In July 2022 as Trissels Mennonite Church was celebrating its bicentennial, we gathered together to reflect on the generations who are buried in the cemetery of the oldest Mennonite Meetinghouse in Virginia.

    The oldest (1798) recorded grave marked “M.B.” belongs to Margaret Huber Burkholder, wife of Peter Burkholder, a local land owner. Family descendants replaced the stone with a new marker in 1979. Another early burial (1816), that of Margaret Showalter, wife of the first Daniel Showalter, occurred before the meetinghouse was built, proving that the cemetery was used by the church community. The first Daniel Showalter was buried the year Trissels was built, 1822. There are eight Showalter generations buried at Trissels.

    Over the decades each of the three Trissels church buildings impacted the growth of the cemetery. The oldest 1822 building sat surrounded by oak trees with the cemetery graves lying behind it facing east. An unpainted log building, it represented the desire to gather to worship, staying true to Mennonite values of humility and simplicity. It served the congregation for 78 years. With the erection of the 1900 white frame building, the rows of graves grew around it still facing toward the east. The current 1950 building sits on land farther south. The cemetery now also has straight rows of graves running north and south. This made digging graves and mowing grass easier. The cemetery tells the story of the families who worshiped or had family ties to the church.

    As we gathered during our bicentennial in the cemetery to remember and share memories, stories were shared about Easter Sunrise Services and Summer Bible School baseball games held in the cemetery. Standing by the tombstones we heard from those who had buried a loved one. Randy Ennis Sr. (2020) served as usher and trustee for many years. James Showalter (2017), who planted new oak trees to replace dying ones, cared about continuing his father HDH’s (1969) commitment to Trissels. Sherry Turner (2007) fought a brave battle against cancer. Upkeep of the church was facilitated by Preston Moyers (2005), Howard DeWitt Showalter (2004), and Norvell Trumbo (2009) including the addition of a copper roof. John (2003) and Kathleen (2005) Geil invited church and community to an annual corn roast. Mary Emma Showalter Eby (2003) was the author of the Mennonite Community Cookbook. Robert Ramer (2021) was publisher of Herald Press in Scottsdale PA.

    As we gathered there in the cemetery we also remembered older generations. Noah Hiser served in the Confederate army as a Pvt. in Co. K, 25th VA infantry. His brother John Hiser fought for the Union and mustered out as a 2nd lieutenant. Adam M. Turner was a bear hunter claiming 158 bear kills, also wild cat and deer. James Hop Turner (1871-1945) had eight children living at time of his death. Hop, short for Hopkins, was a Mennonite minister who used the “sinking of the Titanic” analogy frequently in his sermons.

    Christian and Susanna Geil Funk are also buried at in the cemetery. Their unique tombstones have German inscriptions. There are five infant graves, children of son Christian II and Frances Funk, buried beside them.

    More recently a grave stone was laid to mark the burial of four daughters of Joseph and Rebecca Paul Trissel Jr. They died during the Civil War between Nov 19 1862 and Jan 9 1863 — Elizabeth, Katherine, Martha, and Mary. A death certificate shows that Mary died of Diphtheria. Joseph Trissel Sr. was buried at the church in 1867 at the age of 80.

    Our cemetery has many stories to tell!

Written by Eunice Showalter, Trissels’ long-time church historian.