Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Dec. 13, 1979, edition 1 / Page 14
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Few Black Owned Cemeteries In State Of North Carolina So today, eleven of the 50 acres have been fully de veloped into distinct gar dens; Garden of Our Savior which has a statue of Christ, and Garden of Our Cross with a cross on the front garden. The land is located six miles from 1-85 toward Lake Norman. But don’t let that distance be mislead ing, Caldwell has explicit references and he knows exactly where each plot is. “All cemetaries as a rule don’t make mistakes be cause of the system they use. Every time we bury a person there are cross re ferences to check. When all correspond you know it’s right. It’s pretty hard to make a mistake because we know what the reper cussions will be,” Caldwell explained. Mistakes are usually made by young businesses, but in Beatties Gardens’ case many obstacles were avoided. a cemeiary is one dusi ness not discussed very much. There’s virtually no information at the County Court House about opening a cemetary. I took my • attorney and went to Ra leigh to the burial com missioner," Caldwell be gan. “We asked the quest ions and the commissioner gave advice.” For in stance, a perpetual cemet ary must have at least 30 acres of land. And since Beatties is a perpetual gar den they must keep up the grounds, instead of the state. There have been two or three instances where someone thought their rela tive was buried somewhere else. In one particular case the grave was dug up. The efficiency of Beatties Gar dens prevailed • that was the correct grave site. The Gardens has unique A beautiful scene at the entrance to Beatties Ford acres that will eventually be expanded. Memorial Gardens, which includes more than SO qualities also; Caldwell al ways marks the grave sites; they sell grave mark ers; and the marked places are on bases. “The bases make the cemetary uniform and it looks nicer,” Caldwell noted. RISING COST “The cost of a plot, in a round figure, has roughly gone up 60 percent since 1971,” Caldwell explained. “The people who don’t buy now don’t know what they’ll be buying 10 years from now," he continued. According to Caldwell, lots can never go up once you start payment on them because there are no taxes on them. And the cost is not much - if you are on a gradual payment schedule. “There’s a small down payment and the payments are less than a Coke a day," Caldwell said. But if you wait for some one to die, “You have to pay for it right then,” ac connng to the president of the Gardens. A single plot can cost a minimum of $150 and a maximum of $200 at Beat ties Gardens. And that doesn’t include the opening cost. Presently, over 1,000 people are buried in Beat ties Gardens and business is good. Several families, black and white, are buy ing multiple lots. So what happens to a lot if all six owners of the Gardens die? The Gardens has an Es crow Fund that guarantees permanent plots. The fund is at First Union National START EVERY THURSDAY WITH THE CHARLOTTE POST Bank and will never be taken out. “It’s there to protect all of the people who buy lots and lots deed ed to them.” Caldwell be gan, “It assures people wbobuy, that their lots will always be taken care of.” MONEY TO LOAN * We Pay Cash For Any Gold In Any Condition Diamond Rings ..Class Rings . .Birthstone Rings . .Sterling Silver . .Musical Instruments . .Guns . .Stereo Equipment .. .Office Equipment Charlotte's Oldest Pawn Shop Doing Business For 53 Years Reliable Loan Company 201 tf. Trade Street 375-6374 Business Hours: »-5:30 6 Days A Week INSTANT 1 IRtZLICF I I forMing I ' Oil'is( iiqs 8 Budgets™ I Port Staff Writer There is only a few, maybe two or three, black owned cemeteries in the entire state of North Caro lina. And one is located in Charlotte; Beatties Ford Memorial Gardens. It’s actual development began in 1971, but the pur chasing of the land started off as an investment by six men. It was decided between the six stockholders, Lu ther Caldwell, Jesse Young, Kenneth Powell, Venton Caldwell, Malachi Green and Romeo Alex ander that the community needed another cemetary. “We felt that the com munity should have an other choice, rather than be buried at city owned cemeteries,” Luther Cald well, president of the Gar ■HfiDH i ^MHHHBH I ; your Christmas E I Chib Check ■ j Hevar fallal Christmas comes but H| ! once a year, but It aura can taka HI ' a big bite out ot your budget I You III : can best the holiday bite |ust by Hj planning ahead, and starting our 111 Intaraet earning Christmas Club Wm oowl You’ll have a nice 8anta- B| afee check by next Christmas I H I BHHHH^BkUIUlSSfiHliiH^^H m§ Member FDIC i
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Dec. 13, 1979, edition 1
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