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Wright Family Cemetery Virginia Beach,
VA It was very hard to find. After driving down the street
twice I knew the choices were two: (1) give up; or (2) stop and ask for
directions. Since there were real state signs on each vacant lot, I was
really afraid that
development had taken the family cemetery for which I was searching.
Fortune smiled as I came upon a man standing in his driveway unloading the trunk
of his car. My car came to a stop of its own volition. And the
gentleman I approached knew exactly the spot for which I was earching. He
indicated that I should go back and look for the black rail fence near a large
house. That was the path that led to the cemetery. I retraced my
previous path and still didn't find the fence for which I was looking.
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Then, at the back of the cul-de-sac, I spotted a narrow grassy path into the
woods, which ran between two new houses. The path was separated from the
houses on each side by a black iron fencing with a chain serving as a barrier to
the entrance. This must be the spot! I parked the car and ventured
down the narrow grassy pathway wishing I had brought boots, due to the muddy
soil that the grass was hiding. But I was of one mind to find the hidden
plots. When I reached the woods I saw no cemetery, just a dirt path
leading back to another stretch of Shoveller to the right, and further into the
woods to the left. I proceeded left. Down the path a distance and
into the woods was the small family cemetery which remains hidden from any
unknowing souls. The pristine nature of the area had been disturbed
somewhat by the close proximity of new housing construction on Shoveller's
cul-de-sac. But the cemetery can feel safer than most from the vandalism
which has destroyed so many family plots, since it remains so hidden in the
woods. Here's hoping that the cul-de-sac's new occupants will respect its
honor and the history of its people. Cemetery Photographed May 15,
2004.
