I live near Richmond and as recently as this past summer attended a funeral at Oakwood. Granted, it is not the "jewel" it was in it's early years, the surrounding area has fallen victim to poverty and drugs have wreaked havoc in the apartment complexes nearby but I'd say overall the cemetery is not in as horrible condition as some have reported. Sure there are stones that are damaged or toppled but I'd say this is as much from age as much as vandalism, shrubs might have been removed due to disease or damage from the many ice storms this area is plagued with. I have a wide range of relatives buried there including a Rochelle cousin that died at Malvern Hill, immigrant maternal grandfather and Va born grandmother and my biological grparents and grgrandmother. My bio-grandfather was even a caretaker at Oakwood for many years in the early 1900's. All of their graves are quite presentable. So don't despair so at the condition of your ancestors resting places-things are doubtfully as bad as you think. It is more the area surrounding it that is in such as sad state.......and this is much sadder because these folks are living. Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas season! Donna Rochelle Kennedy Christmas is not a day nor a season but a state of mind....