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Cemetery Regulations

CONSTITUTION TO GOVERN THE DIVIDE MEMORIAL METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH CEMETERY

ARTICLE 1: The members of the cemetery committee shall be elected by the church members of Divide Memorial Methodist Protestant Church. The committee shall consist of two church members, church treasurer, and the pastor. The cemetery committee members will be elected for a two year term replacing one member each year. Election of this member will be at the regular election of church officers.

ARTICLE 2: The object of the cemetery committee is to maintain, keep, operate and control the cemetery grounds located at Divide Memorial Methodist Protestant Church, 8 Divide Road, Monticello, Mississippi 39654. To receive and use any money or trust estates donated, bequeathed or devised to this cemetery committee for the operation and maintenance of said cemetery and grounds; and to do and perform any and all acts and things necessary, desirable, convenient and incidental to the exercise and attainment of the object and purpose herein above set out or any part thereof not contrary to law.

ARTICLE 3: The Chairman of the cemetery committee shall sustain and execute an advisory relation to the work and policies of the cemetery committee. He shall preside at all meetings at which he is present. In the absence of the Chairman of the cemetery committee, the secretary and treasurer shall preside at all meetings at which he is present. The chairman shall be responsible for the active executive management of the cemetery under direction of the cemetery committee. He shall be responsible for the execution of the full details of the various projects which shall be authorized from time to time by the committee members. He shall employ, dismiss, and direct the activities of the various employees of the committee, subject to the approval of the committee members, and shall make such reports and perform such other duties incidental to his office as are required of him by the cemetery committee.

ARTICLE 4: The secretary and treasurer shall keep the minutes thereof in books provided for that purpose. He shall maintain duly itemized and classified accounts of expenditures and pledges made. He shall keep proper records of all appropriations and authorizations of expenditures, he shall sign or countersign all instruments that require his signature. He shall make such reports as the cemetery committee may require. He shall have the custody of all money and funds and shall keep proper books of account thereof, which books shall at all times be open to the inspection of each committee member. He shall sign or countersign checks, contracts, and such other instruments as require his signature and shall perform all duties incidental to his office or that are properly required of him by the cemetery committee.

ARTICLE 5: Regular meetings of the cemetery committee shall be held in the first month of each quarter at such time and place as the chairman may determine. Special meetings of the cemetery committee may be held at any time upon the call by the chairman or secretary of the committee, provided not less than five days notice of the time and place of said meeting be given by the officers calling the same. In case of a death of a church member or non-member, the committee can call an emergency meeting, consisting of not less than two members, without a five day notice. A quorum at any regular, or special meeting shall consist of two of the cemetery committee members.

 

DIVIDE MEMORIAL METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH CEMETERY BY-LAWS

  1. Primary use of the Divide Memorial Methodist Protestant Church Cemetery is for the members of said church and immediate family.
  2. The cemetery shall be plotted and gravesites shall be marked off and plotted on a cemetery map. All plots selected prior to May 1, 1980 shall be continued. It shall be the responsibility of the chairman of the cemetery committee to keep an up to date map or plot of said cemetery. When not in use, said map or plot shall be filed in a safe accessible place.
  3. Any non-member, whose immediate family is buried in this church cemetery before May 1, 1980, shall be granted a plot upon request.
  4. Space in the cemetery shall be given at no charge to church members and their immediate families. (Immediate family shall be considered to be wife, husband, or dependent children.)
  5. The cemetery committee will not grant permission to others to use the church cemetery, unless, there is a valid reason for granting permission. A charge shall be assessed for use of the church cemetery by anyone other than church members and their immediate families. Fees shall be collected when permission is granted. The cemetery committee has the right under the auspices of the church and under the provision of these by-laws to refuse to provide burial space for any other person.
  6. Fees collected on burial permits shall be put into the Divide Memorial Methodist Protestant Church Cemetery Trust Fund. All other designated cemetery fund gifts may also be put into this fund or may be retained in the checking account. Fees collected on burial permits cannot be refunded or transferred without the approval of the cemetery committee.
  7. A burial permit will only be valid for the use of said holder.
  8. All funds received or spent for the upkeep of the cemetery shall be handled by the church treasurer.
  9. Permission to open a grave shall be obtained from any cemetery committee member, on plots that have already been approved.
  10. Foot markers shall be buried even with top of ground and graves to be kept level for convenience of grounds maintenance.
  11. No person shall plant anything or place any permanent object in the cemetery in the excess of head stones and foot markers.
  12. None of the members of said cemetery committee shall be liable for any error in judgment or decision made by this committee.
  13. These by-laws may be amended or revised as deemed necessary by the members of Divide Memorial Methodist Protestant Church.
  14. It shall be the duty of each family of a person interred in the cemetery to remove excess dirt and level the grave. If this is not done within 30 days the committee shall be authorized to have this done and send the family a bill to cover the expense incurred.

 

REQUIREMENTS FOR CARING FOR GRAVES:

  1. Before a grave is opened, permission to open must be given by a member of the Cemetery Committee.
  2. Foot markers shall be buried even with the top of the ground and graves are to be kept level for convenience of grounds maintenance.
  3. No person shall plant anything or place any permanent object in the cemetery in the excess of head stones and foot markers.
  4. Each family of a person interred in the cemetery is responsible for removal of excess dirt and leveling of grave. If this is not done within thirty days the committee shall be authorized to have the job done and send the family a bill to cover the expense incurred.