Five Jacksonville cemeteries slated to receive $10.8 million dollars in upgrades

The final resting places for many neighbors in Jacksonville’s African-American community including veterans, are in disrepair.

Five cemeteries on the northside -- Pinehurst, Mt. Olive, Hillside, Sunset and Memorial -- are slated to receive $10.8 million in upgrades as part of Mayor Lenny Curry’s new budget.

“They don’t keep them clean,” says Gregory Mercer who has a grandmother buried in one of the cemeteries that has broken headstones, overgrown grass and trash.

Action News Jax first reported on Memorial Cemetery being in disrepair in 2015.  Among the things we found on the property were veterans headstones piles up near a plot.

Action News Jax asked State Sen. Audrey Gibson about the timing of the budget approval.

“That’s an interesting question,” Gibson responded. “Maybe you should ask the mayor.”

Curry is running for re-election and his office sent Action News Jax this statement:

"When the shameful condition of local African-American cemeteries was brought to the mayor's attention, he sought to learn more about these properties and to find solutions. After researching the cemeteries current conditions and needs, Mayor Curry made the decision to include $2.5 million in his 2018-2019  proposed budget focused on restoring Pinehurst, Memorial, Sunset, Hillside and Mt. Olive cemeteries, as part of a larger 3-year, $10.8 million program. As reflected in the proposed budget and CIP, investments like these and many others that demonstrate the mayor's commitment to enhanced infrastructure and public space, are now possible due to pension reform and the effort to provide a long-term solution."

“It’s sad a lot of us (are) not fortunate to do things on our own financially,” said Mercer who hopes to rest easy as others can finally rest in peace.

Cox Media Group