Radcliff Cemetery Restoration Initiative

Repaired stonework at Radcliff Cemetery

Lynchburg History in our Backyard

As our team worked to restore stonework in Lynchburg’s Old City Cemetery in 2023, we uncovered some interesting history regarding figures in Lynchburg’s history.

We rebuilt a wall surrounding the memorial for Bransford Vawter, "Lynchburg's first poet". Local lore claims that Bransford wrote his acclaimed poem, "I'd Offer Thee This Hand of Mine", about a forbidden love for Flora Ann Norvell, the daughter of a well-to-do family and above-class for Bransford.

The Norvell family gravesite, Radcliff Cemetery, happens to be right across town.

Flora Norvell may have been the daughter of Captain William Norvell, who was influential in developing Lynchburg in the early 1800's. William Norvell was the city's first corporation clerk, town council member, and President of the Bank of Virginia. During the Civil War, his daughter Lucy Norvell Otey established the Ladies' Relief Hospital. The hospital she led had the lowest mortality rate among local hospitals and became renowned throughout the South.

The Norvells' country home, "Radcliff," once sat on the grounds of the current Aerofin company. Generations passed, and Lynchburg grew up around it while the cemetery fell into disrepair.

Jane Baber White, historical preservationist and former director of Old City Cemetery, alongside her cousin Kirk Otey, leads the Radcliff Cemetery restoration initiative.

Before

First, Jonathan Sledge cleared the cemetery of invasive vines and trees. Then forensic scientist and Professor Rhett Hermon used penetrating radar to determine the locations and number of people buried in the cemetery.

We joined this project to rebuild the fallen stone walls surrounding the cemetery. Our team has rebuilt two double-faced walls around the burial grounds, dry stacking the stones and carefully replicating the original work.