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Grieving mother urges Hartsville to create infant-burial options after cemetery errors
Summary
Aisha Pendergrass described mistakes and insensitive cemetery operations after burying her infant and urged the city to create an infant/toddler burial section or allow incremental plot purchases; city officials said they will review surveying, consider policy changes and will waive closing fees for infant burials beginning in 2026.
Aisha Pendergrass addressed the council about her experience burying her infant daughter and described errors and distressing conduct she encountered at Green Line Cemetery, saying the treatment compounded her grief. "Imagine arriving to your child's burial service and realizing that the grave you paid to have fully open was not," Pendergrass said, and described a temporary marker being moved to the wrong location and equipment operating during services.
Pendergrass said the city refunded the fee for opening and closing the grave in her case but urged systemic change so other families do not face similar problems. She proposed that the city consider creating a designated infant and toddler burial section, allow plots to be purchased in increments for infants when feasible, maintain up-to-date inventory so families have choice, and require dignity training and accountability for cemetery staff.
City officials acknowledged the complaint and said cemetery staffing and contractual arrangements require follow-up. Officials said they will examine surveying and plot options and announced a policy change to waive closing fees for infant or toddler burials effective in 2026. Council discussed the contract and operational agreement elements that shape how the city manages cemetery labor and services.
Pendergrass closed by saying she hoped the council would make changes so "this does not end with me" and that families would be spared similar distress.
The council asked staff to follow up on contractual issues, surveying and policy changes, and to provide more information to the public on next steps.
