Anderson-Oconee-Pickens County SC Cemetery Preservation

† Some landowners who have cemeteries located on their property, are preventing family members from visiting and maintaining the graves of their love-ones. Some landowners or their livestock are desecrating/destroying their cemeteries. A cemetery is a place not only for the burial of the dead, but for an expression of love and respect by the living for the dead. Descendants should have the right of burial, visitation, maintenance and beautification of graves..!

Senator Larry Martin's Past Actions & Frustrations

District No. 2 - Pickens County

E-Mail Address: SRU@scsenate.org

Box 247, Pickens, 29671
(864) 878-6105

S.760 Cemetery General Bill, 02-Dec-2003, Originated by Senator Martin, Knotts, Leventis and Reese
To provide an easement for the relatives and descendants of any person buried in a cemetery for ingress and egress for the purpose of visiting the cemetery.

S.277 Cemetery General Bill, 18-Jan-2005, Reintroduced by Senator Martin & Moore

S.065 Cemetery General Bill, 2-Nov-2006, Refilled by Senator Martin

NOTE: BILL S.065 WAS SIGNED INTO LAW ON 27-JUN-2007.

VISIT: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t27c043.htm

SECTION 6-1-35. Preservation and protection of cemeteries. [SC ST SEC 6-1-35]

(A) Counties and municipalities are authorized to preserve and protect any cemetery located within its jurisdiction which the county or municipality determines has been abandoned or is not being maintained and are further authorized to expend public funds and use county or municipal inmate labor, in the manner authorized by law, in connection with the cemetery.

(B) As used in this section, the term "preserve and protect" means to keep safe from destruction, peril, or other adversity and may include the placement of signs, markers, fencing, or other appropriate features so as to identify the site as a cemetery and so as to aid in the preservation and protection of the abandoned cemetery.

VISIT: http://www.chicora.org/sc-cemetery-law.html

http://www.state.sc.us/scdah/cemetery.htm

If a cemetery is in the process of being desecrated, contact the county sheriff immediately. State laws make it a felony to destroy or desecrate burial grounds and establish a legal framework for moving abandoned cemeteries when necessary. The responsibility for enforcing state cemetery laws belongs to the county sheriff or local police department. After contacting the county sheriff, notify other interested groups, such as local historical organizations and the local newspaper. Prosecute offenders who are caught and publicize the arrests. Suits can also be filed in civil court to seek compensation for damages. Make sure that you contact our State Archaeologist Jonathan M. Leader, Ph.D., SC State Archaeologist, SCIAA, 1321 Pendleton Street, Columbia, SC 29208, 803.777.8170, Cell: 803.331.8817, Fax: 803.254.1338, leader@sc.edu.

Chicora Foundation Work includes archaeological and historical research and work in conservation and preservation with museums, libraries, archives, historic organizations, and private citizens. Michael Trinkley, Ph.D. - Director, Telephone = 803-787-6910, E-Mail = trinkley@chicora.org. See http://www.chicora.org/sc-cemetery-law.html

SC State Archaeologist - Jonathan M. Leader, Ph.D., SC State Archaeologist, SCIAA, 1321 Pendleton Street, Columbia, SC 29208, 803.777.8170, Cell: 803.331.8817, Fax: 803.254.1338, leader@sc.edu. Serves as the main State agency concerned with South Carolina's Prehistoric and Historic Archaeology, and its discovery, study, revelation, and official safekeeping at a curatorial facility. Contact Dr. Jon if you feel a cemetery is about to be damaged or destroyed. This agency coordinates with law enforcement, medical examiners & coroners and may be able to provide you with guidance & assistance.

SC State Department of Transportation (D.O.T.) Archaeologist - Wayne Roberts at robertswd@dot.state.sc.us