After reading the recent article concerning the ‘clutter’ at the local cemeteries, I was left with one question. Just who do Mr. Satterwhite and the City Council think they are? I know Mr. Satterwhite is our city’s cemetery supervisor, but no one has the right to tell me how to decorate a loved one’s grave that either myself or my family has paid for, as long as those decorations don’t infringe upon the rights of other grave sites.
To decorate a loved one’s grave is many people’s only link to that person and their memory. I agree there are times that the cemetery gets messy, especially after inclement weather, but if you are that worried about the appearance of the cemetery, get some of our incarcerated trustees to come out and clean it, Lord knows they’re not busy doing anything else.
Concerning the ‘landscaping’ give me a break. It’s not exactly like the city makes this a priority anyway. I have lost count at the times I have taken my weed eater to Shadowlawn Cemetery and cut the grass on my family member’s graves. And when is the last time anyone emptied any of the trash cans at the cemetery? They are always running over with debris which blows everywhere. And what if anything, has been done about the vandalism and thefts that occur regularly at the cemeteries?
As for the pauper graves, thanks for the information. It’s nice to know that I paid full price for my cemetery lots while others have been paying $5 for a pauper plot and the city hasn’t been requiring any qualifying documentation that the person actually is a pauper. See anything wrong with this picture? Maybe if Mr. Satterwhite and his constituents had spent more time initiating procedures to combat this fraud concerning pauper graves and the theft of current grave sites he wouldn’t have time to worry about a few silk flowers, figurines and toys that family members leave on graves. It’s getting bad when the city of LaGrange can’t even let someone rest in peace and allow their family to grieve without trying to dictate how it should be done.
So here is my suggestion. Since my family and I paid for lots and they belong to us, I will put anyting that I deem appropriate to honor my loved ones and Mr. Satterwhite, you can do something about keeping the grass cut and the trash cans emptied and stop blaming grieving families for the current conditions of our cemeteries.
Shannon Smith
Lakeview Drive
I LOVE YOU SUZANNAH AND MAMA MISSES YOU BABY GIRL.
CURT, HUNTER, SAVANNAH, FISHER, AND YOUR BEAUTIFUL TWIN MONTANNAH LOVE AND MISS YOU!!!! WE WILL ALL BE TOGETHER AGAIN SOON:
If there is already an ordinance, and enforcement was the issue, how did it rise to the level of the council? Need to be decided at a retreat?
Are we being told the truth? Or just pacified?
These debates on sites like the Daily news and CNN do tend to get a bit heated and all parties tend to go off in directions that are unintended.
I would hope the ordinance is indeed changed and that as Mr/Mrs Smith (Shannon is one of those gender neutral names) stated in his/her editorial, that the city would see to it that the trash cans etc are emptied and graves are better kept.
My sincere apologies to you and for my former attitude towards Mr. Satterwhite.
I couldn't sleep for thinking about you. I am SO very sorry if I caused you any pain with any of my comments. I truly hope that you will accept my most sincere apology if I said anything that caused you pain.
I was trying to deflect the conversation to the actual issue and away from my brother and I didn't do a good job of that. I actually did a terrible job of that.
I should have never tried to present the "other" side since I am not with the city. That was my mistake. I should have presented my feelings about the personal attacks on my brother and stayed away from the actual issue, which is the ordinance.
Anyway, I hope that you can forgive me for any of my comments that came across as cold and unfeeling, as that is soooo not me. I feel deeply for you and the other families for which this issue has caused any grief.
You and your family are in my prayers.
I would like to apologize as well, to you and to anyone that I unwittinly hurt with any of my comments. That was truly NOT my intention, and I hope that anyone offended by my comments will accept my sincere and heartfelt apologies.
Yes, this ordinance was not enforced when Mr. Thompson was the cemetary supervisor and has not been inforced in the years that my brother has been the supervisor. The mayor was quoted in the article written today that the ordinance has not been enforced, but that the issue was discussed during a city retreat due to complaints from citizens. There was an error in the report that stated that Mr. Satterwhite "urged" the counsel to enforce the oridance and that is not true. It was brought to discussion because of numerous complaints by citizens.
I reacted to the comments in regards to my brother and tried to post the "other" side of the issue. I should not have tried to state the city's side of the issue as that is not my place. That was a huge error on my part, and in doing so I unwittingly made matters worse.
This is an emotional issue which will be decided on after the public has it's chance to state it's arguements both for and against the ordinance.
I just ask that everyone remember that Mr. Satterwhite did not write the ordinance, pass the ordinance, or ask that it be enforced. He was told to start enforcing the current ordinance, and that is his job. He must enforce it, no matter his personal opinion on the matter.
I hope that the current ordinance is changed to everyone's satisifaction. I know that no one wanted to cause anyone any undue grief. Certainly, not me.
We already pay for the incarcerated trustees. Every time we buy something at the store and every week out of our paychecks. Its called taxes.
Don't stand on the side of Government on this. I know Satterwhite is your brother and he's a government guy, but you have to draw the loyalty line somewhere and anyone with a brain would certainly draw the line at the Government trying to dictate what can and cannot be placed on the grave of a loved one. as for "families agreed to the guidelines when signing the deed" surely you realize that a large percentage of people don't buy cemetery plots ahead of time, and only sign the deeds for these plots after the death has happened. People aren't in the frame of mind to read every detail at a time like that and people like your Brother Satterwhite should know that.
and as for their being no legal remedies...I wouldn't be so sure. petitions can be very powerful as well as numerous letters about this suddenly flooding your Brothers inbox or landing on his desk.
I know you want to stand by your Brother and all, but think of how you would feel if your Brother weren't in his current position.
