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Preserving History,

Remembering Lives

Est. 1873

 

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Headstones along the river at the Parsons Cemetery
Large headstone with a cross on top at the Parsons Cemetery

About Us

Parsons Cemetery is today both operational and historic. It is an urban green space, an outdoor museum, and in the words of architectural historian, Keith Eggener, urban cemeteries “are where life meets death, nature meets city, and present meets past.”

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Donate to Parsons

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Take a Tour

Parsons Cemetery covers 18 acres and is divided into several sections. Take a tour of our cemetery and learn what Parsons has to offer today.

Take a Tour

Brewington Headstone with a large statue on top
Large headstone with a cross on top

Preserving History

In addition to being an active cemetery, Parsons Cemetery is also a historic site. Many of Salisbury’s early leaders are interred in Parsons Cemetery. The Parsons Cemetery Committee works hard to provide historic information for our patrons and we offer a variety of self-guided tours.

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Two young girls cleaning headstones at the Parsons Cemetery
Wreaths across America at Parsons Cemetery

Working with Our Community

Parsons Cemetery takes great pride in working with the local community. Each December we host Wreaths Across America where we honor the 1,300+ veterans interred in Parsons. We also work with local organizations like Salisbury University, 4-H, and the Boy Scouts to keep the cemetery clean and the older markers maintained.

Parsons is grateful for the number of hours volunteered by the members of our local community.

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Upcoming Events @Parsons-Cemetery

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Memorial Day at Parsons Cemetery

Memorial Day at Parsons Cemetery

May 27, 8:00am - May 27, 5:00pm

Parsons Cemetery

Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for mourning the U.S. military personnel who have died while serving in the United States armed forces. It is observed on the last Monday of May. It was formerly observed on May 30 from 1868 to 1970. The American Legion Post 64 will be placing flags on the graves of veterans on the 27th and removing them on June 3rd.

5 interested  ·  1 going
Honoring Henry Handy

Honoring Henry Handy

Jun 8, 10:30pm

Parsons Cemetery

Henry Handy was a member of one of Salisbury's founding families and owners of Pemberton Hall. Henry was buried at Pemberton Hall but was possibly reinterred at Parsons Cemetery. We will be holding a ceremony to honor his service in the Revolutionary War by dedicating a plaque and kiosk telling about him. A similar plaque will be presented at Pemberton hall at 1:00 PM

12 interested  ·  2 going
Parsons Cemetery's thank you to Salisbury's First Responders

Parsons Cemetery's thank you to Salisbury's First Responders

Sep 11, 8:00am - Sep 11, 9:00am

Parsons Cemetery

Please join Parsons Cemetery in honoring our First Responders on the anniversary of the day their brothers and sisters fought to save those caught in the terrorist attack of 9-11-2001.

Here are five ways you can do it!

Watch our video honoring the First Responders buried at Parsons.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeYxgzdyC5Q&t=20s


Read each of the 63 names of those resting here.
parsonscemetery.com/honoring-our-first-responders/


Visit the cemetery, stop at one of the graves, say thank you.
parsonscemetery.com/honoring-our-first-responders/

Tell us if you know of a First Responder buried at Parsons that is not on our list.
parsonscemetery.com/contact/

Join us at our Wreaths Across America event on December 16th since many First Responders are also Veterans
parsonscemetery.com/community-events/
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1 going
Blessing of the Animals

Blessing of the Animals

Oct 6, 2:00pm

Parsons Cemetery

In honor of the Feast of Saint Francis, patron saint of animals, we will be holding our annual Blessing of the Animals at the Delmarva Pet Garden located in Parsons Cemetery. We invite you and your pets to join us for this special event. The event is rain or shine and open to all.

1 interested  ·  2 going
Veteran's Day at Parsons Cemetery

Veteran's Day at Parsons Cemetery

Nov 11, 10:00am - Nov 11, 12:00pm

Parsons Cemetery

“Protecting our future by remembering our past,” in the words of the Doughboy Foundation (DF), Parsons Cemetery joins others across the country in its annual Bells of Peace Ceremony this Veteran’s Day.

Initiated in 2018 to commemorate the World War I Armistice's 100th anniversary, this ceremony at 11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month honors all Americans who have served their nation and the cherished peace we enjoy because of their dedication and sacrifice, the DF said.

At 11 a.m. that Saturday, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, which owns Parsons Cemetery, will ring its tower bell 21 times. The church’s 8:30 a.m. prayer service will also honor the sacrifice of veterans. It usually lasts about half an hour.

At Parsons, the on-sit office opens at 10 a.m. with a display of Dr. Brent Zaprowski's new and unpublished Veteran's Self-guided Walking Tour memorializing the WWI veterans. Some 300 veterans of the “War to End All Wars” are interred at the cemetery, said Zaprowski, a member of the Parsons Advisory Committee. The office will remain open until 11:30 a.m. and all are invited. At 10:15 a.m., a guided walking tour starts, focusing on the graves of all veterans, from the War of 1812 onward. Carol Smith, who drafted the original tour, will lead. A moment of silence will be observed as the "Bells of Peace" ring. Some 1,238 men from Wicomico County were mobilized during WWI, Zaprowski added, and worldwide over nine million combatants and seven million civilians died.

