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Cemetery Information

Index:
     Hattiesburg Cemeteries
     Forrest County, Mississippi Tombstone Inscriptions
 

Hattiesburg Cemeteries

The City of Hattiesburg operates and maintains five cemetery areas:

  1. Oaklawn Cemetery is located on Hardy Street . This cemetery was started in 1887. The City was deeded this property and began operation in 1913, with additional lots being added in the 1940's. The lots range in size from eight to as many as thirty-two grave spaces per lot. There are approximately 10,000 graves in this cemetery . The entire cemetery covers thirty-nine acres.

    During the early part of November 2000 the cemetery was vandalized destroying several graves and causing about $200,000 in damages. [see news stories]
     

  2. Highland Cemetery is located at 3401 West Seventh Street. It was established in 1925 because Oaklawn was almost sold out. It has grown to be twenty-nine sections with land for expansion still available. There are approximately 35,000 graves in this cemetery which cover seventy-one acres.
     
  3. South Hill Cemetery is located on South Hill Drive in the Industrial Park. It opened in June of 1985. The grounds consist of 2,500 grave spaces. This park covers seven acres. There is also land for future expansion.
     
  4. Scott Street Cemetery is located on Scott Street. This park was taken into the city's care in 1962 for maintenance only. It has approximately 10,000 graves and covers eight acres. Scott Street Cemetery dates back to the early 1800's.
     
  5. Riverview Cemetery is located on East Hardy Street and it dates back to the early 1800's. Riverview holds approximately 846 lots and 6,700 graves. This cemetery was was placed in the City's care in 1992 for maintenance only.
Records of all cemetery transactions are kept and cleared through the main office located in Highland Cemetery. Corresponding deeds, transfers, and other records are recorded in the City Clerk's office. An office is operated within the South Hill Cemetery for the sale of property and burials.

[from http://www.hattiesburgms.com/prcemtry.html]

Forrest County, Mississippi Tombstone Inscriptions

On June 14, 1983, the South Mississippi Genealogical Society voted to survey, compile, and publish Forrest County cemetery inscriptions. For the project more than 30 volunteers adopted one or more of the 79 cemeteries and recorded tombstone inscriptions. Over 18,000 inscriptions were found, and additional references to unmarked graves, maiden names, and parents were added.

The information collected for this project was published under the title Forrest County, Mississippi Tombstone Inscriptions and is available in the genealogy collection of the USM library as well as in other Hattiesburg area libraries. The book is currently out of print.

[from http://www.lib.usm.edu/~archives/m255.htm]