These are the Banners likely going up at Greenleaf on the 12th of April! The GCA Board has been working tirelessly since late 2017 to prevent this day, but …………………
News/Talk 102.3 KXYL
March 18, 2024
Greenleaf Cemetery Association in dire need of financial support
Greenleaf Cemetery, established in 1858 in Brownwood and home to more than 18,000 souls, continues to be in dire straights financially, due to a multitude of issues.
Steve Harris, president of the non-profit Greenleaf Cemetery Association, detailed the past and present financial hits that have plagued the 55-acre cemetery located off of US Highway 377.
Harris joined GCA in 2017 at a time when office worker Tisha Pruett had been convicted of stealing about $23,000 from the cemetery and ordered to pay restitution. So far, she has not paid back all of the restitution and now two other issues have surfaced.
“Since 2017 we’ve been in slow climb out of a financial hole that we did not create,” Harris said in an interview on Newstalk. “It is there and we had to face it and we had a face a lot of issues. There was a case of a former office worker who had stolen some funds and ordered to pay restitution and she has not lived up to that. In fact, she still owes about $18,000. Unfortunately we are also faced with two bankruptcies that are in the federal court system right now.”
That includes the bankruptcy of Banker’s Life insurance company that holds the cemetery’s annuity and the Fulton-Mercer bankruptcy (AKA Heritage Davis-Morris Funeral Home ). Heritage Davis-Morris currently owes Greenleaf $4,600 for burials.
The GCA Board voted on Jan. 30, that because of the bankruptcy affecting Heritage Davis Morris Funeral Home, clients will be required to pay Greenleaf directly for burials because they will no longer be billing the funeral home.
“These two corporate bankruptcies and the lack of restitution are putting us in a bind,” Harris continued. “On top of that burials and plot sales are down from last year, 27 percent – about $28,000. Traditional burials are down nationwide.”
The City of Brownwood which owns the cemetery, budgets the GCA $11,000 for operating costs annually. Harris said a bare bones budget would be around $140,000, and that barely pays for the upkeep and one employee. The GCA requested that amount in May of 2023 in the form of a formal itemized request.
Harris said the board is grateful for the support the city HAS given them, which includes the new office and Gathering center and the purchase of a Gator as well as in-kind services.
The GCA is requesting that the City of Brownwood put the cemetery into the city’s parks department, due to the financial difficulties and costs for maintenance and operation.
“Greenleaf Cemetery deserves more than a shoestring budget and we as a community have to work together to honor, respect and advocate for all of those who came before us,” Harris said.
Meanwhile, donations are needed and very welcome. Mail in donations at Greenleaf Cemetery, P.O. 455, Brownwood, TX 76804-0455.
