Local Burial Sites Are Not Being Cared For (JACKSONVILLE, FL)

Written by John Ellingsworth

Wednesday, 07 July 2004

By Darryl Tardy First Coast News JACKSONVILLE, FL -- A serious question about the final resting place for thousands of people on the First Coast...who is caring for their burial sites? The First Coast News I-Team has learned Jacksonville cannot find owners for more than three dozen cemeteries all over town. Many of the 40 cemeteries have gone without an owner or caretaker for years because they were taken over by not-for-profit organizations. The city tells us it has not been able to locate those groups through the property appraiser's office. The groups may also no longer exist. The dilemma has left many families looking for answers like Caroline Coleman. Beneath the leaves of Sunset Cemetery on the Northside lies her two year-old daughter's headstone. Coleman's deceased daughter's twin sister, Latrell Adams, says, "She's buried right here. And as you can see the graves all around it they've sunken in." Once a popular place for those resting in peace, Sunset Cemetery is now becoming an overgrown forest. Adams adds, "It's in terrible condition. It needs to be cleaned up. We can't come over and put some flowers on the grave. Who would want to come and visit in such conditions?" That's why Coleman says she and her family haven't visited the cemetery in years. Coleman says, "Pretty much frightened to come out here because if you look around people are dumping trash in the cemetery and probably doing drugs and no telling what else." Adams, looking over her mother's shoulder, says, "Someone has to be accountable for our loved ones." And at Sunset Cemetery no one is. It's one of six cemeteries the city is obligated to maintain. But we looked further. Our First Coast News investigation found out of 106 cemeteries countywide, 40 have no owners on record. Joel McEachin is the city's Historic Planner. McEachin told us, "Usually if they're not owned then many times they're not being cared for. Sometimes we will have a community group take the initiative to go and clean them up." But others we learned like Sunset Cemetery have been forgotten and neglected, leaving families like the Coleman's wondering who's responsible. Adams response, "You pay to bury a person in a plot and years later you can't even find anyone to even ask why are you letting the cemetery go like this. Why are you letting my loved ones be buried like this?" In 1998, state lawmakers came up with a resolution that would require the state and local governments to assume control over abandoned cemeteries. The bill was passed by the house and senate. But we checked with local Senator Steven Wise's office. They told us the law is not enforced well. To avoid this problem for your family make sure a cemetery is registered with the state. That ensures annual inspections. Also, know what services a cemetery caretaker is required to perform. http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=16940

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 29 November 2005 )

 

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