Smith, also an advisory committee member and history buff, said the first public celebration of Armistice Day was in 1919. In 1954 it was renamed Veterans Day.

All are invited to the St. Peter’s prayer service and to Parsons for the walking tours. St. Peter’s is located at 115 St. Peter’s St. downtown. Parsons is located at 912 N. Division St. For more information call 410-749-6571.


www.military.com/daily-news/2018/11/02/heres-how-you-can-ring-bells-peace-your-smartphone-veteran...
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4 interested  ·  1 going
Wreaths Across America at Parsons Cemetery

Wreaths Across America at Parsons Cemetery

Dec 14, 8:00am - Dec 14, 10:00am

Parsons Cemetery Salisbury, MD

Parsons Cemetery will participate in this national event to honor the nearly 1400 veterans buried at our cemetery. Gates open at 9:00. Parade starts at 9:30. Ceremony at 10:00 followed by placement of wreaths

11 interested  ·  2 going

Recent Posts @Parsons-Cemetery

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2 days ago
Parsons Cemetery

Photos from Wreaths Across America - Official Page's post ... See MoreSee Less

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1 week ago
Parsons Cemetery

As part of our upcoming Festival on May 5th, we'd like to invite people to join in the fun and be part of our Community Curator's Tent. Do you collect something unique? Something fun? Something awesome? Come show off your collection to everyone at our Festival and be the expert. Participants will be allowed to sell items they bring if they so choose. For more information and if you'd like to participate please email [email protected] ... See MoreSee Less

1 week ago
Parsons Cemetery

Thank you to the students from the Salisbury University Honors College www.salisbury.edu/academic-offices/honors/ and to Dean Martino for completing our annual Spring cleanup. Parsons Cemetery is looking great for Easter! ... See MoreSee Less

Thank you to the students from the Salisbury University Honors College https://www.salisbury.edu/academic-offices/honors/  and to Dean Martino for completing our annual Spring cleanup. Parsons Cemetery is looking great for Easter!Image attachmentImage attachment+2Image attachment

Comment on Facebook

Thank you Salisbury University Clarke Honors College for all of your hard work! The cemetery looks great! We appreciate you!

Great job. Thanks so much!

I appreciate their work but wish tombstone saddles could have been left in place. Went there today and it was gone. I visit weekly. I think clean up was a bit extreme.

Salisbury University Clarke Honors College

2 weeks ago
Parsons Cemetery

Wrapping up our yearly paving maintenance at Parsons Cemetery made possible by donations to our Friends of Parsons Cemetery fund. Not a wildly exciting project, but a very necessary one. ... See MoreSee Less

Wrapping up our yearly paving maintenance at Parsons Cemetery made possible by donations to our Friends of Parsons Cemetery fund. Not a wildly exciting project, but a very necessary one.Image attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment
2 weeks ago
Parsons Cemetery

Today, “March 8, 1908, women workers in the needle trades marched through New York City's Lower East Side to protest child labor and sweatshop working conditions, and demand women's suffrage. Beginning in 1910, March 8 became annually observed as International Women's Day. “ Within Parsons Cemetery rest many women of that era including two women who were Suffragette Leaders, Irma Graham and Kate Toadvin.

There are many other strong women resting here who made a difference and influenced Salisbury’s rich history. Why not take a moment to remember such women you know to be resting here in a comment and we will ensure their history is included in the Parson’s Find-A-Grave database.

www.findagrave.com/memorial/58308091/irma-graham

www.findagrave.com/memorial/49570479/kate_houston-toadvine
... See MoreSee Less

Today, “March 8, 1908, women workers in the needle trades marched through New York Citys Lower East Side to protest child labor and sweatshop working conditions, and demand womens suffrage. Beginning in 1910, March 8 became annually observed as International Womens Day. “ Within Parsons Cemetery rest many women of that era including two women who were Suffragette Leaders,  Irma Graham and Kate Toadvin.  

There are many other strong women resting here who made a difference and influenced Salisbury’s rich history. Why not take a moment to remember such women you know to be resting here in a comment and we will ensure their history is included in the Parson’s Find-A-Grave database. 

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58308091/irma-graham

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49570479/kate_houston-toadvineImage attachmentImage attachment+2Image attachment

Comment on Facebook

Kate Toadvin was the Chairman, Woman’s Section of Wicomico County, and Irma Graham was Chairman, Woman Suffrage League of Salisbury, Maryland 1918.

2 weeks ago
Parsons Cemetery

Due to the forecasted lack of cooperation from Mother Nature our Spring Cleaning day has been rescheduled. New date is March 10, 2024 at 10am. ... See MoreSee Less

Due to the forecasted lack of cooperation from Mother Nature our Spring Cleaning day has been rescheduled.  New date is March 10, 2024 at 10am.
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