Graves in people's front yards? (Greenville, Wilson: real estate, renters, homes)

[kayoztom]

I just returned from a too short vacation in beautiful North Carolina, and I couldn't help but notice the proliferation of graves in people's front yards. They weren't in every yard or in every neighborhood, but I saw them in a variety of places. I traveled primarily in the coastal region, so I don't know if it's a statewide phenomenon. The graves were fairly new (60 yrs old or less) and sometimes located on the same street as a conventional graveyard. Ironically, I didn't see any graves in any of the churchyards. While I don't see anything really wrong with the practice, it's unlike anything we have here in California. It brings to mind a few questions though, what are the rules governing this practice? I only saw graves in the front yard by the highway. Are they allowed in the backyards? What happens if the property is sold? Is this something that is allowed to only certain people or groups? Renters can't bury in the yard, can they? Is this a common practice elsewhere? I'd really appreciate any input. It's just made me very curious.

[SunnyKayak]

Are you sure they where Actual Grave Stones produce by a funeral homes. Or where they death markers where a car could have wreck with funeral flowers or it could be where Fido is buried
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[LLN]

Never seen one that I am aware of. Have lived here a long time. I dunno.

[luvbeach50]

Yes, this Yankee saw headstones in yards on a trip to Topsail one year. I was told that zoning is a little loose in NC and it can happen. They were not markers from accidents, but real gravestones.

[LittleDolphin]

There are numerous family burying grounds on people's 'home places' in NC. Seems pretty common. I do not know the rules and regs about burying your kin on your property...

I have also seen some real estate developments that include an old, private burying ground on their grounds. They've been protected by having a fence put around them. I find it kind of sweet to have relatives so close. Makes visiting the grave site pretty convenient...

[CarolinaAppraiser]

Originally Posted by kayoztom

I just returned from a too short vacation in beautiful North Carolina, and I couldn't help but notice the proliferation of graves in people's front yards. They weren't in every yard or in every neighborhood, but I saw them in a variety of places. I traveled primarily in the coastal region, so I don't know if it's a statewide phenomenon. The graves were fairly new (60 yrs old or less) and sometimes located on the same street as a conventional graveyard. Ironically, I didn't see any graves in any of the churchyards. While I don't see anything really wrong with the practice, it's unlike anything we have here in California. It brings to mind a few questions though, what are the rules governing this practice? I only saw graves in the front yard by the highway. Are they allowed in the backyards? What happens if the property is sold? Is this something that is allowed to only certain people or groups? Renters can't bury in the yard, can they? Is this a common practice elsewhere? I'd really appreciate any input. It's just made me very curious.

I've appraised several thousand homes in a 5 county area in the past 10 years and I can count the number of graves I've seen on private property on one finger. (it was a 19th century grave if I remember correctly) I can't speak for 20 years ago or 50 years ago but since I've been involved in real estate appraisal I have never seen a residential zoning district that would allow for the burial of human remains on a private residential property. I doubt it's legal even under some kind of special use permit.

[LRoyal10900]

I only know of 1 burial in a yard in recent times. Years ago...we're talking 50 or more...it was common to have a family cemetery in the yard, out in rural areas. What you saw is probably remains of these.....

Two years ago, a child in our community died, and her family did bury her in their yard to have her close by. Other than that, I've never seen it done.

[macjr82]

I know you do see alot of random Grave plots, notreally any newer ones. As far aas zoning, I don't think developers, or even, the governement, may develop on, or disturb any gravesites, with the exception that if they get the proper permits they can move them. Most just find it easier to throw a fence around it and call it a day. There are graves at the courthouse in Greenville, though I do not recall the circumstances clearly, I think they were moved to the spot.

[Richard Martin]

I've seen it other areas too. This is getting kinda specific but if you go down Bat's Neck Rd on Maryland's Kent Island and look to your left there is a few of them sitting right there. When I lived in Mayo, MD we had little family cemeterys here and there. In Annapolis, MD there is a family cemetery right by the Annapolis Mall. Right at the corner of Riva Rd. and West St. My wife has a couple of family members in that one. My next door neighbor has a 3 acre place. She is a member of the Wilson family and they go back a couple/few hundred years in Eastern Carolina. She lives on the last piece of the original Wilson farm. It was several hundred acres at one time. Anyway, her uncle is buried under some pine trees on the property in an unmarked grave.

It's not unusual to find family cemeterys anywhere in the country. The reason you don't see them in a lot of places is nature has reclaimed a lot of them. Trees grow up. The vaults sink. Here in Eastern Carolina there's a whole lot of wide open, flat land and they're a little more visable. They have also been burying people here a whole lot longer than most other places.

[Dusty Rhodes]

Originally Posted by macjr82

. There are graves at the courthouse in Greenville, though I do not recall the circumstances clearly, I think they were moved to the spot.

Probably people who were bored to death by a politicians speech.