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Families seek answers after grave markers, flowers dumped at cemetery

Autumn Woods owner says it's policy to remove temporary grave markers and flowers
Michaila Franklin
Reporter/Anchor
Families seek answers after grave markers, flowers dumped at cemetery

Autumn Woods owner says it's policy to remove temporary grave markers and flowers

FRANKLIN VISITED THE SITE AND SPOKE WITH EMOTIONAL FAMILIES.. IMGó5961 MICHAILA: "IS THIS TRIGGERING FOR YOU ALL?" EVERYONE: "YES, YES IT'S TRAUMATIC." FAMILIES SORTED THROUGH A MOUNTAIN OF TEMPORARY GRAVE MARKERS AND FLOWERS SEARCHING FOR ONE OF THEIR OWN.. IMGó5951 :03-:13 "THIS PERSON JUST PASSED AWAY IN APRIL, 2022, AND THAT WHOLE PILE OVER THERE HAS BEEN BURNED ALREADY.." IMG5956 :26 "THIS IS A MCGHEE AND I'M A MCGHEE, I HAVE TO ASK MY SISTER IF THIS IS A RELATIVE." IMGó5967 "MY MOM IS SOMEWHERE IN THIS AREA, MY AUNTIE SOMEWHERE IN THIS AREA TOO." THE EMOTION HERE TO SAY THE LEAST WAS OVERWHELMING.. THERE WERE AT LEAST 50 FAMILIES SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE LAWN áNATSá THIS WOMAN'S STORY IS ONE YOU MIGHT RECOGNIZE.. :07-:12 "KEYUNTA MCWILLIAMS, SHE WAS 8 MONTHS PREGNANT, SHE WAS THE YOUNG LADY THAT GOT KILLED OFF OF BEASLEY." SHUNTA MCWILLIAMS ALONG WITH OTHER FAMILIES RE-LIVED A NIGHTMARE TRYING TO FIND THEIR LOVED ONES BURIAL SITE.. SHE BURIED HER DAUGHTER AND UNBORN GRANDCHILD HERE 8 MONTHS AGO - SHUNTA MCWILLIAMS / BURIED DAUGHTER AND UNBORN GRANDCHILD :28-:33 "IT'S HARD, IT'S VERY HARD. IT'S TAKING ALL MY MIGHT." UPON ENTERING THE GROUNDS - THERE'S A SIGN POSTED WITH REGULATIONS ON TEMPORARY GRAVE MARKERS.. THE SIGN STATES MARKERS WILL BE REMOVED AFTER TWO WEEKS OF BURIAL.. IMGó5944 :50-:59 "MY MOM HAS BEEN OUT HERE FOR 3 YEARS , IF THERE IS SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I'VE NEVER HEARD IT AND ALL THESE FAMILIES OUT HERE SAY THEY NEVER HEARD OF IT EITHER." RED2852 3:11-3:18 "WE HAVE RULES THAT HAVE BEEN POSTED FOR YEARS AND YEARS THERE AND SOME FAMILIES DON'T WANT TO FOLLOW THOSE." WE SAT DOWN WITH THE OWNER OF THE CEMETERY EARLE BANKS - WHO IS ALSO A STATE REPRESENTATIVE HE SAYS THE MARKERS POSE A MAINTENANCE ISSUE RED2852 EARLE BANKS / AUTMNWOODS CEMETERY PRESIDENT AND OWNER 2:23-2:28 "WE CANNOT CUT GRASS AND NOT HAVE A LAWN MOWER TEARING THIS THING UP AND DAMAGING THE MOWER BLADES." HOWEVER FAMILIES HAVE PUSHED BACK ON THIS SAYING THEY UPKEEP OWN FAMILIES GRAVES.. áNATS OF GUY CUTTING GRASSá AS FOR THE MOUNTAIN OF GRAVE MARKERS AND FLOWERS - HE DID ADMIT BURNING IT AROUND FAMILIES COULD BE INSENSITIVE.. 6:43-6:47 "THE PILE NEEDS TO BE MOVED, THAT'S TRUE. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING IT MOVED IN THE FALL." THE PILE HAS GROWN BECAUSE THE CEMETERY DOESN'T BURN IN THE SUMMER.. BANKS SAYS RULES ARE RULES - WHEN WE ASKED IF THERE WAS A BETTER SOLUTION THIS IS WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.. RED2852 5:27-5:3
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Families seek answers after grave markers, flowers dumped at cemetery

Autumn Woods owner says it's policy to remove temporary grave markers and flowers
Michaila Franklin
Reporter/Anchor
Dozens of families were asking what happened after they found the grave markers and flowers removed from gravesites and dumped at a Jackson cemetery.Shunta McWilliams was one of about 50 people seeking answers Tuesday at Autumn Woods Memorial Gardens on W. Northside Drive. McWilliams' daughter, 23-year-old Keyunta McWilliams, is buried there. She was eight months pregnant when she and her unborn child were shot and killed in December 2021."This is what I come to, and I don't feel that's right," McWilliams said. McWilliams said in addition to the pile of flowers and grave markers -- some of which were burned -- there has been no upkeep at the cemetery because the grass is long and needs to be cut.Rep. Earle Banks, of Jackson, is the owner and president of the cemetery. Banks acknowledged that the grass needs to be cut, and said it's part of maintaining the cemetery. A sign is up at the cemetery that says, "temporary grave markers will be removed after about two weeks after burial and will not be replaced. Please speak with us if you are interested in purchasing a permanent grave marker or vase."The sign goes on to say that flowers and grave decorations will be removed on Wednesdays if they "become unsightly or interfere" with lawnmowers.Banks admitted that the pile of flowers and markers should be moved, but said he doesn't plan to change the cemetery's policies.Banks said any of the family members can call his team and speak with them about their concerns.
JACKSON, Miss. —

Dozens of families were asking what happened after they found the grave markers and flowers removed from gravesites and dumped at a Jackson cemetery.

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Shunta McWilliams was one of about 50 people seeking answers Tuesday at Autumn Woods Memorial Gardens on W. Northside Drive. McWilliams' daughter, 23-year-old Keyunta McWilliams, is buried there. She was eight months pregnant when she and her unborn child were shot and killed in December 2021.

"This is what I come to, and I don't feel that's right," McWilliams said.

McWilliams said in addition to the pile of flowers and grave markers -- some of which were burned -- there has been no upkeep at the cemetery because the grass is long and needs to be cut.

Rep. Earle Banks, of Jackson, is the owner and president of the cemetery. Banks acknowledged that the grass needs to be cut, and said it's part of maintaining the cemetery.

autumn woods cemetery sign
WAPT

A sign is up at the cemetery that says, "temporary grave markers will be removed after about two weeks after burial and will not be replaced. Please speak with us if you are interested in purchasing a permanent grave marker or vase."

The sign goes on to say that flowers and grave decorations will be removed on Wednesdays if they "become unsightly or interfere" with lawnmowers.

Banks admitted that the pile of flowers and markers should be moved, but said he doesn't plan to change the cemetery's policies.

Banks said any of the family members can call his team and speak with them about their concerns.