The cemetery is owned by Zion Hill Baptist Church, thus the name will be “Zion Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.”
The purpose for having a cemetery is to provide a place for church members and their family to be buried. The church members’ family is defined as: the church member, the spouse of a church member, the children of a church member, and one spouse of any child.
In order to reserve a plot, a person must be a member in good standing for at least one year, unless special circumstances are present and the request is approved by the Cemetery Committee.
A person who is not a member of the church but who does have family buried in the cemetery may reserve a plot for a non-refundable $1500.00 donation, upon approval by the Cemetery Committee.
Any person who receives a plot and decides not to use it will return the plot to the church. The person who reserved the plot cannot give away or sell the plot to anyone.
Everyone who receives a plot is expected to contribute for the upkeep of the cemetery, either in monetary donations or donations of time and work. All donations for the upkeep of the cemetery can be made to Zion Hill Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 87 Jonica Gap Road, Morganton, GA 30560, at any time.
Lots given to indigent individuals will be assigned on an as-needed basis as determined by the Cemetery Committee.
All graves are to be kept level and grassed. No shrubs, trees, plants, bricks, rocks, or foreign material will be allowed on graves. No borders are to be put around graves. Existing borders may remain, but the area inside the borders must be maintained by the family.
The family is responsible for digging grave and removing excess dirt and flowers from grave within two weeks after burial.
Before any headstone is set or grave is opened, the Cemetery Committee must be contacted. Any headstone or marker that is placed without the permission of the Cemetery Committee will be removed at their discretion.
One member of the Cemetery Committee will be designated as the keeper of the cemetery plot book, and he will be responsible for the upkeep of the cemetery plot book. A copy of the plot book will be kept at a second location for back-up purposes only.
A plot assignment is not final until the person reserving the plot has signed documents agreeing to abide by the rules set forth in the by-laws and the plot assignment has been recorded in the cemetery plot book.
The Church will maintain a sign at the entrance of the cemetery to read “Zion Hill Baptist Church Cemetery” with cemetery committee members’ names and phone numbers, and the following information:
A member of the Cemetery Committee must be contacted before digging a grave or setting any markers.
The family is responsible for digging grave and removing excess dirt and flowers from the grave within two weeks after burial.
After Decoration (the second Sunday in July), all flowers except those on the headstone must be removed within two weeks.
All graves must be flat, with foot stone level with ground. No shrubs, trees, plants, bricks, rocks, or other foreign material will be allowed on graves.
Existing graves with gravel or enclosures of any type will not be maintained by the church. Any such grave that is not being maintained by the family will be flattened and perimeters removed.
Zion Hill Baptist Church is not responsible for accidents or injuries that occur on church property.
Unsupervised children are not allowed in the cemetery.
All donations for the upkeep of cemetery can be made to Zion Hill Baptist Church Cemetery Committee, 87 Jonica Gap Road, Morganton GA 30560, at any time.
Changes to these bylaws may be made at any regular business meeting of the church, provided each amendment shall have been presented in writing at a previous meeting and copies of the proposed amendment be furnished to each member present. Amendments to the bylaws shall have a majority of the members present and voting.