Has anyone ever been to an old family cemetery? I ask because I have one cemetery I tend and a few others I visit that people SWEAR are absolutely "haunted". I have ancestors in these cemeteries (early mid-1800`s to currently used) and have never felt anything but a comforting peaceful feeling. Has anyone else had this happen?

Should have included this in my original post but here it is: I have many relatives in Mixon Cemetery[/URL] and everyone who lives around there absolutely refuses to go into the cemetery after dark. If you look at the list, including the second page, I`m related by blood to Bralys, Hatleys(my grandparents) and Longs and am related by marriage to the Keys, Kirbys, Langstons, Musicks, Snows, and Partins(the caretaker`s last name is Partin). The Leroy Braly listed is my 3rd g-grandfather. The James D. Long listed is my 2nd g-grandfather. The second name on the second page is my mother. She was buried beside James D. Long because she asked me if it was possible.. and one doesn`t ignore one`s mother`s request for interment. If you click on the "more help " link on the page, that`s me.
BTW, I also replace the flags when needed because I refuse to let my kin lie under tattered banners.
I do a lot of genealogical look-ups and have visited many cemeteries in this area and have never felt anything resembling malevolence. Maybe because they know I`m doing it for their progeny?

Kevin I've never felt anything but peace in a cemetary either but have heard some scary stories too. I'm sure you'll get a few here.

Beautiful cemetary by the way. I love how you replace the tattered banners for your family! So sweet =)

Cemeteries have never really given me the 'creeps' as so many people claim happens to them. I think cemeteries are a peaceful place, and I truly believe that the vast majority of spirits aren't malevolent, and do not wish to do harm in any way.

Kevin, I think the cemetery that you take care of is an absolute treasure, and having a place to be among so many of the final resting places of one's ancestors is a true miracle in this day and age. Our society has become much too mobile, and for a person to be buried among their kin just doesn't happen as much any more. My own family is scattered in several states, and I only know the burial place of a small handful of them. You are indeed very blessed to have the opportunity to tend the cemetery with so many of your relatives resting there.

Replacing the flags is a truly beautiful thing to do. You are a special person for tending this cemetery with so much love.

WOW! How this fits in?
Today we took our grandkids to the Milan Melon Festival and the only parking left, was in the cemetery that I wanted to take pic's of. It is supposedly one of the most haunted ones in Ohio.
Got lots of pic's.
As a kid, my mother took care of all the family graves and we spent many afternoons in them. I drew charcoals of the headstones? Took it up as a hobby as a teen.
I have to say, I was getting some weird looks. Alot of people ended up parking in the cemetery also and looked around at all the ancient stones, I was the only one with a camera?
I also find them peaceful and interesting.
Toodles..........Pig

I've got two family cemeteries - on on Dad's side and one on Mom's side. Dad's is in West Virginia on top of a large hill (in Ohio we'd call it a mountain) surrounded by green pastures. Mom's is in Virginia right next door to my grandparent's house - that's the one I'm most familiar with as I spent summers there. The church and cemetery are both on what was the boundary of the two families that donated the land. My grandmother would clean the church while my grandfather tended the lawns and graves. I always felt at peace there although some in the area park across the hill to watch for strange lights that dance around at night.

When I took my youngest son there for a visit when he was little, he couldn't sleep knowing the cemetery was right next door. The next day, I took him over to meet the relatives. Once he understood that most were relatives or close friends of the family, he had no problems with the area either. He used to ask me when we could go back to visit the family and he didn't mean the live ones.

Kevin, I occasionally research my genealogy and have spent some time in several of my family cemetaries. I have had a few odd things happen over the years, but nothing that I would call frightening.
I have an old family cemetary in Louisiana that I occasionally visit that is supposedly infamous for being haunted. I absolutely love the place. Some of the most interesting pics I've ever taken were in broad daylight there -- it was kinda like the friends and relatives enjoyed the attention and put on a show for me. It is one of the most peaceful, serene places I have ever been.
I always try to go by several of my family cemetaries about twice a year. We make a day of going to them, placing flowers on the headstones and making sure everything is ok. I've never been frightened of cemetaries. Death is a part of living, and I've always found these places to be very calming. =)

It's been awhile since I've been to one, but I've never felt creepy in a cemetery - even at night.

Here are those photos that Carrie caught in her old family cemetery in Louisiana[/URL]. =)

Kell