Residents press county for records and preservation steps for historic Jones County cemetery

Multiple residents urged the Jones County Board of Commissioners on June 3 to locate legal records and take steps to preserve a historic cemetery that residents say contains graves dating back more than a century.

Speakers at the meeting said they cannot find documentary proof of the cemetery’s original purpose and ownership prior to a transfer from the Bateman company in 1981. Those commenters said elderly residents and local oral history assert the site served the Black community historically and questioned county records describing the site as a “pauper” cemetery in past reporting.

During the public-comment period a resident asked for any recorded deed or transfer documents that show when and how the property was conveyed to the county and whether the land was explicitly given for cemetery use. The resident said she had searched county clerk records, the secretary of state’s online materials and other repositories without finding the transfer paperwork she expects to exist.

The board acknowledged the issue and noted prior work sessions on the cemetery. Commissioners said they are pursuing additional research and may consult legal counsel and archives to locate title documents and other historical records. The board did not take a binding action at the meeting; multiple speakers said they expect further study and additional work sessions.

Commissioners also discussed constraints on the county’s authority: attendees were told the county’s ability to authorize new burials can depend on the cemetery’s legal status and established restrictions, and that resolving ownership and documented purpose is a necessary step for preservation or reuse decisions.

The board said it would continue efforts to compile records and follow up with interested residents; no timetable or formal assignment was adopted during the meeting.