Should Alabama Man Be Allowed to Keep Late Wife Buried in His Front Yard?
SodaHead News
2012/08/19 19:06:11
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A controversy is brewing in Stevenson, Alabama over a husband's front yard grave for his late wife. According to the Associated Press, James Davis is fighting for what he believes is his right to maintain his late wife's grave, which has been on his property since 2009. The local government however, believes this could set an unhealthy precedent for the community.
"We're not talking about a homestead, we're not talking about someone who is out in the country on 40 acres of land," said Stevenson city attorney Parker Edmiston. "Mr. Davis lives in downtown Stevenson." One can imagine having a neighbor with a front lawn graveyard, no matter how sentimental the reason, would freak out some folks.
In response to the city's request, the "Let Patsy Rest in Peace" campaign has been created to let Mr. Davis keep his late wife's remains buried in the front yard. It may seem odd to some, but Davis has said it was his wife's wish to be buried on the property. Stevenson officials are probably worried about the home's resale value should it become vacated, but Davis claims if they get their wish and remove the grave, it will be when he's joined his wife.
"We're not talking about a homestead, we're not talking about someone who is out in the country on 40 acres of land," said Stevenson city attorney Parker Edmiston. "Mr. Davis lives in downtown Stevenson." One can imagine having a neighbor with a front lawn graveyard, no matter how sentimental the reason, would freak out some folks.
In response to the city's request, the "Let Patsy Rest in Peace" campaign has been created to let Mr. Davis keep his late wife's remains buried in the front yard. It may seem odd to some, but Davis has said it was his wife's wish to be buried on the property. Stevenson officials are probably worried about the home's resale value should it become vacated, but Davis claims if they get their wish and remove the grave, it will be when he's joined his wife.
Read More: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5...
Top Opinion
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richard.maloney.7 2012/08/19 19:39:34Yes
+12shes dead, and its not like hes gonna dig her up on special occations and trot her out for tea... when your dead your dead... you dont worry abut it so why should the living
I dont think I would want him as a neighbor, maybe it would bring my property value down and my company from coming over, but that's my problem if he's not breaking the law. I would have a meeting with him before her funeral asking if he's putting her there can it be in a closed off area or can he get a inclosed fence. something we both could agree on!
This man has violated no law and the grave should be left alone .
This is his property , and his wife's wish.
There are precedents in Alabama
"One man recalled Tom Clark boasting, “No man will ever run over Tom Clark!” So, as an ironic twist, legend has it that Clark was buried under Tennessee Street, just outside the gates of the Florence Cemetery. A historical marker designates the spot believed to be Clark’s grave, where thousands of people run over Tom Clark daily."
( Fascinating story for those who would read it ,
http://armyoftennessee.wordpr... )
Also Chief Chinnabee of the Natchez lies in the front yard of a small rancher in Lincoln Alabama not more the 20 feet from the roadside.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi...
.
This is probably just a bunch of people wanting to make money by getting him to bury her in an "official" graveyard.
If and when he dies if no family gets the property it can go to the city and they can remove her when the time comes. This is REALLY SAD for the city to be such hard ons for this.
I was trying to think what they was..........Call Miss Utility! That's what it is here. lol, call before you bury!!
It is estimated that the more than 22,500 cemeteries across the Unites States bury 827,060 gallons of embalming fluid every year. Embalming fluids can include chemicals and additives like formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, phenol, methanol, antibiotics, dyes, anti-edemic chemicals and disinfectant chemicals.
These substances eventually find their way into the soil where they can contaminate the local water supplies. The International Agency for Research on Cancer considers formaldehyde a Class 1 Carcinogen. Does it make sense to risk the health of the living to preserve — for just a little while — the bodies of the deceased?
Ashes to ashes; Dust to dust
Instead of row upon row of grayish-white tombstones, imagine being buried in a meadow of wildflowers or a peaceful forest setting. Imagine the comfort your loved ones will feel knowing that they can sit down and remember you while leaning against a tree that was planted above you, and which your everlasting energy feeds. In a sense, the tree is you — living on — as it was your body that provided the nutrients it needed to grow tall and strong.
It might be environmental legislation that eventually persuades the Western world to stop using embalming fluids and clear-cutting thousands of acres for traditional graveyards. But it is the “meaning” behind it all that will open our hearts and our minds to the idea of green burials.
...the back yard was also good enough for Fido, the dog, Mittens, the cat, Pauli, the bird & Seth, the snake, too.
No offense. It's just what your post made me think.