Judge places two cemeteries in receivership

PRENTISS COUNTY — Prentiss County Chancellor John Hatcher signed an order Tuesday placing Oaklawn Memorial Park of Booneville and Forrest Memorial Park of Corinth under receivership. Both cemeteries are owned and operated by Wayne Hight of Corinth.

“Both cemeteries currently have zero dollars in their trust accounts. The Secretary of State’s Office cannot allow a cemetery with over a half-million dollars deficient in their trust accounts to continue servicing Northeast Mississippians,” said Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann.

An investigation by the Secretary of State’s Office found the pre-need and perpetual care trust accounts for Oaklawn Memorial Park deficient in the amount of $62,084.91, which includes the amounts originally held in trust at the time of purchase. The trust accounts for Forrest Memorial Park were found deficient in the amount of $473,521.48, including amounts originally held in trust at the time of purchase.

Currently, the total deficiencies combined for both cemeteries are $535,606.39.

Former Chancery Court Judge John C. Ross Jr. of Corinth has been named receiver of both cemeteries.