Cemeteries

THE RAYMOND CEMETERY

Cemeteries have been called open air museums,
filled with history and irreplaceable artwork.

Cemeteries are repositories of unique genealogical, historical, religious, cultural, societal, and medical information that may not be recorded in any other format.  They are places in which the average citizen has an  opportunity to walk in the footsteps of their ancestors.  They are sources of humor, pathos, and folklore.  They are habitat for birds and wildlife in the green spaces that they create.

                                                  Jeanne Robinson,
Oregon Historic Cemeteries Association.

The City of Raymond takes great pride in being the caretaker of the several cemeteries that comprise a whole, known as the Raymond Cemetery. We request the cooperation of all citizens who have an interest in the Raymond Cemetery in so maintaining and beautifying it that it may always be a source of inspiration and comfort to everyone.

The Raymond Cemetery is comprised of the Historic Raymond Cemetery, the Confederate Cemetery, The Garden of Love and The Garden of Olivet (also known as Odd Fellows Cemetery), and the Garden of Eden.  The Garden of Love, Garden of Olivet, and Garden of Eden are the only areas presently open for burials.

HISTORIC RAYMOND CEMETERY

The Historic Raymond Cemetery contains the remains of some of the earliest settlers in Hinds County.  The cemetery is located between Dry Grove Road and Port Gibson Street, with vehicular entrance from Dry Grove Road.  A pedestrian gate is located on Port Gibson Street for entrance to this cemetery and the Confederate Cemetery.  Mary Collins Landin in her book, The Old Cemeteries of Hinds County, Mississippi, From 1811 to the Present, lists the earliest marked grave as 1832.

CONFEDERATE CEMETERY

The Confederate Cemetery contains the remains of 140 soldiers who died during the Battle of Raymond, or afterwards as a result of injuries sustained on the day of the battle, May 12, 1863.

An ornate iron fence and gate, announcing Confederate Dead, surrounds the Confederate Cemetery.  A newspaper article from the files of Mary Gillespie Adams, dated 1910, states that the ladies of the local UDC chapter were selling ice cream to raise funds to “finish paying for the handsome iron fence erected around the confederate lot.”

In 1933, a local chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) was responsible for the installation of 71 unmarked tombstones.  In 1987, new grave markers were dedicated to 109 dead soldiers that had been identified as being buried in the Cemetery.  Roger Hansen, a member of Stanford’s Mississippi Battery, is credited with researching state and national records to find the names of 109 of the soldiers buried here.

GARDEN OF LOVE AND GARDEN OF OLIVET/ODD FELLOWS

The Garden of Love (west side of North Drive) and Garden of Olivet (east side of North Drive) contain the original Odd Fellows Graveyard.  According to old records, about 1857, Naomi Lodge No. 17, I.O.O.F. Raymond Odd Fellows Lodge) purchased from Maj. N. H. Bradley the land on the southeast side of Dry Grove Road, now known as Odd Fellows Cemetery. The Odd Fellows Graveyard was surveyed and drawn by T.J. Adams, CE, March 1890. (Bradley, 1813-1894, and his family are buried in the old section of the town cemetery near the grave of Steven D. Miller.) Adam’s hand drawn map is located in Raymond City Hall.

The beginnings of the Independent Order of the Odd Fellows in Raymond dates back to about 1840. Ruffner Lodge at Raymond was chartered by the Grand Lodge in Natchez. Through mismanagement, however, Ruffner Lodge fell into disrepute and soon surrendered or lost its charter. In 1845 Naomi Lodge No. 17, I.O.O.F was chartered with I. Hunter, W.S. Ritnour, Allen Patrick, Daniel Knapp, and George W. Harper as charter members. The Lodge was successful and continued its regular meetings from 1845 until it was plundered of its furniture, jewels, books, etc. by Grant’s army in 1863, after having sustained a fire in 1858. It remained suspended from 1863 until 1878 when, by dispensation, it was reorganized with proper offices and fully reestablished.

From The Founding of Raymond, A History of its Early Citizens, 1830-1860
by Oliver V. Shearer

GARDEN OF EDEN

The Garden of Eden (1961) is located below the Garden of Love and Garden of Olivet, on the south side of West Drive. The May 1953 Minutes of the City of Raymond record the property for this “new” cemetery was purchased by the City of Raymond from Gaddis Farms for $500.00 cash. “Improvements” listed as filling and grading to the cemetery were undertaken by the City in March 1961. These improvements most certainly included the filling of a large ditch through what is known as Garden of Olivet.

