South Carolina Veterans Cemetery Grants

South Carolina Veterans Cemetery Grants is sponsored by South Carolina Department of Veterans' Affairs. Provides grants for the establishment and maintenance of veterans' cemeteries in South Carolina.

Cemetery | SC Department Of Veterans' Affairs The M. J. “Dolly” Cooper Veterans Cemetery , located on 57 acres, opened in December 2007.

As of 1 January 2026, 6,800 Veterans, spouses and dependents, have been buried with many more (pre-certified) with the cemetery for burials in the future. “Pre-certified” means the cemetery has determined eligibility after receiving, reviewing and keeping on file copies of a Veteran’s DD-214 or discharge document and marriage certificate so when a need arises, scheduling a burial can be done without delay.

Eligibility requirements are listed below on this page. For the Pre-Certification Form click the link on the right of the page. The State of South Carolina through the National Cemetery Administration State Cemetery Grant Program received a grant to build and initially equip this cemetery.

Upon completion, operating and maintaining the cemetery was turned over to the State of South Carolina, as part of the South Carolina Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Phase I of cemetery construction consisted of 20 acres with an administration office building, a Committal Shelter, Flag Plaza, memorial Walk, four Columbarium Walls, maintenance bays and building with approximately 27 acres designated for more than 16,000 burials or cremation interments.

Phase II, which began in March 2013 and was completed in mid-2014, provided an expansion of Areas I and J, an irrigation system, landscaping, and supporting infrastructure, and the placement of 1,997 pre-placed crypts. The Carillon, made possible by donations from Veterans, the Veterans’ Trust Fund of South Carolina, and the Anderson County Veterans Association, was dedicated 17 December 2016.

On September 9, 2025, the National Cemetery Administration (NCA) assessed M. J. "Dolly" Cooper's performance against rigorous national standards.

As a result of the dedication and diligence of our cemetery team, they achieved the NCA's Operational Excellence Award. In order to qualify for this recognition, Veteran Cemeteries, among other requirements, must meet 100% of all critical priority standards and 90% or more of high priority standards identified by the NCA.

It is the policy of cemetery administration to assist every Veteran and her/his family in any way that we can to include verifying service records, determining eligibility, helping obtain service records from the National Personnel Records Center and providing names and phone numbers of other Veteran agencies who provide other services (health, death benefits, etc.). The cemetery office is open Monday through Friday 8:00 a. m.

to 4:30 p. m. and is closed on federal and state holidays.

The cemetery is open seven days a week year-round. During Eastern Standard Time, the hours are 8:30 a. m.

to 5:00 p. m. and are 8:30 a.

m. to dusk during Daylight Saving Time. We encourage personal visits to the cemetery.

Frequently Asked Questions What are the eligibility requirements for burial in the South Carolina M. J. “Dolly” Cooper Veterans Cemetery?

The Veteran must have an honorable discharge from the Armed Forces and provide a copy of the DD-214 or Military Discharge showing character of discharge and dates of active service.

The Veteran must have been a resident of South Carolina: • when the Veteran entered the Armed Forces; or • when the Veteran or eligible family member, died; or • for five years, unless for a reason that the South Carolina Division of Veterans’ Affairs finds compelling, and South Carolina Division of Veterans’ Affairs waives the time period. Can my spouse or children be buried in the M. J.

“Dolly” Cooper Veterans Cemetery? Yes, qualified spouses may be interred in the same burial plot. To qualify a spouse, a copy of the marriage certificate must be provided.

Yes, unmarried, dependent children under the age of 21 or adult children who are mentally or physically incapable of self-support may be eligible for burial. Is there any cost for burial? There is no cost for the plot, grave liner, permanent marker, or the opening and closing of the gravesite for the Veteran; however, there is a $300 fee for the spouse and for each child.

Contact the cemetery for more information about a dependent child’s eligibility. What does the South Carolina M. J.

“Dolly” Cooper Veterans Cemetery provide? • Grave opening and closing • Columbarium for cremated remains • Scattering garden for cremations • In-ground garden for cremations Will military honors be provided? Yes, if desired.

Requests for honors are normally made through the funeral director who will forward the request to M. J. “Dolly” Cooper Veterans Cemetery personnel for coordinating.

Can I reserve a burial plot? No. Graves are assigned as needed. The only time a grave is reserved is in the case of two Veterans married to each other.

However, you are strongly encouraged to pre-certify if you desire burial in the M. J. “Dolly” Cooper Veterans Cemetery.

Cemetery personnel will mail you an application form at your request. Can I purchase my own headstone? No. All permanent markers are considered National Monuments and in order to maintain uniformity, upright granite markers are provided by the cemetery.

What type of grave decorations does the Cemetary allow? Authorized Items for Grave Decorations Fresh cut flowers (not live plants) year around. Artificial flowers (Non-mowing Season Only from Oct 15 – Apr 15) Vases are available for use and located around the cemetery in tall metal cans marked “Vases”.

At Christmas, wreaths purchased by family may be placed at the foot of the headstone. Only one per headstone is allowed. Wreaths can go on as early as December 1st and must be removed by January 15th.

They should be unadorned except for one red ribbon and can be live or artificial. Any wreaths still on graves after January 15th will be removed and discarded by cemetery staff. Other Seasonal decorations are allowed if they fit in one of the cemetery-provided vases.

Unauthorized Items (NOT Allowed EVER): No potted flowers in containers except at Easter – 7 days prior and after. When flowers become withered, they will be removed.

No permanent plantings or granite/permanent vases No Statues or Religious Icons (floral crosses, angels, etc.) No balloons, cards, signs, etc. No solar-powered lighted decorations (stars, angels, Branch of Service plaques, etc.) No grave blankets (large floral items that are laid on a grave) The only exception is the day of burial – will be removed by cemetery personnel 3 days later.

No pictures, nothing should ever be glued, affixed, or draped over the headstone or marker No flags (cemetery will place flags on every grave for Memorial Day, Independence Day & Veterans Day) No glass containers, decorative marbles or ANY thing that is breakable No alcohol items left on graves: full or empties No candles should be burned on or near the grave/headstone Floral arrangements are less likely to be damaged or picked up by the wind if they are kept small.

Vases should be placed beside the headstone, so not to block the name. Unauthorized items will be removed and discarded. As theft is always a possibility, please bear this in mind when selecting an arrangement and don’t leave costly floral arrangements.

Inform your relatives of these regulations. CEMETERY PERSONNEL IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ARRANGEMENTS LEFT GRAVESIDE, WHETHER THEY BLOW AWAY, FALL OVER, OR ARE OTHERWISE MISSING. WE CANNOT SAFE-GUARD ITEMS LEFT AT GRAVES.

Is my spouse entitled to a separate burial plot? Only if your spouse is also an eligible Veteran; otherwise, the Veteran and spouse are interred in the same burial plot.

Front row from Left to right: Jason McClain- Cemetery Representative Jill Coker- Administrative Assistant Kayla Singleton-Administrative Specialist Wade Breaud-Cemetery Superintendent Grounds and Maintenace Staff Back row from left to right: Michael McElyea- General Maintenance Joey Goodwin- General Maintenance Kevin Drane- Head Groundskeeper Corey Truesdale- General Maintenance Tyre Hill- General Maintenance