Finding a specific tribute in a city as old as Richmond isn’t always as straightforward as a quick Google search. Honestly, it’s a bit of a maze. You’ve got the old-school prestige of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the hyper-local digital hubs, and the private archives of funeral homes that have been around since the 1800s.
People think everything is online. It’s not.
If you are looking for obituaries in Richmond VA, you are likely dealing with one of two scenarios. Either you’re trying to track down a recent service to pay your respects, or you’re digging through the past to find a Great-Aunt who lived in the Fan District fifty years ago. Both require different tools. Both require a little bit of local "know-how."
Where the Modern Records Live
Most folks start with the Richmond Times-Dispatch. It’s been the paper of record here forever. But here’s the kicker: it’s expensive to post there. Because of those costs, many families are moving away from the traditional newspaper "death notice."
You’ll find that a lot of the most detailed life stories now live exclusively on funeral home websites. In the Richmond area, names like Bliley’s, Joseph W. Bliley, Mimms Funeral Home, and Bennett Funeral Home are institutions. They host their own digital archives. These are often much more personal than the clipped, pay-per-word versions you see in print.
The Big Players in Richmond Digital Tributes
- The Richmond Times-Dispatch (via Legacy.com): This is the "official" route. If the person was a prominent member of the community or if the family wanted that broad reach, it’s here.
- Bliley’s Obituaries: They have multiple locations (Augusta Ave, Staples Mill, Chippenham). Their online search is incredibly robust and usually includes service times and guestbooks.
- Mimms Funeral Home: A staple in the Richmond community for decades, particularly on the Southside. Their digital wall is a primary source for local Southside residents.
- March Funeral Homes: Another heavy hitter with a massive presence in the city, providing detailed life tributes online.
The Cost of Saying Goodbye in Print
It’s expensive. Kinda shockingly so.
If you’re the one tasked with writing an obituary in Richmond VA for the newspaper, be prepared for the bill. A basic notice in the Times-Dispatch can start around $130 and spiral up to several hundred dollars very quickly once you add a photo or extra paragraphs.
This is why you see so many "short" versions in the Sunday paper. Families basically pay for the bare essentials—name, date of death, service time—and then link to a full story on a memorial website. It’s a practical move.
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Hunting for Historical Obituaries
Now, if you’re doing genealogy, the game changes. You can’t just "search" for a Richmond obituary from 1945 and expect it to pop up on a first-page result. You have to go to the gatekeepers of the past.
The Library of Virginia on East Broad Street is your best friend here. They have the most comprehensive collection of Virginia newspapers on microfilm and in digital databases. If you’re a Virginia resident, you can often get a library card that gives you remote access to these archives.
Then there’s the Richmond Public Library. The "Richmond Room" at the Main Branch is a treasure trove. They have staff who actually know the city’s history and can help you navigate the specific quirks of how deaths were recorded in different eras.
Why the 1930s Matter
Standardized structures for obituaries didn't really take off until the 1930s. Before that, you might find a "Death Notice" that is literally one sentence long, or a "Lament" that reads more like a poem than a biography. If you’re looking for someone from the late 1800s in Richmond, don’t look for a modern-style obit. Look for "Local News" or "Society Notes."
The "Death Notice" vs. The "Obituary"
Don't confuse the two.
A Death Notice is a legal/informational blurb. It’s the "who, when, where." It’s basically a classified ad.
An Obituary is a story. It’s the "why they mattered." In Richmond, because we are a city that loves its history and its lineages, these stories often get very detailed about which high school the person went to (Thomas Jefferson? John Marshall?) or which church they attended for 50 years.
Real-World Tips for Finding a Recent Service
If you need to find service details right now, don't just search the name + "obituary."
- Check the Facebook page of the suspected funeral home. In Richmond, local funeral directors are very active on social media. They often post the service schedule before the official obituary goes live.
- Search the church. If the person was a member of a prominent Richmond congregation—say, First Baptist or St. Paul’s—the church bulletin or website often has the info first.
- Use Legacy.com's specific Richmond portal. It aggregates the Times-Dispatch listings and allows you to set alerts.
Actionable Steps for Your Search
If you are looking for information today, here is the most efficient path to take.
First, check the funeral home website directly. It is the most accurate and up-to-date source for service locations, especially if there are last-minute changes due to weather or family needs.
Second, if the death occurred more than a week ago, use the Richmond Times-Dispatch archive via your local library card. This avoids the paywalls that often pop up on commercial genealogy sites.
Third, if you are writing one, keep the print version brief. Focus on the date, time, and location of the Richmond service to keep costs down, then put the beautiful, long-form story on a free platform like a Facebook Memorial or the funeral home’s tribute wall.
Lastly, if you're stuck on a historical search, email the Richmond Room at the Richmond Public Library. The librarians there are local experts and can often find things that aren't indexed by the big search engines. They know the city's pulse, past and present.
Everything in Richmond is about who you know and where you look. Obituaries are no different. They are the final record of a life lived in the River City, and they deserve a bit of effort to find or write correctly.