Over a month after Jackson, Miss., residents stood in front of the Jackson City Council to decry the condition of the capital city’s overgrown cemeteries on June 4, a short-term solution could alleviate the issue. Staffing shortages have hampered the city’s ability to maintain them in recent years.
In a 4-2 decision on July 16, the council voted to allow PDT Logistics, LLC, to cut and maintain overgrown grass on the properties.
The company had previously voluntarily cut and maintained at least one of the properties, Cedar Lawn Cemetery, on West Capitol Street, WLBT reported on June 26.
“Anything is good, but … the City should have to do it,” James Hopkins, CEO of Reset Jackson, said in a July 17 interview with the Mississippi Free Press.
“It’s an embarrassment, it’s disrespectful, and it’s hurtful to know that I can’t go out to my mother’s grave or my wife’s grave without bringing a weed eater. It’s sad,” Reset Jackson CEO James Hopkins—pictured at a June 12, 2024, wreath laying in honor of Medger Evers—said during a June 4, 2024, Jackson City Council meeting at New Hope Baptist Church. Photo by Shaunicy Muhammad ” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/James-Hopkins_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/James-Hopkins_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?fit=780%2C519&ssl=1″ tabindex=”0″ role=”button” src=”https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/James-Hopkins_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?resize=780%2C519&ssl=1″ alt class=”wp-image-44919″ srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/James-Hopkins_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/James-Hopkins_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/James-Hopkins_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/James-Hopkins_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/James-Hopkins_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/James-Hopkins_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/James-Hopkins_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/James-Hopkins_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?w=2000&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/James-Hopkins_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad-1024×682.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w” sizes=”(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px” data-recalc-dims=”1″>“It’s an embarrassment, it’s disrespectful, and it’s hurtful to know that I can’t go out to my mother’s grave or my wife’s grave without bringing a weed eater. It’s sad,” Reset Jackson CEO James Hopkins—pictured at a June 12, 2024, wreath laying in honor of Medger Evers—said during a June 4, 2024, Jackson City Council meeting at New Hope Baptist Church. Photo by Shaunicy Muhammad
Hopkins was one of the residents who voiced their concern during a June 4, 2024, Jackson City Council meeting at New Hope Baptist Church over a lack of upkeep and grass covering headstones at the graveyards.
“We take care of our loved ones their entire lives, and when they leave here, if you’re not cremated, they’re going
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