Jacksonville woman unable to find mother's grave in overgrown cemetery

A Jacksonville woman said she went to visit her mother’s grave Saturday and was unable to find it because of overgrown weeds and piles of debris.

Catherine Buggs showed Action News Jax a photo of her mom Mary Jane Jackson.

She’s buried at the Mount Zion AME Church cemetery, alongside the Jacksonville great Douglas Anderson and many veterans.

Using her umbrella as support, Buggs walked Action News Jax's reporter Brittney Donovan through calF-high weeds and past headstones overgrown by grass.

“I can’t even find my own mom’s grave. That’s terrible,” Buggs said. “With the older citizens and older veterans and things. I think these cemeteries should be taken care of.”

Action News Jax first reported on deteriorating conditions at the cemetery in 2014.

Church steward Juanita Powell-Williams said the church has poured thousands of dollars into the cemetery in the years since on upkeep and new fencing.

“There comes a time when your attention is diverted and (in) a two, three-week period, the growth can get overwhelming,” Powell-Williams said.

She said the costs of upkeep are paid for by church members. The church has 70 members, 45 of which are active.

“We’ve asked the family members to continue to contribute (for upkeep) but now of course many of the family members have died,” Powell-Williams said.

Mayor Lenny Curry has allocated nearly $11 million in his 2019 budget to restore cemeteries in Jacksonville, but the cemetery off of St. Augustine Road is not on the list.

Powell-Williams said the church has been trying for years to get the cemetery designated as a historic site to honor the war veterans and prominent Jacksonville figures buried there.

She says the designation could also mean money from the city to help with upkeep.

“To not be able to walk into the cemetery and leave flowers, I think that’s awful,” Buggs said.

The church said it will be working with Buggs to help locate her mother’s grave.

Powell-Williams said if anyone would like to assist the church in upkeep or the cemetery, they can call and leave a message.

Cox Media Group