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Resident urges city action after baby’s burial problems; council vows fee waiver and review
Summary
A Hartsville resident described mishandled infant burial arrangements and asked the city to create infant/toddler plot options and improve cemetery staff conduct; city leaders pledged to waive opening/closing fees for infant burials starting 2026 and to explore surveying and policy changes.
A Hartsville resident told the City Council she was forced to bury her stillborn daughter in a grave that was not prepared as paid for and described other distressing cemetery practices, prompting city officials to promise policy changes.
Aisha Pendergrass recounted the November 2025 burial of her daughter, Arya, and said the grave that had been paid for was not properly opened, temporary markers were moved, and machinery operated near mourners. "My daughter's life mattered. Her life mattered," Pendergrass said during public comment as she urged the council to ensure grieving families have dignity and choices.
Her requests included creating a designated infant and toddler burial section, allowing plots to be purchased in smaller increments when a full adult plot is not appropriate, maintaining current inventory so families have meaningful options, and implementing dignity and accountability training for cemetery staff.
Mayor Dan Ascus and city staff acknowledged the account and described limits tied to the city's contract with cemetery operators but outlined immediate changes: the city will waive the opening and closing fee for infant and toddler burials beginning in 2026 and will consider surveying plots and options to provide parents with clearer choices. City Manager Daniel Moore said the city is examining contract terms and surveying needs to determine whether a dedicated infant/toddler section is feasible.
The council’s response also included an assurance that staff would follow up with contractual partners about operational conduct and that refunded fees in Pendergrass’s case had already been processed by city staff. No formal ordinance or vote was taken on a cemetery governance change during this meeting; the council characterized the next steps as policy and contract review and potential future agenda items.
For now, the most recent procedural change is the council’s pledge to waive certain fees for infant and toddler burials starting in 2026 and to study options for surveying and plot designation.
