Man Buries Wife in Front Yard Despite City Council

James Davis granted his dying wife’s wish by burying her inthe front yard of their home where they had spent three decades together.  He is now at odds with the Stevenson, AlabamaCity Council.

Davis first obtained approval from the county’s HealthDepartment and then pressed the City Council for a permit.  The City Council denied his request,reasoning that allowing it would set a troublesome precedent.  Davis’s response: ignore them and do itanyways.

The city sued a month later and a Circuit Court judge orderedDavis to move his wife’s remains to an approved cemetery.  Davis has warned of “an incident” if the citycomes onto his property, but he has also suggested a compromise whereby hewould remove his wife’s remains, have her cremated, and put the ashes back inher grave.  The city attorneyacknowledges there is no law against that, but he would still insist on theremoval of the coffin and vault.

See CampbellRobertson, Giving a Wife Her Front-YardGrave, No Matter What, The New York Times, Oct. 22, 2013.