New Burial Policy

Although Bankhead Cemetery has operated for many years without formal policies and procedures, the time has come to put them in place. We recognize that change can be difficult, but these changes are necessary to preserve the cemetery and ensure fairness, consistency, and respect for all families.

The following is the new Burial Policy:

Purpose

To provide for the Christian burial of human bodies at the Bankhead Cemetery, Mentone, Alabama, in an aesthetic and dignified manner, to perpetually maintain the cemetery and chapel provided at that place for that purpose and to engage in only such business as may be necessarily incident to such purpose, provided that no part of the net earnings therefrom shall inure to the benefit of any private individual.  

To arrange for and maintain an annual memorial service at the Bankhead Cemetery, Mentone, Alabama.

To establish and maintain a perpetual nonprofit savings fund to provide funds for the perpetual maintenance and care of the Bankhead Cemetery, Mentone, Alabama.

To provide for the burial of paupers in the Mentone community, subject to regulations set forth in the Bylaws.

To exercise such other general powers set forth in the provisions of Alabama law governing nonprofit corporations.

Scope

To provide for the Christian burial of human bodies at the Bankhead Cemetery, Mentone, Alabama, in an aesthetic and dignified manner, to perpetually maintain the cemetery and chapel provided at that place and for that purpose.

Section 1:  Definitions

Board of Directors (BOD) – The governing board consisting of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasure, and three (3) Trustees to conduct the business and affairs of the Association.

Trustee’s - Individuals initially appointed by the BOD to ensure the maintenance and operation of cemetery is maintained in good material condition.   Trustees serve until such time as their successors are duly qualified and appointed.

Certificate of Reserved Space – Documentation which identifies/verifies a specific burial plot to a person/individual. 

Section 2:  Requirements

Eligibility       

Any person age 18 years or older, either residing within a fifteen-mile radius of the cemetery, or who reside elsewhere and having a relative buried in the cemetery is eligible for burial within the cemetery.

Reservations

Individuals who meet the eligibility requirements shall make application/request to the designated board member/trustee for reserving burial plot within the cemetery utilizing Attachment 1 – “Bankhead Cemetery Burial Plot Reservation Form.  Individual/person reserving a specific burial plot shall be knowledgeable of the family name and location within the cemetery.  If a plot(s) cannot be provided for in location requested, the BOD shall make recommendation and assignment for reservation of plot(s) in alternate location.

Pre-need reservations are encouraged.  Donations for maintenance and upkeep will be accepted at this time.

Plot assignments are made based on availability and layout. 

The cemetery reserves the right to limit the number of plots at four (4) per family.

All cemetery plots or burial spaces previously obtained and/or reserved are “grandfathered” and shall not be required to comply with this policy.    

The cemetery trustees shall be contacted by attending funeral home or immediate family member notifying and/or applying for a reserved space to the Cemetery Association of the need to open a grave within the cemetery.

Duties of Trustees

The trustees are authorized by BOD to ensure the maintenance and operation of cemetery is maintained in good material condition.  A quarterly report shall be submitted to BOD indicating burials, requests for burial plots, and any “required” maintenance items within the cemetery.  This report is for “information only” and does not require a meeting of the full BOD for approval.  All maintenance and repairs of cemetery and Chapel building shall be approved by BOD. 

The designated trustee(s) shall maintain a registry of all burials which shall include as a minimum:  

• Full name of person buried.

• Date of burial.

• Vault type/Material.

• Location of grave on plat which was previously approved by Bankhead Cemetery through the application process.

• Attending funeral home.

• Grave digger name or company approved by BOD bid selection process.

Section 3: Interments

All state and local health laws shall be complied with prior to any interment in the cemetery.

All interments shall be inside of containers (casket) of pine wood construction or equal.  These containers (casket) shall be placed underground at a suggested minimum depth of 3.5 feet to 4 feet deep, except where rock is encountered.  Exceptions to minimum depth requirements shall be provided for cremation boxes.

Vault construction shall be of fiberglass, steel, or concrete.

Section 4:  Monuments/Burial Sites/Benches

Prior to installation for all monuments, the funeral home and/or monument company shall notify designated trustee for identification of correct location.

All monuments shall be of solid material base such as natural stone, marble, or granite. 

 All monuments or memorials of four (4) feet in height or less shall have a concrete foundation, a minimum of 4 inches thick.

All monuments or memorials greater than four (4) feet in height and less than six (6) feet in height shall have a concrete foundation a minimum of six (6) inches thick. 

All monuments and memorials exceeding six (6) feet shall be approved by the trustee.  The BOD reserves the right to consult engineering services for foundation design.

• Note: concrete foundations are intended to be foundational base material for the monument which includes the natural stone, granite or marble base and the vertical portion of monument.

All bronze monuments shall be placed on a granite base.

All foot markers and corner markers shall be installed such that the top of marker is level with surrounding ground.

Upon Burial Policy Implementation on its effective date of May 25, 2025:

• Existing grave plot enhancements are “grandfathered” and do not require removal.

• Benches are not permitted.

• New improvements such as walls, fences, walks, fixtures or enclosures of grave sites shall not be permitted.  Additionally, the BOD shall have the right to remove, alter or change these old improvements or alternations at the expense of the lot or grave space owner.

• No gravels, rocks stones, bricks, wire, wire stands, glass, ceramics figurines or other materials deemed hazardous to personnel and equipment performing grave maintenance shall be allowed on grave sites.

Section 5: Floral Arrangements/Trees/Shrubs

Trees, rose bushes, shrubs, and small plants shall not be permitted.

The Trustees shall have the authority to remove all floral designs, flowers, weeds trees, shrubs, plants of any kind from the cemetery when in the judgement of trustees, they have become unsightly, dangerous, detrimental or diseased. 

 All flowers shall be removed from the cemetery beginning on April 1 of each year in preparation for mowing to begin.  Additionally, the Trustees will begin removal any flowers, etc. on May 1 of each year that are determined to be outside of the appropriate area/grave site.  e.g. flower arrangements lying on ground and not specific to a grave site.

New Burials:  All flowers shall be removed after thirty (30) days except for monument vases and saddle arrangements placed on monument stone.

Section 6:  Responsibility for Damage

The BOD disclaims all responsibility for loss or damage from causes beyond its reasonable control, damage caused by the elements, an act of God, common enemies, thieves, vandals, malicious mischief makers, explosions, unavoidable accidents of any kind, whether the damage is direct or collateral.

Section 7:  Attachments

Attachment 1 – Bankhead Cemetery Burial Plot Reservation Form

Section 8:  Documentation

Documents created by implementation of this procedure shall be recorded in electronic format and provided to BOD President to be maintained in Bankhead Cemetery Electronic Files.

Section 9:  Amendments

This policy may be updated as needed by the cemetery Board of Directors.  All changes will be communicated to the public and posted at the cemetery bulletin board, FaceBook, and the cemetery Blog online.