In 1961, the Gardens were surveyed by R.C. (Dick) Prassel and a new map was drawn by Wallace M. Wall. This map is located in Raymond City Hall.

GENERAL INFORMATION AND REGULATIONS FOR PATRONS OF THE RAYMOND CEMETERY

PURCHASE OF LOTS

SELECTION

Prospective purchasers should contact Raymond City Hall and make an appointment to visit the Cemetery to select the lot(s) of their choice.  All purchases must be in multiples of two (2) unless a single lot is available.  Grave spaces are 5′ x 10′ and all graves face east.  Each Square contains four (4) Blocks, and each Block contains eight (8) lots. A five (5) foot walkway borders each Square.  The walkways remain the property of the City of Raymond and no graves shall be situated in said walkways.

PAYMENT

The sale of lots is handled only by the Raymond City Clerk whose office is located at Raymond City Hall.  When payment in full has been made for the lot(s) selected, a deed, listing the Lot Number(s), Block Number, Square Number, and Name of Garden, shall be issued by the City of Raymond.  No exceptions will be made to allow down payments and/or payments on an installment plan.  No interments may be made until payment in full has been received.

Once a lot is purchased and a deed is obtained, the purchaser should record the deed in the Office of the Chancery Clerk, Hinds County Courthouse, Raymond, Mississippi.

The Board of Aldermen has full authority to set the purchase price of the lots and the opening and closing fees of the graves. The fees are reviewed periodically and are based on the operation and maintenance costs of the cemetery.

PROCEDURE FOR FUNERAL

ARRANGEMENTS

After the family has selected the Funeral Director and having fixed the hour for the interment, the Funeral Director will so notify the Raymond City Clerk.

A member of the family or their representative must go to the Cemetery and designate on the ground the desired location of the grave.  No interment shall be made on any lot without the written consent of the owner thereof. The City shall assume no responsibility for an erroneous selection of the lot(s) for final interment.

Arrangements for a disinterment shall be handled in the same manner as a burial.  After the family has selected the Funeral Director and having fixed the hour for the disinterment, the funeral Director will so notify the Raymond City Clerk. An opening and closing fee shall be collected by the Funeral Director and forwarded to the City of Raymond.

PREPARATION OF THE GRAVE

Arrangements for the preparation of the grave are made by the Funeral Director.  The City of Raymond sets an opening and closing fee for each interment and disinterment.  The Funeral Director shall add the opening and closing fee to the cost of the service provided by the Funeral Home.  Said opening and closing fees shall be forwarded to the City of Raymond by the Funeral Director.

CREMATED REMAINS

The burial of cremated remains on existing family graves will be allowed in the Garden of Love, Garden of Olivet, and Garden of Eden provided that the following guidelines are followed.

• Permission must be given by the owner of the property allowing the burial of cremains.  If the owner is deceased, next of kin must consent to the burial of the cremains. Permission shall be given in writing at Raymond City Hall with the City Clerk.
• Cremains are to be contained in a vessel suitable for such purposes, or the container that was returned by the cremation facility.
• There may be no more than one (1) burial of cremated remains on a grave with existing remains.
• This limits the burials on any gravesite to two (2).
• Two interments of cremated remains may be allowed together or one interment of cremated remains may be allowed with one remains in the same grave space.
• For a burial of remains and cremains in the same grave space, the remains must be buried first.
• The number of markers or stones permitted shall not exceed the number of grave spaces.

MONUMENTS AND MARKERS

GARDEN OF LOVE AND GARDEN OF OLIVET/ODD FELLOWS

In the sections of the cemetery known as the Garden of Love and Garden of Olivet, cemetery structures may be erected at the discretion of the lot owner, under the regulations and supervision of the city, as set forth below.

