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Orange Hill Prayer
Oh Heavenly Father may your Spirit touch the officers and board members and their families of our organization, Orange Hill Cemetery.
May there be a total commitment of understand cooperation, unity, patience, honesty, and harmony.
There are those of us who give of our time, our resources and our talents. Let us not be sensitive, fault-finding or critical.
Oh Heavenly Father, may the divine spark that illuminates this universe be within each and every one of us. Fill us with Your and peace and goodwill. Let us not forget our cemetery motto:
"There is a bridge between the living and the dead. That bridge is love."
-Gloria Ruso
Our History
Orange Hill Cemetery Restoration Association
Orange Hill Cemetery was originally founded as a for profit corporation in 1928. It went through multiple owners and hard times before the Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners took ownership after bankruptcy proceedings. The association petitioned the county commission and after a probationary period, the cemetery was sold to the association for a nominal fee. Currently, Orange Hill Cemetery is owned and operated by the Orange Hill Cemetery Restoration Association (OHCRA), which is a NOT FOR PROFIT 501-c-13 corporation under the laws of the State of Florida, originally founded July 27, 1970 and reorganized September 25, 1996.
The OHCRA is an all-volunteer association founded by a small group of persons with family buried at the cemetery or who had deeds to plots at Orange Hill Cemetery. They were concerned that the cemetery was not being properly maintained or managed.
Orange Hill Cemetery Restoration Association Membership
Membership in the OHCRA is open to any person who has purchased a preneed plot or who has a family member or loved one buried at the cemetery. New deed holders, at the time they complete payment for the plot, receive an automatic one year membership in the OHCRA.
Members are entitled to attend the monthly board meeting, participate in discussions, and serve on committees, but only officers and directors are eligible to make motions and vote on issues before the board. An “active” member is one who has attended at least four meetings during the year. Active members are eligible to be nominated for a director position on the board the following year. Persons who have served as a director for one year are eligible to be nominated for one of the four officer position: President, Vice-President, Secretary, or Treasurer. All paid up members, active and non active, are eligible to participate and vote at the November General Membership Meeting which is held immediately after the board meeting. At the General Membership meeting the next year’s officers are elected, the next year’s budget, which includes possible January increases to the price of a burial plot is voted on, and where changes to the OHCRA by-laws are voted on.
After the initial year’s free membership, a person wishing to continue their membership in the OHCRA is required to pay $20.00 per person per year in dues. A person who has been a member for ten consecutive years or who makes a $200.00 contribution becomes a life member and is not required to pay any additional dues.