Conway-area cemetery honors deceased with luminaries

Hillcrest Cemetery invites everyone to honor their lost loved ones at the 19th Annual Goldfinch - Hillcrest Christmas Luminary Candlelight Service on Dec. 5.

Thousands of people usually attend this event to light candles for a loved one that is there, or for deceased loved ones regardless of where they are.

Robyn Jones, who works in family counseling services and sales, said they have 10,000 luminaries. “They will all get lit,” she said. Staff and visitors work together to make sure that happens.

Jones said the large cemetery was almost filled to capacity with vehicles last year. Even though the ceremony starts at 5:30 p.m., visitors should arrive early “unless you want to walk a long way to get to your loved ones, especially in the back,” Jones said.

Some people get there as early as 3 p.m. or before to make sure they can park and stay in the area where their deceased family members or friends are.

Refreshments will be served at tents set up in different areas of the cemetery. There will also be collection boxes at the tents for visitors to put non-perishable goods to benefit the needy that are served by Churches Assisting People.

Following a ceremony with a speaker and Christmas music, the candles will be lit.

Many of us have lost family members or friends in 2015. This event gives us an opportunity to remember them, to cry for their loss if we feel like it because we are surrounded by people who are there for the same reason – to honor and remember someone they love, and remembering them with laughter or with tears is more than acceptable.

Jones said she thinks it helps people to go out there. “It’s a great way to honor their family member or friend,” she said

I haven’t been able to make it to this service for the past few years, but I have been many times, and I met and talked with numerous people who, like me, were there to honor someone they loved. I’ve met parents and grandparents grieving for stillborn babies that are in graves decorated with toys. I’ve met kids weeping at the grave of one of their parents and seen their tears dry as they hurried from grave to grave lighting candles so everyone would have one burning.

Whether your loved one died 50 years ago or just last week, no matter if they were stillborn babies or elderly, honoring and remembering them in some way is important.

Maybe you think you’d rather be alone or just with family to do that, but if you choose to join with thousands of others who share your grief and loss, you will be welcome at Hillcrest Cemetery, which is at 1000 Hwy 544, across the road from the Coastal Carolina University Stadium.

After the event, the luminaries will be left burning and the gates will be open so that people can ride through and experience the serenity and beauty of 10,000 candles aglow.

This story was originally published December 2, 2015 at 3:30 AM with the headline "Conway-area cemetery honors deceased with luminaries."