Meet the GraveGeeks: Graveyard_Glimpses, Gone Graving, and Roots and Branches

At GraveGeek Volunteers Inc., our mission is carried forward by dedicated individuals who give their time, skills, and compassion to preserving history. From cleaning and documenting to researching family stories and advocating for forgotten burial grounds, our volunteers are the reason this work continues to grow.

Each month, we are going to highlight members of our community whose efforts help protect the memories of those who came before us. Every volunteer arrives with a different background, different skills, and a different story—but all share the same goal: making sure no one is forgotten.

This month, we are proud to introduce Graveyard Glimpses (Amanda), Gone Graving (Parker), and (Roots and Branches) B—three volunteers whose journeys into cemetery preservation started differently but reflect the heart, dedication, and determination that define the GraveGeeks community.

Graveyard_Glimpses (Amanda)

New Hampshire • Cemetery Volunteer • Photographer

Amanda, known as Graveyard_Glimpses, began her journey as a self-taught cemetery photographer, drawn to the quiet beauty and stories found within burial grounds. Her connection to cemeteries deepened after the passing of her father in the spring of 2023. As an introvert, she spent time exploring cemeteries with her dog, Lillie, documenting them through photography and discovering the powerful sense of history held in each site.

Over time, her passion shifted from observation to preservation. Wanting to prevent both cemeteries and the people buried within them from becoming forgotten, she began researching proper conservation methods. After attending a preservation meeting, studying approved cleaning practices, and learning the “Do No Harm” approach, she started by cleaning her own family’s stones and those of friends who granted permission.

Her work soon expanded into community preservation. In 2024, she became a volunteer with her local town’s heritage committee and played a key role in caring for a historic 300-year-old cemetery, restoring stones ranging from Revolutionary War and Civil War veterans to modern memorials.

For Amanda, the most meaningful part of this work is simple but profound:

“Giving the forgotten, their names back.” 

Her advice to new volunteers reflects the caution and respect required in preservation:

“If you think you shouldn’t touch it, don’t.” 

Gone Graving (Parker)

New York • Cemetery & Research Volunteer • Preservation Advocate

Parker, known as Gone Graving, began his preservation journey at just nine years old during a cemetery cleanup in Rose, New York. While helping remove debris, he spotted a small piece of stone protruding from the ground. What the group uncovered was the buried headstone of James and Eleanor Campbell—a discovery that ignited a lifelong commitment to ensuring no one is forgotten.

From that moment forward, Parker immersed himself in learning cemetery preservation. He studied techniques, watched educational videos, and gained hands-on experience alongside established preservationists. In 2023, he encountered the severely overgrown Hubbard Cemetery in Butler, New York, a site nearly hidden beneath poison ivy and invasive vegetation. Feeling a strong connection to the place, he committed to restoring it. Gone Graving

After obtaining permission from the town, Parker and his friends began clearing brush and uncovering stones that had not been visible for years. That effort revealed dozens of hidden headstones and marked the start of an extensive restoration project. Since then, he has cleaned over 900 stones, repaired dozens, and obtained permission to work in multiple cemeteries. Gone Graving

He now mentors a younger “GraveGeek in training,” demonstrating that preservation knowledge can—and should—be passed forward to the next generation.

For Parker, the reward comes from the work itself:

“Everything — the hard work, the knowledge you gain, and the feeling of completion.” 

His advice to newcomers emphasizes learning from experienced preservationists:

"Seek out knowledgeable volunteers using approved methods, because mistakes can have lasting consequences."

Roots and Branches (B)

Michigan • Cemetery & Research Volunteer • Genealogist

Known simply as B, this Michigan-based volunteer combines hands-on preservation with genealogical experience. While B began cleaning headstones in 2018 and sharing the work publicly in 2020, genealogy has been a passion for nearly twenty years.

That long-term research background informs every project undertaken. For B, cemetery work is not just about cleaning stones it’s about understanding the lives behind them. Discovering personal histories, learning how people lived, and sometimes connecting with living family members makes each restoration meaningful.

B’s volunteer work spans nearly every aspect of preservation, including cleaning, mapping, research, and documentation. This broad skill set allows B to approach cemeteries as both physical landscapes and historical archives.

B became involved with GraveGeeks after being invited by CrazyCemeteryLady—and quickly found a community worth staying for.

His advice to new volunteers is simple but powerful:

“Always be open to learn more.” 

Every cemetery tells a story and so does every volunteer who chooses to care for it. The work of Amanda, Parker, and B shows that preservation doesn’t come from one single path. It can begin with photography, a childhood discovery, decades of genealogy research, or simply the desire to help ensure that no one is forgotten.

Together, these volunteers represent the quiet dedication that keeps historic cemeteries visible, respected, and remembered. Their efforts protect not only the stones themselves, but the lives, families, and communities those stones represent.

Next month, we’ll introduce more members of the GraveGeeks community who are making a difference in their own corners of the world. Until then, whether you clean, research, document, advocate, or simply share our mission with others, you are part of this work too.

History endures because people care enough to preserve it and we are grateful for every GraveGeek who helps carry that responsibility forward.

With Love,

TashasGraveAdventures