Who We Are

Denise Martinez

Administrative Assistant

Denise was born and raised in Northern Kentucky. Her family lived in a large house situated on 12 acres of mostly wooded property. When she wasn’t in school or working for the family’s small businesses, she enjoyed hiking through the woods and experiencing the quiet and peaceful gifts nature had to offer. She was also in charge of tending the large family garden.

After graduating with a degree in computer technology and business, she worked for many years as a contractor teaching computer classes. In 2002, Denise began working as the church administrator for Heritage Universalist Unitarian Church. Throughout her 19 years of service, Denise guided the business of the church in making great technological advancements. She retired in 2021.

While working for the church, Denise was introduced to Heritage Acres Memorial Sanctuary at the time of its inception in 2020. She is grateful for the opportunity to work for the area’s first natural burial reserve.

Denise currently lives in Anderson Township with her husband Ken. She enjoys cooking, gardening, puzzles of all sorts and especially spending time with her son, Jarrett and daughter, Marisa.

Lauren Frederick

Land Steward

Lauren spent most of her early career in an office trying to find ways to interact with the natural world on weekends. After several decades of leaving corporate jobs to explore opportunities in environmental activism and arboriculture, as well as seeking out mentors in herbalism, plant identification, and nature connection, she decided to pursue a degree in sustainable horticulture. Her focus leans heavily on conservation and regenerative practices, and she is active with several volunteer groups working on large scale permaculture projects.

Lauren believes that humans are an important, and sometimes integral component to the health of our North American ecosystems. When we acknowledge that we have a place, not as outsiders, but as members of the ecosystems on earth, it is easier to visualize ourselves in one of the many possible supportive roles. One role extends into end-of-life stewardship, something that speaks to the mission of Heritage Acres.

Bill Gupton

Cemetery Manager

Bill brought his dream of creating a natural burial sanctuary for Cincinnati to fruition in 2020, after more than a decade of hard work that began with an inspiration at the grave of the great 19th century naturalist Henry David Thoreau. He says, “In that moment, I realized that Thoreau had, indeed, become a vital part of the natural world that he so loved – but only because he, like all his contemporaries, had been buried in a way that today we would call ‘green’ burial.” As the Tri-State’s leading spokesperson for green burial, Bill has appeared in numerous local, regional and national publications, as well as in broadcast media, advocating for a return to more natural and traditional human burial practices. He has long been active in the “Death Positive” movement, is a Friend of the Green Burial Council, and is a member of the National Home Funeral Alliance. Bill has also served as minister of the Heritage Universalist Unitarian Church in Anderson Township since 2002.