LAUREL —
When the Jones County Board of Supervisors agreed to abate old personal taxes that were not paid by the former owners of Sunset Gardens Memorial Park in Laurel, it allowed more money to remain in an account set aside to assist with maintenance needs at the cemetery.
The former managers and owners of the cemetery, who were located out of the state, wiped out and escaped with consumer trust funds for pre-need purchases and endowment care for the cemetery.
“We have about 300 in Jones County and the surrounding area who were victimized by the former owners,” said Board Attorney M. Wayne Thompson. “The Secretary of State is trying to leave them with some funds to help with the maintenance of the cemetery.”
Thompson explained to the board that Tutor Funeral Home of Magee was declared the successful high bidder of the cemetery on August 3. The Secretary of State’s Office was named receiver of Sunset Gardens Cemetery and three others formerly owned by Don Middleton and Rogers Memorial Management Company, L.L.C. Thousands of dollars were found missing from the pre-need accounts on those cemeteries. Middleton is currently serving time in two misdemeanor convictions in Prentiss County related to the cemetery’s mismanagement on charges pursued by the Attorney General’s Office.
The Office of the Secretary of state has cleared several liens and other clouds on the title of the cemetery, including a $500,00 deed of trust. With Tutor’s purchase of the property, the cemetery will seen return to Mississippi ownership.
In a letter to the Board of Supervisors dated Sept. 3, Assistant Secretary of State Dave Scott, said that “under the terms of the order authorizing the sale of Sunset Gardens, any cash funds at closing and above amounts required to clear liens on the property will be trusted in the cemetery’s perpetual care fund for the benefit of consumers and the future maintenance of the cemetery.”
Tutor purchased Sunset Garden for $20,100 and according to Thompson, about $8,000 is committed to clear a 2006 IRS lien from the former owners. Also, there are a number of personal property tax assessments from Jones County totaling $2,298.92 and several judgment liens totaling $1,173.50.
“We asked the board to forgive part or all of these back taxes and liens,” said Pam Weaver, Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann’s communications director. “We believe this would benefit all consumers of the cemetery.
“We want to start these cemeteries off in good shape,” added Weaver. “We want what’s best for these consumers.”
The board of supervisors unanimously approved the request, stating that it would be a “win-win situation” for all parties involved.
Local News
Supervisors forgive part of back taxes on Sunset Gardens
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