An editorial appeared over the weekend in the Meridian Star of Mississippi concerning abandoned cemeteries and solutions on how to make them whole again.

The article talks about a recent state decision to award two cemeteries in Mississippi that were abandoned to a new company, Perpetual, LLC.  The story continues to tell of the decision to take the cemeteries away from William Arlinghouse as a result of missing perpetual care funds, missing grave markers, and neglect.

Mississippi Secretary of State William Hosemann traveled to the area to visit with families upset about the conditions of the cemeteries and give the State’s decision.  He mentioned that no issue in Meridian has raised more anger than the condition of these cemeteries.  Hosemann said that consumers will be financially restored by the decision  and agreement with the new owner, but most of all, families can be relieved that their loved ones graves will be cared for again.

The article states that there are other cemeteries in the same situation where the state can do nothing as there is no one responsible for the properties anymore and state statute only allows that the state has jurisdiction if the cemetery continues to sell burial lots and services.

Funeral Director Daily take:  This is somewhat of an odd situation to me.  Especially the part of the article that says the state does not have jurisdiction on cemeteries that are no longer selling graves and services.  You would think that someone has the records on who last owned or was responsible for the cemetery.  I would guess that county records would exist for that sort of thing — but, maybe not.

My guess is that over time many rural cemeteries that have been kept up by churches or local groups will become abandoned as rural churches lose their memberships to the metropolitan areas and close up.  It would be smart for counties to get a handle on these cemeteries before that happens.[wpforms id=”436″ title=”true” description=”true”]