Cemetery Policy

Jacksons Grove United Methodist Church


The purpose of this declaration is to maintain the cemetery at Jackson’s Grove UMC as a place of peaceful beauty, respectful serenity, and historical preservation.


This policy provides for the management, maintenance, and care of the cemetery as determined by the Church Council and is effective as of the date noted on this document.


The administration of the Jackson’s Grove UMC cemetery will conform to all applicable state laws, with all casket interments conducted by a licensed mortician.


Eligibility - General Guidelines 


ALL gravesites (members and non-members) require a  refundable $400 headstone deposit, collected by the Cemetery Committee or Church Treasurer, before a grave opening. See details in the Headstone/Monument section of this policy.


  • Active Members: All active members of Jackson’s Grove UMC, their spouses and dependent children are eligible for burial plots at no cost. 
  • A $200 non-refundable fee is due prior to burial and will be paid to the cemetery coordinator that attends to burial arrangements.
  • An active member is defined as someone who, at the time of death, meets two out of three of the following conditions: 
  • On the church roll 
  • Attending church regularly (unless hindered by physical or geographic reasons).
  • Making regular financial contributions to the church.
  • Every effort will be made to honor reserved plots, but exact location is not guaranteed.
  • Inactive/Former members may be buried in the cemetery pursuant to the following:
  • There must be space available in the cemetery at the time of their death.
  • Every effort will be made to honor reserved plots, but exact location is not guaranteed.
  • Burial Fees - Former/Inactive Members:
  • Regular casket burial: A fee of $2000 per regular plot is to be paid to the church prior to burial.
  • $400 of this fee will be paid by the church to the cemetery coordinator that attends to burial arrangements. 
  • Cremains burial: A fee of $500 per cremains plot is to be paid to the church prior to burial.
  • $200 of this fee will be paid by the church to the cemetery coordinator that attends to burial arrangements. 
  • Non‐members who have family already buried in the cemetery shall be permitted burial pursuant to the following:
  • There must be room available within, or contiguous to, the family plot at the time of their death. Every effort will be made for burial as close as possible to the family plot, butexact location is not guaranteed.
  • Regular casket burial: A fee of $2000 per regular plot is to be paid to the church prior to burial
  • $400 of this fee will be paid by the church to the cemetery coordinator that attends to burial arrangements. 
  • Cremains burial: A fee of $500 per cremains plot is to be paid to the church prior to burial.
  •  $200 of this fee will be paid by the church to the cemetery coordinator that attends to burial arrangements. 

 

Cemetery Plot Preference/Reservation


  • Only active church members may reserve burial plots in advance. The following conditions apply:
  • No person has the right to sell, or otherwise assign, a plot to someone else. 
  • Members can reserve a plot in advance, but unforeseen circumstances could alter the availability of the reserved space. Every effort will be made to comply with the preference request. 
  • Only approved markers may be placed prior to interment and only with the permission of the Cemetery Committee. Unapproved markers of any kind will be removed.
  • Should a member become inactive, or move membership to another church, they must pay the non-member fee within four months, or their plot reservation will be forfeited.
  • Although the church will make every effort to allow family members to be interred together, for space management reasons, inactive members and non‐members, may not reserve space in advance.
  • The only exception to this advance reservation rule is for spouses of people who are already interred in the cemetery. 
  • Cremains: Plots for the interment of cremains shall be available under the same guidelines as other burial plots.
  • Scattering of ashes on church property is not allowed.
  • A single regular burial plot will permit the interment of up to four sets of cremains if members so desire.
  • All burial sites containing cremains are required to have uniform markers to be selected by the church and purchased and installed by the family/representatives of the deceased.
  • Previously reserved gravesite spaces: Every effort will be made to honor grave plots that were previously reserved, or paid for, prior to the effective date of this policy, but are not guaranteed.


Burials


  • Prior to scheduling a burial, parties making burial arrangements MUST contact the Cemetery Committee Chair, Cemetery Chair’s designee, church secretary, or the church pastor.
  • All grave openings must be attended by a member of the Cemetery Committee to assure location accuracy.
  • All caskets must be placed in a vault.
  • All cremains are to be placed in specified areas unless special circumstances are approved by the cemetery committee.


Headstones/Monuments


  • Headstones are required and must be:
  • Installed no later than one year  after burial.
  •  Approved by the Cemetery Committee prior to ordering and installation
  • ALL gravesites require a $400 headstone deposit, collected by the Cemetery Committee or Church Treasurer, before a grave opening.
  • The deposit will be refunded when a headstone is installed within one year after burial.
  • If a headstone is not installed within one year, the deposit will not be refunded and will be used to install a marker with name and dates only. This standard marker will be selected by the Cemetery Committee.
  • The church reserves the right to adjust the headstone deposit fee, as needed, to reflect market value.
  • Flat headstones are strongly encouraged for all new graves.
  • All burial sites containing cremains are required to have uniform markers to be chosen by the church and purchased and installed by the family/representatives of the deceased.
  • Upright stones must be approved by the Cemetery Committee prior to ordering and installation and will have strict measurement, color and design limitations.
  • In the event of damage to headstones, representatives of the deceased will be responsible for repair.
  • Cleaning of headstones is the responsibility of the attending families.
  • Footstones are no longer permitted.


Gravesites


  • No coping, fencing, borders or edging of any kind will be permitted on, or around, graves or anywhere in the cemetery.
  • Gravel on top of graves is no longer permitted, and all graves will be covered with grass.
  • No live plantings are allowed.
  • No lights, flags, or signs are allowed.
  • No new benches are allowed on any grave.
  • American flags are allowed on graves for a two-week period around Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veteran’s Day.
  • Gravesite decorations are limited to one floral arrangement, with the exception of older headstones that have two floral containers permanently attached. Any additional decorations, statues, toys, ornaments, etc. are not allowed and will be removed and disposed of.
  • Floral arrangements:
  • Floral arrangements must be anchored to the ground or placed in containers that are heavy enough to prevent them from being blown over or blown onto other graves.
  • Unanchored, loose, badly faded, or damaged arrangements will be removed and disposed of.
  • Floral arrangements should be changed a minimum of twice a year or removed.
  • Jacksons Grove UMC Cemetery IS NOT a perpetual care cemetery.
  • No exhumations or disinterment’s of bodies or ashes are permitted without the knowledge and permission of the cemetery committee, and all associated costs are the responsibility of the requesting party.

Special Circumstances

Any special circumstances, or items not covered in this policy, should be presented to the Cemetery Committee for resolution by the Church Council.

Fees and Deposits

All fees and deposits are to be paid to the church secretary or treasurer prior to the date of burial.

Contact

Please direct all correspondence to JacksonsGroveUMC@gmail.com or call 864-510-3199.

 

(Posted July 2025)