2005 North Carolina Code - General Statutes Article 1 - Care of Rural Cemeteries.

Chapter 65.

Cemeteries.

Article 1.

Care of Rural Cemeteries.

§ 65‑1.  County commissioners to provide list of public and abandoned cemeteries.

It shall be the duty of the boards of county commissioners of the various counties in the State to prepare and keep on record in the office of the register of deeds a list of all public cemeteries in the counties outside the limits of incorporated towns and cities, and not established and maintained for the use of an incorporated town or  city, together with the names and addresses of the persons in possession and control of the same. To such list shall be added a list of the public cemeteries in the rural districts of such counties which have been abandoned, and it shall be the duty of the boards of county  commissioners to furnish to the division of publications in the office of the Secretary of State copies of the lists of such public and abandoned cemeteries, to the end that it may furnish to the boards, for the use of the persons in control of such cemeteries, suitable literature, suggesting methods of taking care of such places. (1917, c. 101, s. 1; C.S., s. 5019; 1939, c. 316.)

 

§ 65‑2.  Appropriations by county commissioners.

To encourage the persons in possession and control of the public cemeteries referred to in G.S. 65‑1 to take proper care of and to beautify such cemeteries, to mark distinctly their boundary line with evergreen hedges or rows of suitable trees, and otherwise to lay out the grounds in an orderly manner, the board of county commissioners of any county, upon being notified that two thirds of the expense necessary for so marking and beautifying any cemetery has been raised by the local governing body of the institution which owns the cemetery, and is actually in hand, is hereby authorized to appropriate from the general fund of the county one third of the expense necessary to pay for such work, the amount appropriated by the board of commissioners in no case to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00) for each cemetery. (1917, c. 101, s. 2; C.S., s. 5020; 1979, c. 735.)

 

§ 65‑3.  County commissioners to have control of abandoned cemeteries; trustees.

The county commissioners of the various counties are required to take possession and control of all abandoned public cemeteries in their respective counties, to see that the boundaries and lines are clearly laid out, defined, and marked, and to take proper steps to preserve them from encroachment, and they are hereby authorized to appropriate from the general fund of the county whatever sums may be necessary from time to time for the above purposes.

The board of county commissioners of the various counties may appoint a board of trustees not to exceed five in number and to serve  at the will of the board, and may impose upon such trustees the duties required of the board of commissioners by this Article; and such trustees may accept gifts and donations for the purpose of upkeep and beautification of such cemeteries. (1917, c. 101, s. 3; C.S., s. 5021; 1947, c. 236.)