Memorial Garden

How lovely is thy dwelling place, O Lord of Hosts!
For my soul, it longeth, yea fainteth for the courts of the Lord.
Blest are they that dwell within Thy house. Psalm 84

THE MEMORIAL GARDEN

Our Memorial Garden was dedicated on September 23, 2001, and is a place of peace and repose for the ashes of those inurned within its wall. The wall contains secure niches for cremated remains. Paved paths and benches offer opportunity for private meditation. A traditional Celtic cross, donated by Mary Alice Davis in memory of her husband, depicts the post resurrection appearances of Christ when he appeared in the garden.

The Garden is available for the inurnment of cremains; first, to members of Westminster, and their immediate families; and second, to friends of the church, upon approval of the Session. Persons desiring to reserve space in the garden are invited to read the policies by clicking here and to complete one application form for each individual by clicking here.

Westminster’s Memorial Garden added a south wall in May, 2018. It is parallel to Edwards Street and perpendicular to the east wall providing an additional 180 niches for members and friends of our faith community. Evans-Mason was retained to do the work. We are grateful to Architect Dave Leonatti who gifted his design of the wall. On Sunday, May 27, Chris Elzea presented a Ministry Moment on behalf of the Memorial Garden Committee: Bill Donels; Chair, Chris Elzea, Richard Herndon, Dr. Glen Pittman, Dr. Andrew Sherrick and Lionel Stirrett.

All niches in the east wall have been sold. The cost of an individual inurnment in the south wall is $1,000 for a member or their immediate family and $2,000 for friends of Westminster. In 2016, the Memorial Garden Committee added this webpage to the Westminster Presbyterian Church website with pertinent information about those inurned in the garden.

Persons desiring to reserve space in the garden are invited to read the policies by clicking here, and to complete one application form for each individual by clicking here or picking one up in the church's West Narthex. If you have questions, contact Lisa Runkle, Financial Administrator (217) 522-4415 extension 11.

Memorial Garden Committee: Bill Donels; Chair, Chris Elzea, Gale Fixmer, Mary Jo Jenkins, Jeanne Pittman, and Lionel Stirrett

Those currently inurned in the Memorial Garden are listed below. Historic and pertinent information can be found by clicking on each name. This preserves our loved ones’ memories for generations to come and provides a resource for genealogy.

Albrecht, Harold H.
Bassett, Peter Samuel
B artlett, Byron A. "Bud"
Benjamin, Gail
Benjamin, Ruth T.
Bentsen, Harry R.
Bergmann Jr., Harry "Skip"
Bond, Pauline E.
Bradley, Brooke Frances Platt
Bradley Jr., Philip C.
Brown, Wesley W.
Carpenter, Nikki
Carpenter, Robert Dean
Clarke, Roberta
Clements, Doris Kruse
Clements Jr., William Denney
Collins, Barbara R.
Collins, R. Dean
Cooper Sr., Morris Davidson
Cragoe, Arthur C.
Dawkins, Joseph C.
Denham, Bill F.
Dillon, Karen
Eggebrecht, Richard W.
Elzea, Erin C.
Fixmer III, John "Jack" P.
Folse, Hazen Lewis
Germeraad, Darleen
Germeraad, Hendrik H.
Hahn, Jean
Hahn, Kerry
Hahn, Robert
Hale, Geraldine Grigsby "Gerry"
Hendee, Richard D.
Hennahane, James M.
Hennahane, Mary L.
Hibbert, Patsy Lou
Hill, Jack E.
Johnson, Merritt
Kacevicius, Lisa
Kacevicius, Michael
MacDonna Jr., The Rev. Dr. David
Maldaner, Richard
McClure, Tammy
Mitchell, Betty
Mitchell, Walter
Nenaber, Kathleen G.
Newtson, Richard
Noonan, Julia S.
Ogg, Colleen
Ogg, Warren
O'Keefe Jr., Dwight H.
O'Keefe, Nancy A.
Peura, Stephen
Pittman, Glen Dean
Purdy, Patricia Albrecht
Pyle, Cheryl L.
Robertson, Charles Todd "Chuk"
Ruklick, John Benjamin
Ryder, Elaine
Smith, Henry Dale
Stanczak, Martha F.
Sumner, David S.
Trapp, William F.
Twesme, Kellsey B. Proctor
VanDeventer, Daniel J.
Warren, Glenda G.
Warren, George N.
Washburn, Joyce S.
Wells, Terry A.
Whitaker, Geraldine
Whitaker, Mirl
Whitesell, Dorothy
Wilson, Dennis D.
Wise, Lisa L.