Ceremony unveils newly named cemetery

The graveyard located in the vicinity of 1st Avenue and 13th Street is now known as Yuma Pioneer Cemetery. It had previously been named the Yuma Cemetery.

The cemetery was given the new moniker by the city of Yuma to honor those buried there who played an integral role in the area's history.

The new designation was created by city Councilman Jerry Stuart, who wanted to bring attention to the historic location “in the centennial year in hopes that more people would ... become more interested in honoring the heritage of Yuma as represented in this cemetery.”

Before the name of the cemetery could be changed, it had to be approved by the Yuma City Council and the mayor. With their blessing, the city of Yuma Parks and Recreation Department designed two signs bearing the new name. One is located at the entrance to the cemetery near 13th Street and 1st Avenue, and the second is near a grassy area in the interior of the burial grounds.

The signs were unveiled after a special ceremony held on the northeast side of the cemetery that overlooks the Gila Valley.

The event included presentations by city officials and by the descendants of families who are buried there, and was followed by a tour of the cemetery.

The new title respects Yuma's founders, said Greg Wilkinson, city administrator.

“The renaming is really to honor all our elders, grandparents and great-grandparents that came here and made this city what it is.”

Many of Yuma's pioneers, including members of the Redondo family, are buried in the graveyard. The 40 acres where the cemetery is located was deeded to the Village of Yuma on June 24, 1895.

In 1889, the Village of Yuma deeded the first sections of land at the new cemetery to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Catholic Church.

After Yuma became a town in 1902, many other sections were deeded to various fraternal organizations. Today, the city of Yuma owns and operates 17½ acres within the cemetery. The rest is either owned by Yuma County, fraternal organizations or private owners.

Yuma Pioneer Cemetery is managed and maintained by multiple parties — some areas by the city of Yuma and others by private agencies.

In the past several years, the cemetery has undergone renovations. The city has improved city-owned roads, extended the concrete block wall, posted cable fencing to define roads and planted new landscaping.

Chris McDaniel can be reached at cmcdaniel@yumasun.com or 539-6849.