Family is concerned about the condition of the Jackson cemetery

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – A Jackson family is accusing the city of allowing one of its cemeteries to fall into disrepair, making it difficult to locate their loved ones.

Cedarlawn Cemetery, located on West Capitol Street, and Kaylin Sheriff says her family had to hire someone to trim the vegetation around her mother’s plot.

They met for the last time in October to pay their respects.

The sheriff says the ground sank so deeply that headstones fell into it and the newer flat markers disappeared completely into the earth.

She also claims that tombstones have sunk into the ground so much due to moisture that she can no longer find her brother’s final resting place. Sheriff says her calls to the city yield no results.

‘It’s been over a year since I wanted to get anything done. (For) two years we have been trying to get them to lift my brother’s grave,” she said. “He was military and for them to walk around here… they keep telling you they’re going to do it, they’re going to do it… they didn’t do it.”

The city council denies the sheriff’s characterization of the city’s neglect.

Melissa Payne, spokesperson for the mayor, says there is no lack of oversight and maintenance of the city’s cemeteries.

“We have crews rotating through these areas in an effort to keep the grounds mowed,” Payne said.

She pointed out that the Parks and Rec Department is also responsible for city golf courses and parks.

“We have a limited number of crews and they are doing the best they can,” she said.

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