chambleeumc

The Garden of Remembrance Chamblee First United Methodist Church

The Garden of Remembrance at CFUMC provides a sacred, beautiful, and permanent space for rest, prayer, and meditation. Church families may utilize the garden to honor loved ones through memorial tributes or as a final resting place for cremated remains.

Memorials & Honorariums

Members and friends of CFUMC are invited to honor a person or commemorate a special event through two beautiful options:

  • Tribute Tower Plaque: $300.00
  • Incised Memorial Brick: $30.00

Columbarium Inurnment

The columbarium offers a peaceful space for the inurnment of cremated remains.

  • Eligibility: Open to CFUMC members and their immediate family (spouses, children, or grandchildren). Other family members may apply for consideration by the committee on an individual basis.
  • Pricing: $2,600.00 or $2,800.00 (depending on niche location).
  • What’s Included: The reservation fee covers the niche, uniform granite face-plate engraving (Name, Date of Birth, Date of Death), and perpetual care of the garden.

Columbarium Guidelines & Policies

  • Niche Capacity & Dimensions: Each niche can accommodate up to two urns. Urns may be provided by the family or the crematorium, and must not exceed 9 ¼” x 9 ½” x 6 ¼”.
  • Selection & Transfers: Applicants may select their niche location from available inventory. Niche reservations are non-transferable to other individuals; they may only be surrendered back to the committee.
  • Services & Decor: All inurnments must include a service of committal approved by the CFUMC Senior Minister. To maintain the natural beauty and uniformity of the space, no floral arrangements or other personal decorations are permitted within the garden.
  • Records: The location of all occupied, reserved, and unoccupied niches is maintained in the official Columbarium Niche Registry in the church office.

Administration & Stewardship

  • Governance: The Garden of Remembrance is managed under the Board of Trustees by a committee comprising the Senior Minister (or their designee) and three lay church members.
  • Funding: All fees are placed into a dedicated, restricted fund managed by the committee. These funds are used strictly for perpetual maintenance, care, and future capital expansion of the garden and its surrounding grounds.
  • Amendments: The committee reserves the right to amend or revoke these fees and regulations at any time.

Application Procedure

  1. Obtain a Form: Application forms for plaques, bricks, and niches are available in the church office or yoy can download them here:
  2. Submit Payment: Return the completed application to the church office with a check made payable to First United Methodist Church, Chamblee.
  3. Finalize the Agreement: Upon committee approval, you will receive an official acceptance. This document, alongside the garden regulations, constitutes the official contract.
  4. Records: The original contract will be kept in the church’s permanent files, and a copy will be provided to the applicant for their records.