Rules & Regulations
Graves Cemetery, Perry County, Tennessee
Graves Cemetery Trust Corporation
1. Reservation of Burial Plots
The Sexton, or his/her designee, is responsible for maintaining the cemetery plat and other records that establish reservations of burial spaces. Persons eligible for burial in the Graves Cemetery must have a plot reserved and recorded on the appropriate cemetery records. Reservations must be made with the Sexton or his/her designee. Any reservations made after the date of approval of these rules must be for a specifically named person.
There is no charge for plots; however, donations to assist with cemetery upkeep are encouraged and expected.
2. Eligibility for Burial
Any person desiring a reservation for a burial plot made after the date of approval of these rules must be related to a person who is currently interred or has a plot reserved.
3. Burials
Prior to the opening of a grave the Sexton or his/her designee must be contacted. It is then the responsibility of the Sexton to locate the appropriate plot and mark it for opening.
Companies that open and close graves must provide proof of liability insurance and worker compensation insurance to the Sexton.
It is the responsibility of the funeral home in charge to ensure that the grave site is returned to as near pre-opening condition as possible and to also ensure that damage does not occur to surrounding graves, markers, or the cemetery in general. Excess dirt must be placed in an area designated for such.
Burials are limited to humans only.
Human bodies must be interred in a casket. Only one casket may be placed in a plot. Embalming is not required.
Cremation remains must be placed in a container, unless they are to be scattered over the Cemetery, and buried in a reserved plot or placed in a casket with another body at the discretion of survivors. Multiple interment of cremation remains in the same plot may be made if approved by the Sexton. The Sexton must be notified prior to the opening of any plot for the burial of cremation remains.
Flowers placed on a grave at the time of interment should be removed once they become unsightly, preferably by the family. They will be removed prior to the mowing of the cemetery.
4. Errors
The Graves Cemetery Trust Corporation Board of Directors will do their best to ensure that burial errors do not occur; however, in the event that errors are made, the Board members or the Corporation will not be financially responsible for correcting such.
5. Disinterment
Requests for disinterment must be made to the Sexton and approved by the Board of Directors. The Sexton will supervise the process.
6. Decorations
Families are encouraged to place artificial flowers on grave sites, especially during the annual Decoration Day/Meeting held the first Sunday in June. Saddle type flower arrangements that attach to the top of tombstone markers, or flowers placed in vases attached to tombstones are preferred, since they do not interfere with mowing.
Families are also encouraged to remove any items that become unsightly and to take such items home for disposal. Please DO NOT place them in the barrels located under the shelter. Items that become unsightly or present problems with mowing may be removed by the Sexton or his/her designee.
Trees, shrubs, flowers, or plantings other than grass may not be placed on plots/graves.
7. Markers/Tombstones
Markers/tombstones must be installed within one year of interment. All markers must be made of some form of stone or bronze. There is no restriction on size, other than markers must fit within the plot. Double markers must fit within two plots.
Markers are to be centered at the head of the grave with foot stones centered at the foot. Foot stones and flat markers should be installed level with the ground. Bronze markers for veterans may be placed at the head or foot.
The installation of pre-interment markers is permitted.
The Sexton, or his/her designee, must be notified any time a marker/tombstone is to be installed and must approve of said installation.
No markers, monuments, signs, benches, etc., other than those described above may be placed in the cemetery unless approved by the Board of Directors.
8. Use of Facilities
Members of the Association are encouraged to use the shelter at any time. Non-members must make a request to the Sexton, who will present said request to the Board of Directors for disposition.
It is expected that anyone using the shelter or other facilities will clean up afterwards, taking any trash with them. DO NOT leave trash in the receptacles that are located in the shelter.
9. Contributions
All members of the Association are encouraged to contribute to the upkeep of the Cemetery. This may be accomplished at the annual meeting or at any other time by making a deposit in the Graves
Cemetery Trust Corporation checking account at Regions Bank or by mailing funds to the Graves Cemetery Treasurer at the address found on the Graves Cemetery Trust Corporation website.
Members are also encouraged to remember Graves Cemetery in their wills.
It is a goal of the Board of Directors to develop sufficient funds to ensure the upkeep of the Cemetery in perpetuity.
10. These rules and regulations are an integral part of the Bylaws of the Graves Cemetery Trust
Corporation and may be amended by the Board of Directors at any meeting of said Board.
Adopted March 28,2018
Billy K Edwards, President
MacMcLemore, Vice President
Barbara Volner, Secretary
Rusty Graves, Treasurer
Jimmy Graves, Sexton