Let me put it like this: If I planted two flowers on my father's grave, those flowers seeds eventually spread to a boisterous patch of flowers bordering his grave, would THAT be considered "tacky" and "gaudy?
I certainly do not mean to come across as attacking Mr. Satterwhite,There may very well be a day when I have to come across him in his occupational capacity, but I can certainly understand the interpretation of my previous posts as being in that light.
Brandy,thats just the kind of guy I am to be concerned of the well being of everyone.I sometimes come across as cold and callous, but deep down I am one of the most caring individuals you would ever meet. While I've never lost a child (I'm not even a father)I know the pain of losing a loved one at such an early age and would never wish that kind of pain on anyone, and for those reasons I think the graves of ANYONE should be allowed to remain in light I mentioned above: a place for mementoes to be kept and tears to be wept.I feel very strongly that those things should be able to be without interference or some government official telling us that there are certain things that we cannot place on a loved one's grave.
Mrs. Richardson I apologize to you for my harsh comments of your Brother and family.
One may say I am naive but I honestly don't think your "battle" should be with Mr Satterwhite and had you been there yesterday and been privy to all the comments you may have come out feeling the same. You also say you have never met the man, well my experiences have been comforting, whether it be the day we picked my daughter's resting place or yesterday as we left chambers.
The attacks against his family are sounding down right atrocious. No disrespect because I don't know you and I am sure you are a fine man, but you are sounding like what you accuse him of being, cold.
It pains me that any of this has come to this. One thing I did learn at the meeting yesterday was it will not be Mr Satterwhite who chooses how to handle this situation but rather the council and I would encourage you to speak to the council and sit in on the next hearing, because there will be one. There in front of God and everyone express your dismay and maybe it will liberate you with a sense of relief.
And I want to thank you for your concern over my daughter's grave. I know my baby appreciates it as do I.
I had one post removed ? Big deal......if speaking my mind is so offensive to you, then perhaps its because I am getting closer to the truth about your Brother than is comfortable for you :)
Have a nice evening. Don't forget your Geritol!
I will no longer respond to you or your posts (if they stay up, you've already had one offensive one removed). Your hatred is scary.
May God be with you.
WHAT IS DISTURBING is Your crying like an old ninny "you don't know David Satterwhite or our family and the troubles we are having" airing your family's dirty laundry in public! as I said earlier, I know all I need to know about David Satterwhite to know he is indeed a snake!
You must have some other issue with Mr Satterwhite, but your attacks on him and most definatey my family are beginning to become disturbing.
There is nothing about this issue that is personal to him and there is no reason to even consider his resignation. You need to keep your comments to the ISSUE. Your comments regarding my brother and my family are becoming disturbing.
Don't apologize to the family this Satterwhite snake who tried to take away your right to grieve for your Daughter by placing mementos at her grave.
Then on another post his sister had the unmitigated GALL to say those graves are CITY property and need to be respectably maintained?! No they aren't. The families purchased them from the city so they are the property of the plot owner, honey. Satterwhite and his sister are BOTH crazed old bats!
See now I can't help but smile because you have done what I wanted to accomplish, right a wrong and give voice to those who can't. By sharing your story you have now become human to others, no offense but earlier when you were speaking of ordinances, etc you sounded almost like an elected official. LOL
I believe your last post will stop the complaints, no one can argue with anything you said and maybe that will bring a small comfort. Tell your brother I am grateful and to keep his head high, he's a good man and he must keep the faith.
For anyone who questions my judgement of Mr Satterwhite you should know that before I could even speak Rev Edmunson wanted everyone to know that Mr Satterwhite was a respectful man. Anyone who knows the Rev. should know that alone should speak volumes, as the Rev is an honorable man.
I'm also sure that you can understand my point of view on the vicious attacks on David Satterwhite. You see, David is my brother. My entire family is hurt very badly by the comments and personal attacks that some of these people have written. My brother is doing his job. He didn't write the oridnance, he is not the one that decided to start enforcing the ordinance and neither he nor the city intended to hurt anyone.
My brother spoke ro me about how you spoke last night and how it showed that he is not the monster that some in this town want to make him out to be. For that I and his entire family thank you. It really meant a lot to him.
This is an emotional issue, but many are directing their emotions at the wrong person here. People should think about what they say before they attack a person. No one here knows what tribulations that my family has in our personal lives, and it's no one's business.
When I see these comments about a member of my family, see my mother cry and listen to my father in his hospital bed get upset over what people are saying about his son....I have to stand up for the person that these people do NOT know.
If anyone wants to get mad, get mad and let the city officials and city counsel know your feelings, but enough with the personal attacks on a person who is doing their job.
He is in my opinion simply a man doing his job and his employers, the city, give him orders as to how to carry his duties out. The mayor said the ordinance did exist but had never really been enforced. The mayor stated that the offensive words "clutter", etc had probably been used at the retreat but these were words that were not aimed at any one person and were more or less complaints they had received from citizens and that is why they were being addressed.
Now I too work in government and I know that things can be discussed and even policies adopted without regard for any one person. And it can seem down right cruel the things we are forced to enforce at times. I simply needed to speak my peace, give my opinion and try to lend a voice to the pain and grief many of us feel.
This is no ONE person's fault. This is the beautiful thing about our government, we the people can speak if we so choose. If we do not agree with the descisions our elected officials make regarding this and other matters we can choose not to re-elect them. They work for us and at the end of the day we can have a say-so, we just have to be patient.
The blame lies with all of us to an extent, but I believe that NO one set out to hurt anyone and I couldn't defend them if I thought they did.
RIP My Sweet Charleigh Your MaMa Has Spoke
You don't know David Satterwhite...I do. He happens to be my brother. How would your family feel if they saw someone talking about you in the same manner in the local paper? Would they care?
You are the one who is cold, callous and uncaring and I do not respect you either.