A cemetery monument illuminator includes a lamp hood, at least one lamp partially enclosed by the lamp hood, a monument clamp fixed to the lamp hood, a solar panel attached to the monument clamp, and electronic circuit elements electrically connected to the at least one lamp and the solar panel, with the electronic circuit elements adapted and arranged to store energy generated by the solar panel, sense darkness exterior to the illuminator, and supply energy to the at least one lamp when darkness is sensed.