Future of historic Paris cemetery uncertain

PARIS, Tenn. — A cemetery is supposed to be a place of rest, but the fate of Hillcrest Memorial Cemetery in Paris is left in limbo after the last city commission meeting.

Officials say that some of the owners of the cemetery, also known as shareholders, approached the city of Paris asking if the city could take over ownership after the community voiced concern about the direction it was headed.

City Manager Kim Foster said she spoke with shareholder Bill Looney, asking if he would be willing to surrender his shares to the city.

“He assured me that as long as all the other shareholders were willing to give up all of their interest in the cemetery and the assets belonging to the cemetery that he would do the same,” Foster said.

Foster said in October the commission approved to start the process of taking over the cemetery.

But the situation changed Tuesday night when an email was received from Looney threatening to file a stakeholder’s lawsuit against the other shareholders if they were to surrender their shares to the city.

In response, the city backed out of pursuing ownership of the cemetery altogether.

WBBJ reached out to Looney. He declined to comment on the situation.

Officials also say Hillcrest Memorial Cemetery’s assets have been frozen since the beginning of the year.

Another shareholder, Jack Veazey, has spent more than $6,000 of his own money to take care of it but says he can no longer afford to do so.

“I know that if it were me personally, I would be concerned with what I paid for was going to be maintained and kept up with the original agreement,” Mayor Carlton Gerrell said.

Veazey was unable to go on camera with us. However, he released a statement saying, “I deeply regret that the actions of the City to assume control of the cemetery will stop because of the actions of one shareholder, and I’m extremely concerned for the families that have loved ones resting there.”

If you have concerns about the cemetery, you can contact the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance.

For more information on how to contact them, visit the Seen on 7 section of our website.