Dear (Oakland) Cemetery Committee:

I am writing this letter out of concern for things that are taking place in Oakland Cemetery. It is very disturbing to ride through the cemetery and see the way the property is being kept and the way that lots are being abused and junked up.

I would first like to say that the city has done a much better job of maintaining the grounds as far as keeping the grass mowed and shrubs trimmed. I chose a number of years ago to cut the grass on our lots myself. It is with much appreciation that the staff that mows now will skip over our lots. This is something that I chose to do over 20 years ago when my father passed away.

My concern is the way the lower part of the cemetery is being kept. I am going to attach some pictures to this letter for your reference. Just recently two graves have been dug on the lower end of the cemetery near the college and mounds of dirt were left on top of the graves. There is no way the grass cutting staff would go over the graves. This is a disgrace to others who take pride in their lots. On the deed to our lots Item 6 reads: The direction in which graves are dug will depend upon the location of the lot with regard to the driveway or walk and shall be determined by the cemetery commission. The mound must be low, oval shaped grass mound, not over six inches high in the center, and must be low enough to allow the mowing machine to pass over it entirely. There are a number of graves that are not in compliance with this regulation. I spoke with one gentleman who had been approached by a woman who had just recently buried her husband and asked the young man why he had left dirt on top of her husband's grave and he told her that he did not bury her husband. He said the lady was in tears so he offered to look at the grave and take some of the dirt off. However, he said that when he went over the vault was not 3 inches under the ground and he told her that he could not do anything for fear that his equipment would damage the vault or cement box. I understand there is not a law in the State of South Carolina regulating the depth a grave has to be dug. However, I do think that the Cemetery Committee could come up with some guidelines and regulations for digging graves.

Another issue is the coping and corner markers that are being placed in the cemetery. There are a number of graves that are being outlined by cement edging that is being purchased from places like Wal-Mart or Lowe's. This causes a problem for the staff that mows the property. I refer once again to my deed which reads in Item 5: No enclosures of ANY kind will be permitted around any lot, neither coping, curbing, fencing, ditches, embankments or hedging, without permission of the Gaffney Cemetery Commission. Also, Item 7 reads: The boundaries of all lots will be designated by corner posts. If corner posts and lot markers of a special kind are desired, the size and material must be approved and permission to erect same obtained by the Cemetery Authorities. All corner posts and lot markers must be set flush with the lawn. It would be my recommendation that the Cemetery Commission make it mandatory for all monument companies to get permission before erecting marker and this way it may help to alleviate some of the problems.

I hope that as the Cemetery Commission, you will look very closely at the issues listed above. I am asking that some guidelines and stipulations be enforced. I am starting with you all and trusting that you will address these issues and make efforts to correct issues at Oakland Cemetery. Should the need be, I have a list of people that are willing to come before you all at a meeting to express their concerns and issues as well. Should you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

I am thanking you in advance for your attentiveness and help with this matter.
Sincerely,
Wm. Tracy Parris
Gaffney, S.C.