Leave the Man Alone!

@roberten (3128)
United States
August 19, 2012 5:53pm CST
I just read this story: http://news.yahoo.com/ala-man-fights-keep-wife-buried-front-yard-153303814.html?_esi=0 and I am so sad for this man (and his wife who has passed on). What's the big deal about this Stevenson,Alabama man wanting to keep wife buried in their front yard? This is a very small rural town, not a big city. Mr. James Davis is just fulfilling the last wishes of his late wife, Patsy Ruth Davis, who wanted to be buried in her own front yard. The grave is well maintained; there is a long-term custodial care plan; "the county health department signed off on the residential burial, saying it wouldn't cause any sanitation problems"; and "a mortuary installed a concrete vault." All clean and tidy, I'd say..., what say you? Do you think Mr. Davis should be able to keep his wife's burial site in their front yard or should Mrs. Davis be moved to a cemetery?
3 people like this
4 responses
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
20 Aug 12
I read the article and frankly the man did everything the right way. Honestly I think they should leave him alone. They worry about setting a precedent but how many people would go through that kind of expense and trouble to make that possible?
@zoey7879 (3092)
• Quincy, Illinois
20 Aug 12
I think that if assurances have been taken to protect people's health first, then by all means, they should leave the man alone.
@roberten (3128)
• United States
20 Aug 12
koopharper, you are correct, Mr. Davis did things by the book to be able to fulfill his wife's wishes. Zoey, Mr. Davis was very respectful of the health of his community too; all is well in that department. The deep south is taking quite a hit right about now, what's up down there? Leave Mr. and Mrs. Davis alone, they are hurting no one.
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
20 Aug 12
Personally maybe the Best bet would be for him to get this in Writing in a will that if something should happen to him he is to be buried in the front yard with his wife, and then let there be a court order. I would think there would be better things to argue about than this, and they should allow someone's wishes. Especially since the town is so small. I am sure there are many who have done this before him.
@roberten (3128)
• United States
20 Aug 12
Small town, small minds; a perfect example of people who have too much time on their hands. KrauseHome, you are right on, Mr. Davis should put it in writing in the form of a will that he wishes to join his wife after he's gone.
@marguicha (222844)
• Chile
20 Aug 12
I suppose that the law should have the last say. But we have written lawa in our country, so it´s very different from the way things are done in the US. While in my country people should be buried in cemetaries, there are popular memorial sites for people who die in accidents or other terrible ways. There´s no body, but some people believe the souls is still there and being flowers and the like.
• United States
20 Aug 12
From the article it appears as though Mr. Davis has broken no laws or violated any regulations. I say they should leave Mrs. Davis where she is buried. I do foresee problems in the future, though. If they pass laws against this sort of residential burial, Mrs. Davis MAY be "grandfathered" in and allowed to stay but the new regulations may not permit Mr. Davis to be buried alongside her.
@roberten (3128)
• United States
20 Aug 12
You may be right, abitosunshine. If they prevent Mr. Davis from being buried next to his wife, maybe he can be buried with. Maybe he should request his ashes be placed inside her coffin.