Wash Woods Methodist Church Cemetery (Virginia Beach, Virginia)

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This tiny and remote cemetery is located at the site of the former Wash Woods Methodist Church. The church and the entire community of Wash Woods no longer exist. The only remaining structure from the entire community is the steeple of the Methodist Church. At one time in its history, Wash Woods was a thriving community, near Back Bay, of Coast Guard men, hunt club employees and watermen and their families. At its peak there were some 300 people living in this remote outpost. There was a one-room schoolhouse, two stores on the beach, the Methodist church, a Disciples of Christ church, lots of farmland and good hunting ground. However, anything that the residents didn't produce themselves had to be purchased from either Knotts Island or northern Princess Anne County; not an easy or short journey even at the best times of the year. By the 1930s the waterfowl population was declining and there was an increase in severe hurricanes and the resident families began to move away. By the 1960s the state of Virginia had purchased all of the private land and the entire area became the False Cape State Park. Today the only access to the former community of Wash Woods is by hiking or biking from the nearest parking area which is about eight miles from the Wash Woods location. The False Cape State Park staff is now responsible for the maintenance of the Wash Woods Methodist Church Cemetery.

This graveyard is in moderately good condition and appears to be fairly well cared for by the park staff. The cemetery is in a sandy area just east of Back Bay. The cemetery is nestled in a pine and oak wooded area that appears to help preserve and protect it from erosion and damage. It can be located by following signs on the marked hiking trails.

Surnames: Brinson, Bunch, Ewell, Newbern, Pallett, Stevens, Waterfield.

Fully documented on FindAGrave.com