2922 Bethesda Road

Lexington, NC 27295

Phone (336) 731-4285

Approved by the Administrative Board on February 18, 2007

Bethesda United Methodist Church Cemetery is the property of said church, and as such is governed on the behalf of the congregation by the cemetery committee. The use and primary purpose of the cemetery is for the interment of the membership of Bethesda United Methodist Church

This committee shall keep records of all graves, plots, names, deaths, markers, monies, etc. and shall be responsible for the proper administration and upkeep of Bethesda Church Cemetery

The Cemetery Committee recognizes that the care and maintenance of the cemetery is a matter of pride, concern, and interest to the many relatives and the next of kin of those persons interred in the cemetery. It is for this reason that the committee encourages donations of memorials and bequeaths to the cemetery fund for the care, maintenance, and upkeep of the cemetery.

Your cemetery committee is the representation of church membership. Any request, complaints or suggestions must be made in writing to the cemetery committee.

No bodies are to be buried above ground.

Stones are to be set on 6” footing, to be 4” wider than the tombstone on either side and at each end so it will be less trouble to mow cemetery.

No curbing, chains, shrubs, trees, or bushes shall be put around any plot or grave. Flowers and memorials must be placed on the tombstone not in the grass. All cut flowers to be disposed of after 14 days from time put on grave. With no restriction on artificial flowers except at time of regular cleaning, faded flowers will be discarded by cleaners

The church will not be responsible for vandalism, any damage must be corrected by the family.

It is understood that family members or the estate of the deceased have a responsibility to place a marker on the grave of the deceased. The church will allow a two-year period before it makes additional contact with family members concerning this responsibility.

It is understood that a member’s child who is younger than confirmation age will be considered a member.

The cemetery is for Bethesda United Methodist Church members.

Ø There can be provisions made for immediate family members who are not members of Bethesda United Methodist Church, (Mother, Father, Husband, Wife, Brother, Sister, Son or Daughter). This does not include their spouse.

There will be no advance selection of plots, however there will be provisions for adjoining plots in these circumstances:

Ø A Spouse.

Ø When a person who is single and a member of Bethesda Church predeceases his/her parent(s), the parents (whether members of BUMC or non-members) will be given the opportunity to reserve grave plot(s) beside the deceased.

Ø When a member of Bethesda United Methodist Church predeceases his/her child who is single, the child (whether a member of BUMC or non-member) will be given the opportunity to reserve grave plot(s) beside the deceased.

(If a reservation is made for a non-member, payment must be made for the reserved plot(s) at the time of reservation to the Bethesda United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund.)

For any plot reservation a grave marker must be erected immediately.

The cost of the use of a grave plot of a person who is not a member of Bethesda United Methodist Church shall be $2500.00. If the family of a non-member erects a permanent grave marker within one year from the date of burial, $500.00 of the $2500.00 shall be refunded. Money must be deposited with the committee at the time of plot selection.

In case of unusual circumstances not adequately covered by the rules listed, the Cemetery Committee has the authority to consider the merits of the case and use its own judgment.