Reviving the Cemetery: An Oxford Student’s Effort to Bridge Campus to Community
The Oxford Research Scholars (ORS) program allows students at Oxford College of Emory University to work directly with faculty members and develop research skills in a discipline of interest. Delaney Arnold 28Ox took advantage of this program to develop a research plan that seeks to unite the local community while initiating a large-scale restoration of the Oxford Cemetery.
Delaney’s interest began in her archeology class during the 2025 Spring semester. She researched the iconography—the images on each headstone—back in her hometown of Trenton, New Jersey. Recognizing the potential of this research, Dr. Alexandria Orozco, Visiting Assistant Professor of Anthropology, introduced the opportunity to apply for the ORS program.
“Delaney was a very, very good student who came to office hours, really did a great job networking, and building that relationship over the year through classes with me,” Dr. Orozco said, “we became aware of the program, and so we applied because it seemed like a great continuation of her work.”
From there, Delaney was able to pinpoint a specific direction for her research on cemeteries. In particular, she chose the Oxford Historical Cemetery for her focus.
“I would walk around campus a lot with my friends, and we would walk to the cemetery,” Delaney said, “and at the cemetery, I noticed some issues in terms of some stuff being overgrown, some general disrepair of divots, ditches, and stones being unclean and things like that.”
This insight inspired the primary goal of Delaney’s project: the restoration of the cemetery.
We’ve been mainly focusing on building up community and resources this semester. All of the resources, partners, and involved people are spread across, not just Covington, but the greater U.S. And so we’ve been trying to triangulate between members and organizations to come together, to curate this new and improved map and tours related to the cemetery.”
“It’s a very ambitious project, and realistically, all that we want to have happen for the restoration won’t happen in my year,” Delaney said, “but at the very least, we will set up a plan and a model for other students to continue it in the following years.”
Delaney hopes that, with her work on this project, her classmates will be motivated to contribute and continue it even after she graduates. What makes this cemetery especially relevant is its ties to Emory, which were fundamental to this research project.
“There are eight former presidents of Emory University buried there. Our founder, Ignatius Few, is buried there,” Delaney said, “there’s former Emory students, former Emory staff, and there’s just so many ties to our school and the community as a whole, and just making sure we realize and acknowledge Emory’s complex history and continue to participate in growing and learning from it.”
The Oxford community has access to such a rich aspect of Emory history just a mile away, further emphasizing the importance of restoring and caring for the cemetery. By focusing efforts on cleaning, repairing, and managing these headstones, the site can be preserved for future generations.
While restoration is one of the primary goals of this research project, this process is limited by the time and resources she has available. Delaney’s goal is not only to bring about immediate improvements but also bridge a gap between the isolated Oxford community and the surrounding region, fostering a shared, long-term relationship built on preservation and collaboration.
The biggest thing has been reaching out directly to community members,” Dr. Orozco said, “we went to City Hall and gave presentations in order to raise funds with the city. This helped cover the cost of spraying chemicals to make the cemetery pretty again. We have a form that we sent out through the city of Oxford, and then community members are able to sign up.”
Aside from city funding, Delaney is applying for grants, such as the Board of Counselors Grant, in hopes of securing additional funding for signs, posters, and other marketing materials to bring the community together.
“I feel like sometimes Oxford, the college, can be disconnected from Oxford, the city, and I’m really hoping to help bridge that gap,” Delaney said. “We’re having a large community fundraising event on April 18, and we really hope student attendance will be good there.”
Dr. Orozco and Delaney have been working with community members, local vendors, artists, businesses, and more to plan an event in April. The event will be a blend of celebration, restoration, awareness, and collaboration.
“We know we are going to have some student performers. We are also talking with some other professors and departments, telling their students about it, potential volunteers, potential collaborations,” Delaney said, “we are going to have food trucks, a silent auction of things that a lot of people have donated, several places for different types of donations.”
While this event is rooted in celebration, it also requires a level of respect and reverence for the grounds on which it is being hosted. The event is meant to highlight the unique personal stories that the community has been able to cherish, thanks to the existence of the Oxford Cemetery. The cemetery itself serves as a bridge between people of different backgrounds, connecting the college and the local community. It provides a shared space to celebrate the many stories rooted in this soil.
"Please come, please help out, I feel like it is such a great opportunity to get connected with a community in such a unique way, and you can really help respect these individuals and help restore a place where they are remembered and just preserve Oxford history.”
This project is one that reflects Oxford College’s devotion to learning, preservation, and service. By attending, volunteering, or contributing, participants can play an active role in honoring the past while helping shape the future of the Oxford Historical Cemetery.