Several families are seeking answers from the City of Hazlehurst after discovering that personal items placed at the graves of loved ones had reportedly been removed during cleaning at the city cemeteries. The situation began drawing attention on social media as residents reported arriving at the cemeteries and finding decorations, keepsakes and other personal belongings missing from gravesites.
At least some of the removed items were reportedly placed into trash bags or containers at the cemetery, leading family members to search through them in hopes of recovering belongings that held sentimental value. One mother described leaving work after learning that items had been removed from her son’s grave.
When she arrived, she said she searched through trash in an attempt to recover his belongings but was able to locate only four small cars and a few other items. “Those things that were taken weren’t just objects,” she wrote. “They were memories. They were things that represented my love for my son and my family.”
She said items were also missing from the graves of several other members of her family. “What may have looked like things that needed to be removed were precious memories to the families who placed them there,” she wrote. “Please understand that behind every grave is a family, and behind every item placed there is a story, a memory, and a whole lot of love.”
Hazlehurst City Clerk Vernice C. Thompson responded publicly to the concerns, saying she was not aware that cemetery cleaning had taken place before residents began calling and posting about the situation. “I would like to sincerely apologize to every family member on behalf of the city,” Thompson wrote.
In a separate response, Thompson described what occurred as “disrespectful” and said she understood why families were angry. “I know how I feel about my loved ones and I would be angry too,” she wrote. Thompson said she could not answer residents’ specific questions because she did not yet know the circumstances surrounding what happened. She said she has notified the city’s elected officials and directed concerns to Public Works Superintendent Michael Brantley.
The city clerk also said she plans to publish a copy of the city’s cemetery ordinance Monday, which could provide additional information about regulations governing decorations and other items placed at gravesites. However, Thompson said she was not aware beforehand that cemetery cleaning was taking place and therefore had not issued a public notice.
In another public response, residents were told that city elected officials are “deeply concerned, sorry, and empathetic” about what occurred. Those whose family gravesites were affected are being encouraged to go to the Hazlehurst Police Department and file a police report. According to the city’s response, filing a report will allow a case number to be assigned and the matter to be reviewed by an investigator as part of an internal investigation.
For the families affected, the concern goes beyond whether cemetery rules were followed. Some say the items represented memories of children, parents, grandparents and other loved ones that cannot necessarily be replaced. The mother whose son’s belongings were removed said she isn’t looking for an argument. She is looking for “accountability, answers, and respect.”
For now, several questions remain unanswered, including who authorized the removal, what instructions workers were given, which items were supposed to be removed, whether advance notice was required or normally provided, and whether additional belongings can still be recovered.
Hazlehurst Now will follow the situation and provide additional information as the City of Hazlehurst releases details about what occurred and the cemetery ordinance is made available. The City of Hazlehurst has assured us that they are investigating and taking the situation very seriously.
