Calvary Memorial Cemetery

Historic Wilmington NC Cemetery

We recognize that we have a significant role in honoring the memory of the over 3000 individuals buried in our cemetery. We strive to be responsive to our past customers, their families and those who need our services in the future.

Calvary Memorial Cemetery

Greetings from the management of Calvary Memorial Cemetery. Thank you for visiting our website. Whether you are interested in the services we offer, trying to locate the grave of a loved one, inquiring about our policies and procedures or just curious about our history this website is a good place to start your search.

Find a Grave

Search by your loved ones last name or date of death to find where they are located in the cemetery.

About Us

Calvary Memorial Cemetery is a family owned historic cemetery located in the Northern part of Wilmington North Carolina.

Services Offered

We offer pre-need services as well as burials, cemetery maintenance and lot title transfers.

Cemetery Rules

Visitation hours, between Dawn and Dusk. Decorum is Required. Our flower policy, monument policies are outlined below.

Our History

 On family owned land since 1880, Stanley Rehder founded the Calvary Memorial Cemetery in 1968 in response to the community’s needs.

Pre-Arrangements

For current pricing information please contact a representative from the cemetery office.

Online Planning

Easy Consultations

Lot Transfers

Call: 910.763.1041

About Us

We are a family owned historic cemetery located in the Northern section of Wilmington NC, not too far from the city’s center.

Calvary Memorial Cemetery is the burial location of noted outsider artist Minnie Evans. Her extraordinary visionary art is found in private collections and museums across the globe.

Our Services

Pre-Need Services

Planning ahead for your final arrangements provides peace of mind for you and your loved ones. Our pre-need lot selection and opening and closing services allow you to select burial options, complete financial arrangements, and document your personal wishes in advance, locking in today’s prices and easing the burden on your family during a difficult time. Purchasing pre-need lots helps ensure that family members can select lots that are close together.

Burials

Our traditional “at need” burial services provide a serene and respectful setting for interment, with options for full casket burials and cremation inurnments in beautifully maintained grounds. We assist families with grave selection and work closely with area funeral homes to schedule services that meet the desires of the family.

Lot Title Transfers

We simplify the process of transferring cemetery lot ownership when needs change, such as through inheritance, sale, or reassignment within a family. Our team guides you through the required paperwork, ensures compliance with cemetery policies, and updates records promptly for a smooth transition.

Perpetual Care

Our perpetual care program ensures the long-term beauty and upkeep of the cemetery grounds, including lawns, pathways, trees, and shared spaces. A portion of each purchase supports an endowed fund dedicated to ongoing maintenance, providing lasting peace of mind that the cemetery will remain well-cared-for in perpetuity.

Cemetery Rules & FAQs

Here are our cemetery rules as well as some answers to the most frequently asked questions.  If you have additional questions that are not answered here, please do not hesitate to reach out to us for answers.

Visitation Policy

Calvary Memorial Cemetery welcomes visitors during open hours from dawn to dusk, allowing ample time to pay respects to loved ones in a peaceful setting. Decorum is required at all times to honor the solemn nature of the grounds—please maintain quiet, respectful behavior, avoid disturbing others, and refrain from activities that disrupt the tranquility. These guidelines help preserve the serenity and safety of the cemetery for all who visit. For any specific questions or special arrangements, feel free to contact cemetery management.

Flower Policy

To maintain the beauty, safety, and ease of grounds maintenance at Calvary Memorial Cemetery, floral tributes are subject to specific guidelines. Only flowers placed in approved vases—such as stone or plastic containers (no glass allowed)—are permitted on gravesites at any time. Larger funeral floral arrangements or silk arrangements may remain for one week following the burial or service, after which they are removed and discarded by cemetery staff. All other flowers or arrangements not in approved vases are prohibited, and wilted or unsightly items may be removed sooner to keep the cemetery tidy and safe.

Monument Policy

At Calvary Memorial Cemetery, monuments and headstones must promote uniformity, durability, and ease of maintenance across the grounds. Only flat (horizontal) markers are permitted, constructed from high-quality marble or granite. No concrete, metal, or other materials are allowed due to their inferior longevity and potential for damage. To ensure proper settling of the soil and prevent shifting or leaning, installation of any permanent marker must wait 6 months to 1 year after burial. No additional items such as lights, fences, solar paraphernalia, rock mulch, borders, or other decorations are allowed around the markers to preserve the cemetery’s clean, consistent appearance. For approved stone companies or further guidance on selections and placement, please contact cemetery management directly.

Our History

In the late 1960s regional community leaders began looking for property suitable to create a new inner-city cemetery. The 100-year-old Pine Forest Cemetery on North 16th Street had served the black community well but did not have additional land available for expansion. Representatives from the leading family-owned funeral homes businesses approached Stanley Rehder, the owner of seven acres of land on North 11th Street, to ask an important question. Would he consider creating a cemetery on the land? The request was well-timed and well-received. The Rehder family had owned the land since 1880 and had operated a successful wholesale floral business there, growing and shipping flowers across the southern states. But by 1965 the third-generation owner, Stanley Rehder, felt it was time to close the greenhouse business and he welcomed an opportunity to provide a needed community service. The new cemetery business was incorporated in 1968 and began doing business as Calvary Memorial Cemetery. Mr. Rehder operated the business until 2004 at which time another family member stepped in to purchase the business. The cemetery remains family owned and operated.

Calvary Memorial Cemetery is part of a grouping of five community cemeteries found in a common geographical area. The Temple of Israel Cemetery, dedicated in 2009, is located on Princess Place Drive between 17th and 18th Streets. Across the street at 1793 Princess Place Drive is historic Bellevue Cemetery, a thirty-acre cemetery founded in 1876. Over 6000 people are buried within the gates of Bellevue Cemetery. Pine Forest Cemetery, located at 490 North 16th Street, is a not-for-profit cemetery with a rich history dating back to 1860. Pine Forest was originally established on a fifteen-acre property to serve primarily as a final resting place for people of color. The cemetery now spans 25 acres. Adjacent to Pine Forest Cemetery is Oakdale Cemetery. Founded in 1852, Oakdale is the oldest rural cemetery in North Carolina and encompasses over 100 acres. Included within the grounds is a small Hebrew Cemetery. Calvary Memorial Cemetery is the last cemetery in the contiguous trail of sacred ground that includes cemeteries from North 11th to North 18th Street.

The three cemeteries that have each been in operation for over 150 years utilize a network of volunteers to keep the cemeteries in operation. These historic cemeteries are the final resting places of people with local and national significance in areas including architecture, the arts, government, science, and education. Although much younger than its neighboring cemeteries, Calvary Memorial Cemetery is the burial location of noted folk artist Minnie Evans. Her extraordinary visionary art is found in private collections and museums across the globe.

Calvary Memorial Cemetery

We welcome calls and email inquiries to help you with any questions you may have.

Historic Cemetery in Northern Wilmington NC

Calvary Memorial Cemetery
N 11th St, Wilmington, NC 28401

Phone: (910) 763-1041
Email: Info@calvarymemorialcemetery.com

Calvary Memorial Cemetery

Together we make Calvary Memorial Cemetery a desired location to gather and celebrate the lives of loved ones and dear friends.