Maryville College Cemetery and Columbarium houses a final resting place for MC community members

The Maryville College Cemetery is home to the graves of impactful members of MC communities past, and has long been a source of campus lore.

The cemetery has existed since the 1800s, but many people remain unaware of who maintains it and how the burials are conducted. 

“We partner with Smith Funeral and Cremation Services,” explained Maddie Taylor (‘24), executive assistant in the college president’s office. “That is who we get into contact with for the actual burial or cremation process. Maryville College does not handle any human remains.” 

The college also partners with Maryville Monument, a local company that handles all of the college’s headstone engravings, according to Taylor. 

Although the college partners with local companies for grave digging, burial and engravings, Maryville College is still responsible for the upkeep, landscaping and plot management of the cemetery. 

“We maintain the cemetery grounds by mowing, trimming and keeping the area clean of limbs and other debris so it looks as nice as possible when family comes to visit. We don’t do any cleaning of the headstones. That’s more of a family thing,” said Alan Hale, the grounds superintendent. “There are several people, including myself, that have the map of the cemetery and how the plots are arranged.” 

“Long ago when the cemetery was started, there was a set way that the plots are laid out, and there are a set number of plots; so, we aren’t in danger of running out of land or space in the future. Originally there were 163 plots available. As of right now, I believe there are about 60 still available,” Hale said. 

In addition to the cemetery, in August of 2024, a new columbarium was built, which is a drawer-like structure with niches to store urns. This particular columbarium has 100 niches, with 13 already reserved for future urn burials, two of which are being inurned later this spring. 

“We partner with all of the same companies that we do with the cemetery. Anyone wishing to have their ashes stored within the Maryville College columbarium pays a 3,000 dollar deposit to the college,” Taylor explained. “That’s just a flat fee that goes towards their choice of niche as well as the upkeep.” 

Burials have become much less common than cremations, which is part of the reason why the college is implementing the columbarium. Because of the rise in cremations, the college already has plans to expand the columbarium, which is where the other part of that $3,000 goes to—fundraising. 

Another benefit of the columbarium is the lack of burial requirements compared to the cemetery, such as alumni having the opportunity for the college to be their final resting place through the columbarium. This is not the case with burials in the cemetery.

“College presidents, members of the Maryville College Board and faculty and staff members of at least 10 years of individual service are eligible for burial in the college,” said Chief of Staff Jordan McCullough. 

The most recent spouse of someone fitting those requirements is also eligible for burial in the MC cemetery alongside their spouse. 

Two current employees of the college already have plans to be buried in the college cemetery. 

Noah Bowman, director of the Academic Success Center, and Dr. Alayne Bowman, VP for admissions and financial aid, have been employees at MC for 17 and 20 years, respectively. In a previous year, the Bowmans submitted their request to be buried in the college cemetery, and it was personally approved and signed off by Maryville College President Dr. Bryan Coker. 

“It is a huge burden taken off of us, knowing that what to do with our bodies after we pass will not be something our children have to deal with,” Bowman said. 

“Maryville College means a lot to me and Alayne. We have both grown in our careers here. Unless something crazy happens, this will remain the place we want to be buried at.” 

The Bowmans have a beautiful plot reserved in the cemetery, surrounded by the Maryville College woods.

“It doesn’t seem like the opportunity to be buried here is one that faculty and staff know a lot about,” Bowman said. “However, I can say that we are not the only members of Maryville College with plans to be buried here.”