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Oakwood Cemetery Information

Fenton, originally known as Dibbleville, was founded in 1834 and was a part of Fenton Township until 1964. That portion of Oakwood Cemetery, known as "Old Prospect Hill", was the original burying ground of the early settlers.

The Village of Fenton was incorporated in 1863 and the old Township Cemetery was within the boundaries of the new village, but continued to be operated by Fenton Township. In 1869 a private cemetery association, the Oakwood Cemetery Association, was formed. A cemetery composed of 23 acres of ground immediately southwest of the old cemetery was laid out and, according to historical accounts, explain the existence of many burials in that portion of the cemetery dating much earlier than 1870, but it obviously was being used for cemetery purposes prior to information of the Oakwood Cemetery Association.

The Oakwood Cemetery Association was dissolved in 1948 and the cemetery turned over to the Village of Fenton. In 1964, the Village of Fenton incorporated as the City of Fenton. In the division of assets between the new city and Fenton Township, the old township cemetery (Prospect Hill) was turned over to the city.

Today, Oakwood Cemetery consists of 40+ acres and includes Old Prospect Hill. They are recorded separately in this work, however, as that is the way Merle Perry Jr. set it up when he recorded the inscriptions in 1961. He rechecked many of the inscriptions again in 1962.

Today, the Cemetery Board of the City of Fenton oversees the operation and maintenance of Oakwood. The board wishes to remind every one of the rules and regulations of Oakwood Cemetery that need to be observed:

• The placing of boxes, shells, toys, metal designs, ornaments , chairs, settees, coping, edging, vases that are not part of the marker and similar breakable articles, upon plots will not be permitted and if so placed the management reserves the right to remove them. Fresh flowers in approved cones and annuals in 5-8" pots through the summer months will be allowed and plastic flowers shall be allowed between November 1st and April 1st. These allowable items will be removed by management when they become unsightly or they are not in accordance will this rule.
• Shepard's hooks will be allowed in the cemetery, however, the hooks are to be limited to 5 feet in height and only one hook per pole, allowing for one basket of annual flowers or plants.

The Cemetery Board is starting several programs to help get some needed improvements within Oakwood Cemetery. They have established a "Friends of the Cemetery" for anyone who would like to help with projects in Oakwood. This group serves as an advisory to the board of the cemetery to help any way the can. Most of which are former board members who love the Cemetery and what to see it get better with age.

The Cemetery Board is in the process of moving the cannons at the Old Firehall to the monument area in Oakwood Cemetery. This project will also have a new monument installed with all the names of Fenton Area Veterans who have died in any war to date. A new lighted flag pole will also be constructed and lights for the monuments will also be done. If you are interested in helping in any way on these projects, call the City of Fenton at 810-629-2261 and talk to Jenny Wells Secretary of the Cemetery Board.

If you have any questions about the Cemetery, please call Mr. Leslie P. Bland, Director of Public Works at 810-629-2261.