Grace Church Cemetery

In 1883 William Cabell Rives, Jr. donated four acres adjoining the church property to serve as a cemetery for parishioners and friends of Grace Church. In 1935 the trustees of the cemetery purchased four additional acres, and in 1960 James Derieux donated to the church three further acres from his Mulberry Hill property next door, asking that it be used for the burial of any who could not afford a plot. In 2005 the church purchased the field adjoining on the north, bordered by Millwood Lane, consisting of 11 acres. Altogether the grounds of Grace Church comprise 24 acres.

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​Before the completion of the stone church in 1855 and the donation of land for a cemetery in 1883, burials of community members usually took place in family graveyards on the old estates of the area. The earliest grave on the church grounds is that of James Maury, the first rector of this church and tutor to Thomas Jefferson. It is marked by the obelisk in front of the church, which stands on the spot of the pulpit of the colonial church. There is a long-standing legend, unconfirmed and dubitable, that an M. Johnson, variously said to have served in the Revolutionary War or the War of 1812, is buried between the two large oaks to the left of the church door.

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There are 110 known veterans buried in the cemetery. At least 25 served in the Army, 10 in the Navy, 8 in the Marine Corps and 7 in the Air Force. Their grave markers also reflect that 21 were junior enlisted, 9 were non-commissioned officers and 28 were commissioned officers including three lieutenant colonels, three colonels and one brigadier general. Regarding the wartime service of these veterans, 8 fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War, 13 served during WW I, 49 during WW II, 6 during the Korean War and 2 during the Vietnam War. The pride of service of the confederate soldiers is reflected on grave markers identifying their units: Company B, 19th VA Infantry, CSA, Carrington's VA Light Artillery, CSA, Company A, 12 Battalion, VA Light Artillery, CSA 88th VA Military, CSA, One of Mosby's Men, Company D, 43rd VA Calvary, Pegrams' Company, VA Light Artillery, CSA. There are also graves of two VMI cadets who fought at the battle of New Market. Captain George Geiger was aide de camp to Brigadier General James Kemper, one of General Pickett's Brigade Commanders at Gettysburg. Wounded during Pickett's charge on July 3, 1863, Geiger was captured, and died on July 17. Two recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross are buried here, among others who received awards for heroism.