Completing The Repair

Once the headstones were repaired and in filled, we reset the two foot stones that we had. The holes were dug and the foot stones were set using the same sand and gravel mixture that we use to reset other stones. Once the sand and gravel mixture is wet and packed, it makes for a solid support while at the same time allowing for good drainage to keep water away from the stone.

After the foot stones were reset, we completed the repair by adding some soil to the plot and covering the concrete bases that we constructed for the headstones. Since we have several pine trees in the cemetery, and an abundance of pine needles, a layer of pine needles was added to the plot to keep the weeds and grass out until some plants could be added in the landscaping phase of the project.

With the long family plot completed, we will now turn our attention to the neighboring Willis plot.

Setting The Stones

The lower sections of the stones are set into the concrete bases, leveled, and supported until they are dry.


The stones are set using a soft mortar compound designed to fail before damaging the stone. This way, should the mortar fail, the stone will not be damaged and can be reset in the same base.


Again, special care is taken to get the right stone in the base marking the correct grave.








Once the lower sections were dry and workable, the top sections were mounted.





If needed the stones are pinned using a section of stainless steel threaded rod. The stainless steel will not rust. The ferrous metal pins used in the olden days would most times rust, swell, and cause fractures in the stones, eventually causing the stone to fail and end up on the ground. Or worse, break into several pieces.





We use a stone epoxy in addition to the rods to rejoin the pieces. The rods are epoxied in, a few dabs of epoxy is placed on the stone surface, and it is clamped into place until it is dry.





When dry, the clamps will be removed and, the crack in the stone where it is joined together will be in filled using a historic pointing mortar to keep the moisture out.

Constructing The Bases

Soil was excavated from the grave plot and four base forms were constructed. The forms were placed, straightened, and leveled. The forms were placed so that they were 1 to 2 inches below soil level and the soil would cover them.

Some stones have bases that sit on top of the ground. These are tablet stones and do not have bases. Since the stones were broken and the lower portions could not be located and repaired, we wanted the bases underground to give the appearance that the stones were set in the ground.


A mortise or slot had to be constructed in each base for the stone to sit in. This was accomplished using 1x2's, a piece of 2x4 and some duct tape to keep the concrete from sticking.

After the concrete was poured, it was checked often and the jig for the mortise was removed before the concrete was totally dry and it couldn't be removed.

This is a critical step. Let it dry too much and you can't get it out. Take it out when it's too wet and your mortise collapses and you have to start all over again.


With the jigs removed, we will let the bases dry and then remove the forms from around them.





Then we can set the stones.

Raising and Leveling the Coping

The gravestones were excavated and placed on a tarp to get them out of the way and to prevent any further damage. Care must be taken to ensure the stones are placed in the order that you excavate them so you can replace them in the correct order. The footstones were removed also.

All the stones will be replaced when the coping has been raised, leveled, and straightened and new bases have been constructed for the headstones.





Excavation of the coping was begun. The granite coping consisted of four corner posts and ten rail sections about
4 ft. long: two on each side and three across the front and back. The top and around 5 inches of each side was finished, with the bottom and the remainder of the sides being unfinished. The uneveness of the bottom made leveling the rails a little tricky.



String lines were pulled to ensure the corner posts were square. After the corner posts were squared, the rails were raised, leveled, and set according to the corner posts. We used a mixture of sand and pea gravel under the coping to raise and level it. We wet the sand and use a tamp bar to compact the mixture under the coping to ensure it doesn't move. The sand and gravel also promotes drainage.


In the photo on the right, the plot is ready for the bases to be built and the gravestones repaired and replaced.




The two side sections of the coping on the left was left out and a board was used to keep the soil from washing.


These two sections will be replaced when the large coping rails of the Willis plot next to it are raised and leveled. We needed to leave some working room between them.

Long Family Plot

The first stones that we worked on in the cemetery were in

the Long family plot.

The plot contains the graves of James A. Long (1819-1864),
Agnes Long (1826-1864), Elizabeth Long (1849-1876), and
Edwin Long (1846-1864).

All four of the marble tablet stones were on the ground, broken, and covered with soil. All the stone parts were accounted for which makes the repair much easier, leaving no voids that would have to be in filled.

There were some huge azaleas growing in the plot that had to be removed. The stumps and roots would have to be removed to make sure they didn't grow back.

The granite coping surrounding the plot was twisted and uneven. It would have to be excavated, straightened, and leveled.

After removing the azaleas, the stones were carefully excavated. The areas around the stones were probed to see if any bases were present. Since none were found, new bases would have to be constructed.


Only two footstones were found for the four graves. Further probing did not uncover any more so we hoped that we would find the other two at a later time.


The main concern was to get these stones repaired and standing again.