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EVERGREEN CEMETERY

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Welcome > Departments > Community Development > Evergreen Cemetery

Building Dept   ·  Code Enforcement  ·  Downtown Development  ·  ​Evergreen Cemetery  ·  Historic Preservation  ·  Redevelopment Program

Evergreen Cemetery

Three steps are required to secure a burial site, carry out a burial, and improve the site.
  1. Purchase a grave site
  2. Purchase a burial permit
  3. Purchase an improvement permit
The process for each of these and the rights they entail are explained below, in addition to maintenance information and cemetery hours & rules. More information is available in Chapter 7 of the Code of Ordinances, which pertains to cemeteries.
purchasing a grave site
Grave sites may be purchased at City Hall's Community Development Office or through your local funeral home. The costs to purchase grave sites for Phases One-Seven are:
  • City Residents - $350
  • Non-City Residents - $400
A receipt will be issued on payment describing location and ownership. The official deed will follow when signed and recorded. Partial payments or reservations are not accepted. To complete the burial process, you must also purchase a burial permit and an improvement/installation permit. See below.
purchasing a burial permit
After purchasing a burial site or showing proof of ownership, a burial permit must be obtained.  A burial permit must be purchased a minimum of 24 hours prior to the opening of any grave site.  No one shall open any grave site without presenting a City issued burial permit and proper identification. Burial permit fees are:
  • City Residents - $325
  • Non-City Residents - $375
No animals will be buried in Evergreen Cemetery.  

​To complete the burial process, you must also purchase an installation permit. See below.
purchasing an installation permit
No monument, marker, coping, statuary, benches, planters, or other permanent improvements shall be installed without an installation permit. The cost is $25.

Before work starts, permits must be presented to the Cemetery Supervisor so that property boundaries can be established. Completed work must be approved by the Supervisor and will not be considered permanent until the permit is initialed accordingly. Encroachments will be removed.

Any improvements not meeting these criteria may be removed by the City with no prior notice. Damage to property resulting from an improvement shall be the responsibility of the installer.

Allowable improvements vary in different sections of the cemetery. The permit buyer must accurately describe the improvement and location so appropriate regulations can apply.  Best Practices for foundations shall apply to all monuments and coping. No further work will be done until the City approves the foundation.

Failure of improvements due to improper footings, etc. will be repaired by the installer. Failure to do so will result in the loss of right to work in Evergreen Cemetery. The City will attempt to give 30 days notice for repair before the City removes or repairs the improvement. Costs will be charged to the installer.
improvement guidelines - General
  • Only one burial allowed per site. Memorial markers and urn burials are allowed by permit within occupied sites, space permitting.
  • The City is not responsible for damage caused by maintenance or vandalism.
  • All improvements must be done during caretaker hours of 8am and 12pm, excluding holidays.
  • Non-traditional improvements require a photo, sketch, description, and/or material samples to apply for a permit. The City is the sole judge of appropriateness.
  • Non-grass lot coverings will not be mowed or trimmed. Weed killer will be applied. Owners shall provide slab or under-slab for non-grassed lots.
  • No toys, figurines, etc. shall be allowed that interfere with mowing or other maintenance.
  • Corner markers exclusive of coping shall be installed so mowers can pass over. Markers installed with coping may be commensurate with the coping design.
  • No grass, shrubs, flowers, trees, etc. may be planted without a permit. Flowers maintained in good condition and upright are allowed if they do not:
    • encroach on neighboring property
    • obscure the name of the deceased
    • interfere with normal maintenance
  • Patriotic flags are allowed two weeks prior and two weeks after patriotic holidays. No permanent flags other than City installations are allowed.
  • No private signs, lights, banners; empty shepherd's hooks; loose brick or concrete block; balloons; broken vases or figurines, or other accoutrements; plastic, wire or other non-permanent edging; household furniture or upholstered items; or secondary wooden markers are allowed.
  • Benches deemed permanent in nature may be allowed by permit.

​For more information, please contact Mr. Neal Poole, the Public Works Cemetery Supervisor.
improvement guidelines - Veterans section
  • Flower vases more than 12" tall and 6" wide (one only); anything blocking the marker; non-standard headstones, coping, cornerstones; or any permanent installation except the standard headstone and vase not allowed.
  • Spousal burials are permitted if space is available and purchased at the time of veteran burial. Headstone must conform to section standards.
improvement guidelines - Seagraves (Sixth and seventh) Addition
  • Coping, mausoleums, and monuments in excess of 36" tall are not allowed.
maintenance
Owners may maintain their sites. The City reserves the right to suspend owner maintenance without notice or cause.
cemetery hours
The cemetery is open from 7am till dusk. Anyone entering the cemetery after hours is subject to misdemeanor arrest.
cemetery rules
"Evergreen Cemetery is a tax supported public cemetery owned and operated by the City of Fitzgerald. The enclosed rules and regulations were developed under Fitzgerald City Ordinance 01-1283."

​All cemetery purchasing and permitting activities may be conducted at City Hall's Community Development office or through local funeral homes. Monument vendors may act as agents for installation/improvement permits.


Evergreen Cemetery is owned and operated by the City of Fitzgerald. By purchasing a site, burial, or installation permit, you agree to abide by the cemetery policies of the City. The City may remove and dispose of, without notice, any installation or items not permitted, deemed inappropriate, or violating policies.

ADDITIONAL EVERGREEN CEMETERY INFORMATION

​Mr. Neal Poole, the Public Works Cemetery Supervisor, is available to help locate plots and aid in preparing final resting places. If you bring plants or flowers to your loved ones' site, we kindly request that you dig them in to keep them from blowing away.

Evergreen Cemetery is also an important historic Civil War site. It is the final resting place of the oldest Confederate veteran in Georgia, General Sherman's drummer boy, and the man given credit for the capture of Jefferson Davis, the President of the Confederacy. Learn more about its history by taking the self-guided 
Evergreen Cemetery Tour. Hours of operation are 7am till dusk.

Additionally, there are several annual events held at Evergreen Cemetery, including the Confederate Memorial Day Ceremony and the Holocaust Memorial Service. American flags mark the sites of veterans in honor of their service for Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Veteran's Day holidays.

CONTACT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

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City of Fitzgerald City Hall
Community Development
​​302 East Central Avenue Fitzgerald, Ga 31750

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Neal Poole
​Evergreen Cemetery Supervisor

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(229) 426-5063 (office)
(229) 426-5066 (fax)

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Whitney Justice
​Director

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Jennifer Floyd
​Assistant Director

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Calls: 
Monday-Friday

8am-5pm
Lobby Hours: 
Monday-Friday
8:30am-4:30pm
(excluding holidays)

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CITY OF FITZGERALD CITY HALL  |  302 E CENTRAL AVE  |​  FITZGERALD, GA 31750  |  (229) 426-5060

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E-Verify #100652  Date of Authority 2/15/2008
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