In my Introduction to Photojournalism class taken in spring 2022, the final project was a multimedia profile story on a subject of our choosing.
I immediately knew I wanted to choose an unusual subject – someone whose work is under-appreciated or unnoticed by the community but is actually integral to its success. I brainstormed ideas for a while, but I eventually found my ideal subject on an afternoon walk through campus.
Oconee Hill Cemetery is located directly behind Sanford Stadium, abutting the University of Georgia’s central campus. The cemetery is massive, with 100 sprawling acres of graves and available plots. I wandered in to explore the grounds and was immediately struck by the beauty of the place, particularly in the historic sections. Everything has been painstakingly preserved, with scenic landscaping and statuary. Around me, people jogged along paved paths and took photos of the monuments.
I researched Oconee Hill when I got back home and learned that the cemetery is home to a number of important figures in state and national history: Crawford W. Long, who invented the first surgical anesthesia, Ben Epps, who flew the first plane in the state of Georgia, and many notable political figures. Oconee Hill is maintained by a sexton, Don Smith, who oversees the cemetery’s operations, upkeep, and the sales of new plots.
I reached out to Don Smith and met with him twice, for a total of about seven hours. I learned about the career that had led him to this position and the deep commitment he has to preserving Oconee Hill for generations to come.
When he was promoted to sexton from general manager in 2017, the cemetery had fallen into disrepair. Smith hired a new landscaping team and worked tirelessly to restore the grounds, particularly in the historic sections where some of the most notable persons are laid to rest. He also oversaw the building of a new retaining wall within the historic grounds that allowed for the creation of new plots.
He proudly told me that those new plots were incredibly popular, not only because they are in the historic section, but because they have a direct view of Sanford Stadium – a fascinating combination of Athens’s richly historic past and its vibrant, energetic present.
The important work of maintaining cemeteries often goes unnoticed because some perceive it as morbid, but a stroll through Oconee Hill is anything but. Oconee Hill Cemetery is a beautiful, lovingly maintained place filled with history, and it was an honor to tell the story of the man who keeps it that way.
Lindsay Tuck Morris 