Virtual Cemetery Documentation Support

Please Note: This is an Express Interest opportunity. Interested volunteers will receive a project guide and instructions before beginning service.

Brief Organizational Description

The City of Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Facilities (PRCF) preserves and maintains Richmond's historic cemeteries while connecting the community to the people, stories, and history they represent. Through volunteer engagement, preservation initiatives, and historical research, we work to honor those interred in these sacred spaces and ensure their legacies remain accessible for future generations.

Volunteer Position Description and Purpose

Find a Grave Virtual Volunteer – Cemetery Documentation Support

Help preserve Richmond's history from anywhere. Volunteers will assist with documenting and improving burial records for individuals interred in Richmond's historic cemeteries through the Find a Grave website.

Accurate online records help families researching their ancestry, historians documenting community history, and descendants seeking information about loved ones. Volunteers play an important role in ensuring burial information is complete, accurate, and accessible to the public.

This opportunity can be completed entirely online and on your own schedule. This opportunity is offered as an Express Interest volunteer position. Once your interest is submitted, you will receive a Volunteer Guide containing step-by-step instructions, project expectations, approved cemetery resources, and information on how to document and report your volunteer service hours. Volunteers may begin service after reviewing the provided materials.

Volunteer Duties & Responsibilities

Volunteers may:

• Create a free Find a Grave account.
• Review existing memorial records for accuracy.
• Submit corrections using the "Suggest Edits" feature.
• Add missing biographical information when supported by reliable sources.
• Link family members when relationships can be verified.
• Add publicly available obituary information.
• Assist with identifying duplicate memorials.
• Document completed work for volunteer hour tracking.

Suggested cemeteries include:

• Evergreen Cemetery
• East End Cemetery
• Barton Heights Cemeteries
• Forest View Cemetery
• Riverview Cemetery
• Maury Cemetery
• Mount Olivet Cemetery
• Oakwood Cemetery

Qualifications, Skills, & Requirements

• Access to a computer, tablet, or smartphone with internet access.
• Ability to navigate websites and conduct basic online research.
• Attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Respect for historical records and cemetery preservation.
• No prior Find a Grave experience required.
• Training materials and instructions will be provided.
• No background check required.

Time Commitment

• Flexible and self-paced.
• Volunteers may contribute as little as 30 minutes or as much as several hours per week.
• Opportunity is available year-round.
• No minimum commitment required.

Other Information

Volunteer Hour Verification

• Volunteers will record hours through CF Engage.
• Volunteers should maintain a simple log of memorials reviewed, updated, or added.
• Periodic activity summaries may be requested for verification purposes.

Orientation & Training

• Volunteers will receive a Find a Grave Volunteer Guide with step-by-step instructions for creating an account, locating cemeteries, and submitting edits.
• No in-person orientation required.

Recommended Equipment

• Computer, tablet, or smartphone.
• Reliable internet connection.

What Volunteers Need to Bring

• Curiosity, patience, and attention to detail.
• Interest in history, genealogy, preservation, or community service.

Special Instructions

• Only submit information that can be verified through reliable sources.
• Do not speculate or make assumptions about individuals or relationships.
• Respect the integrity of historical records and cemetery documentation.
• Volunteers should focus on improving the accuracy and completeness of existing records while honoring those interred in Richmond's historic cemeteries.

Getting Started

This opportunity requires volunteers to submit an Expression of Interest through CF Engage. After expressing interest, volunteers will receive a digital Volunteer Guide with instructions for:

• Creating a Find a Grave account
• Identifying Richmond cemetery records that need attention
• Researching and updating memorial information
• Tracking and reporting volunteer hours
• Accessing project resources and support

Volunteers may work at their own pace and on their own schedule after reviewing the guide.

Contact Information
Priscilla Wright [email protected]
Volunteer Program Coordinator – Cemeteries
City of Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Facilities