Memorial Garden Eligibility & Policies

Eligibility Criteria

The following are eligible to be interred in the William & Mary Memorial Garden:

• Full-time and retired faculty of William & Mary
• Active and former members of the Board of Visitors
• Alumni of the university
• Staff with a minimum of five years of service
• Friends as defined by the William & Mary Alumni Association
• Immediate family members of those in the above groups (as determined by the William & Mary Alumni Association)

Friends of William & Mary and individuals related to the above groups may request in writing their desire to be interred in the William & Mary Memorial Garden. Individuals related to the above groups area asked to inform their William & Mary connection (a member of one of the above groups) of their intention prior to requesting eligibility.

Requests will be reviewed by the William & Mary Memorial Garden committee made up of the CEO of the William & Mary Alumni Association, the vice president of office administration of William & Mary, the director of leadership and foundation operations of William & Mary, the executive director of the historic campus of William & Mary and the administrator of the William & Mary Memorial Garden.

Requests may also be emailed to Jackie Blum at jblum@wm.edu

Policies & Procedures

Interments

All burials of ashes shall be done by the family in areas predetermined by the William & Mary Alumni Association. To arrange for a burial, the completed application must be received two weeks prior to the requested interment day. Prior to the requested date and time, Alumni Association staff will locate and prepare an appropriate area for burial. Families are strongly encouraged to places ashes directly into the ground. However, if ashes are to be buried in containers, such containers must be fully biodegradable, including interior linings, and cannot exceed a size of 7” X 9.5” X 5”. Once the remains have been placed in the ground, the family should cover the opening at least partially with provided fill dirt. Alumni Association staff will inspect the burial site at a subsequent time and provide additional fill dirt as needed.

Privacy

The Alumni Association will not close the William & Mary Memorial Garden during ceremonies and thus makes no guarantee of privacy before or during or after any ceremony. The Alumni Association will maintain a schedule of ceremonies so that two ceremonies are not scheduled for a common start time. A member of Alumni Association staff ill be in attendance at every burial ceremony.

Subsequent Death of Family Members

The Alumni Association will make no arrangements for the subsequent death of family members regarding the special placements of interred ashes. All interments are to be done in areas designated solely as Classical Condensed.

Mementos

Families are asked to refrain from leaving flowers, cards, mementos, etc. anywhere in the William & Mary Memorial Garden. Any such items will be collected and removed by Alumni Association staff.

Application Fees

Any application or reservation fee thereof submitted to the Alumni Association for the reservation of an imminent or future interment shall be nonrefundable.