Trails program, with the Civil War Trails marker being erected that year. Please visit the Civil War History page to learn more.
Oak Hill Cemetery Walking Tour
Across Duffy Hill Drive, east of Olivet Cemetery, is Oak Hill Cemetery, a serene and quiet place that has served generations of African-American families in the South Branch Valley. Some of the earliest recorded graves in the cemetery date from the late 1800s, and local lore tells of many other unmarked graves in the 2-acre cemetery that are the final resting places for family members born into slavery. A walking tour booklet, last updated in 2002, records the memories of many descendants who have family buried at Oak Hill. Download a copy of the Oak Hill Cemetery walking tour and accompanying map below.