Pinehurst Cemetery

07/15/2026

07/02/2026

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Join Us in Our Mission Remember Honor Teach December 19, 2026 National Wreaths Across America Day Help Pinehurst Cemetery Association honor local heroes! Sponsor a wreath today to be placed on a veteran’s grave this December at Pinehurst Cemetery Scan the QR code t...

07/02/2026

DELEON SPRINGS LEGACY

(The Pinehurst Cemetery Newsletter)
July 1, 2026

REMEMBER THEIR NAMES

In our quiet, unassuming, country cemetery you will find the resting places of many of those whose names you recognize on our town’s street signs. Upson, Broderick, Dawson Brown, Blackwelder and on. DeLeon Springs’s citizens whose names have become landmarks used to give directions to other locations. It is good to say their names and remember them.

For this edition, let’s remember Benjamin P. Upson (1816-1896). He and his family moved to this area from Rockford, Illinois in December, 1884, and were among the first settlers. Soon after, in January, 1885, his son, Jesse Upson, built a home next door to his father. Hence, following that, Upson Avenue was named for them. Benjamin P. Upson was often called “The Father of DeLeon Springs”, even being elected mayor. He operated a sawmill and it was his lumber that was used to build the first houses for the pioneers.

VISITING PINEHURST CEMETERY

Pinehurst Cemetery is a treasured, historical cemetery that is the final resting place for many of our beloved community family members and friends. This sacred place deserves respect, love, and vigilant care. It must be a safe place for all families to visit the graves of their loved ones.

When visiting Pinehurst, please be reminded:

“To maintain a peaceful and respectful environment for all families, alcoholic beverages are not allowed on cemetery grounds. Anyone found with alcohol may be asked to leave, and repeated violations may result in restricted access.”

Special Notice: This newsletter will be posted bi-monthly and will provide current information on happenings, rules and regulations for Pinehurst families and visitors, and contact information. Please check back here for any news or reminders regarding our cemetery.

"Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.”

06/26/2026

DELEON SPRINGS LEGACY
(Pinehurst Cemetery Newsletter)

NOTICE: This newsletter will be posted bi-monthly and will provide current information on happenings, rules and regulations for Pinehurst families and visitors, and contact information.

Pinehurst Cemetery is a treasured, historical cemetery that is the final resting place for many of our community family members and friends. This sacred place deserves respect, love, and vigilant care. It must be a safe place for all families to visit the graves of their loved ones.

Please check back here for any news or reminders regarding our cemetery.

"Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.”

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06/26/2026

PINEHURST CEMETERY RICH IN HISTORY
(This article was printed in The DeLand Sun News on Thursday, October 30, 1930).

Benjamin P. Upson and family of Rockford, Ill. were among the first settlers of DeLeon Springs. Mr. Upson was called the father of the town and was elected mayor. He also operated a saw mill and the lumber was used to build the first houses for the pioneers.
Several years passed before a cemetery was needed in 1895. Mr. Upson donated a plot of land which contained five acres to the town for a cemetery.

J. S. Dennis was the first citizen to be buried on November 24, 1895. In 1896, Benjamin Upson died and his request to be buried in DeLeon Springs cemetery, was remembered by his relatives. Jesse Upson, a son, donated another five acres for the cemetery as he wanted his father to be buried on the knoll he considered a much prettier site.

George Willicombe, Harry W. Lee, J. D. Pursell, O. R. Kirchof and Fred Taylor were elected by the town as trustees of the cemetery association. Two of the trustees are still living.

Mr. Willicombe and Mr. Lee planted the one row of oaks on the north and south boulevard and two rows on the east and west boulevard.

Mrs. Bernice Willicombe (Mrs. C. J. Broderick) succeeded in getting the needed amount to fence in the cemetery in 1906. A donation in 1911 for 11 park benches was made by Harry W. Lee.
In 1912, W. A. McBride, a surveyor, donated to the cemetery board five blue prints of the four blocks of lots.

Pinehurst was the name selected by Mrs. M. S. Francis, organizer of the King’s Daughters Circle and Mrs. George Robinson nee Miss Edna Willicombe, president for 25 years, and the cemetery board adopted the name of Pinehurst. In 1927, Mrs. Nancy Keene raised $87 for a water system. This year 35 markers were placed on unmarked graves, and on Cemetery Day recently, there were 36 graves in Pinehurst. Great interest is shown each year by the entire community in caring for the cemetery.

Reproduced from the Archives of the Volusia County Public Lib

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