• All structures must be approved and supervised by the City of Raymond.  Persons or firms erecting, cleaning, or repairing memorials, must first obtain a permit from the City of Raymond.
• Monuments, stones, mausoleums, vaults, copings, and corner markers must be made of marble, granite, bronze, or like materials.  For the best interests and protection of the lot owner, the use of cement, artificial stone, composition, wood, tin, iron, or other materials will not be permitted. Temporary grave markers, such as provided by funeral homes, may remain in place for a reasonable length of time.
• No fences, walls, or any other material (excluding the already existing fences, walls, etc.) will be permitted for marking lots in the cemetery.  Only corner markers four inches square (4″ x 4″) will be permitted for this purpose and these will be of the same material as specified for grave markers. The corner markers will be set flush with the ground. If foot markers are used, they will also be placed flush with the ground.
• All monuments and/or structures must be placed on concrete foundations of sufficient size, depth, and strength to insure permanent stability.  Concrete may not be mixed on cemetery property.  No “soil cement” foundations will be permitted.
• Memorial benches may be placed in these Gardens with the prior approval of the city.  All benches shall be granite and shall faithfully replicate the design of the granite benches erected at the Port Gibson Street entrance to the Cemetery.  The location of the benches shall be approved by the city prior to their placement. The benches shall be placed on concrete foundation of sufficient size, depth, and strength to insure permanent stability.
• Shrubbery and trees may be planted on lots as may be approved by the City of Raymond, so long as such planting does not interfere with the free use of surrounding walkways and lanes.
• The City of Raymond will assist in every way possible in the location of any grave, but the city shall not assume the responsibility of a stone or marker being placed on the wrong location.
• Monuments must be unloaded from the driveways. Vehicles may not be driven over lots.
• After setting monuments, the ground must be left as nearly as possible in its original state and all surplus dirt and rubbish must be removed immediately.

GARDEN OF EDEN

In the section of the cemetery known as the Garden of Eden, no monument, upright stone, or mausoleum will be allowed. Cemetery structures shall be built to the following specifications.

• In the section of the cemetery known as the Garden of Eden, no monuments, stones, mausoleums, or vaults may be erected above the ground. Only one marker may be placed on each grave.  Said marker shall be made of a bronze plaque, set on marble or granite, and elevated not more than one inch above the ground.
• These bronze markers shall be uniform in size, with the size being twelve inches by twenty four inches (12″ x 24″).  Double markers (one marker for two graves) are permitted.  They shall be twelve inches by forty eight inches (12″ x 48″).
• No fences, walls, or any other material will be permitted for marking lots in the cemetery.  Only corner markers four inches square (4″ x 4″) will be permitted for this purpose and these will be of the same material as specified for grave markers.  The corner markers will be set flush with the ground.  If foot markers are used, they will also be placed flush with the ground.
• The foundations for all markers must be made of concrete of sufficient size, depth, and strength to adequately support the marker.  Concrete may not be mixed on cemetery property.  No “soil-cement” foundations will be permitted.
• Shrubbery and trees may not be planted by owners in the Garden of Eden.
• The City of Raymond will assist in every way possible in the location of any grave, but the city does not assume the responsibility of a stone or marker being placed on the wrong location.
• Monuments must be unloaded from the driveways and vehicles may not be driven over lots.
• After setting monuments, the ground must be left as nearly as possible in its original state, and all surplus dirt and rubbish must be removed immediately.

MARKERS FOR CREMAINS

One flat marker may be placed over the cremains interred with remains in the same grave space.  The marker shall match the existing headstone in material, style, and design.  Said markers must be made of marble, granite, bronze, or like materials.  For the best interest and protection of the lot owner, the use of cement, artificial stone, composition, wooer, tin, iron, or other materials will not be permitted.  All flat markers must be placed on a concrete foundation of sufficient size, depth, and strength to insure permanent stability.  Concrete may not be mixed on cemetery property.  No “soil-cement” foundations will be permitted.

CARE AND MANAGEMENT

All areas owned by the City of Raymond, including walkways, driveways, and unsold lots will be mowed regularly and will be maintained in a reasonable manner by the city.  Cemetery forces will also cut the grass on privately owned lots insofar as this can be done with mowers.  However, the city cannot undertake to give special care, such as hand trimming around stones on the lots.  This must be done by the owners.

UPKEEP

The city forces will use reasonable care in mowing around monuments and stones, but because of the brittleness of marble, the city cannot assume liability for the chipping or marking of stones.  The city is not responsible for maintenance and upkeep of stones that have fallen or settled.

The city is not responsible for the maintenance of graves.  If notified, we will make an effort to fill areas that have settled.

The city does not assume the responsibility for any vase, wreath, pot plant, ornament or any other object placed in the cemetery.

The city reserves the right to prune or remove any planting which may interfere with the free use of the surrounding area. The city may also remove dead flowers and other debris from lots.

MEMORIAL FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS AND OTHER DECORATIONS

All flowers and decorations must be securely placed in a container with sufficient weight to prevent them from blowing about the cemetery.

Christmas decorations will be removed prior to the first week in February.

Easter lilies will be removed thirty days after Easter.

Seasonal flowers will be removed by city forces when it is deemed appropriate.

All decorations that are faded or unsightly, or have not complied with the above, will be removed.