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It is time for a story, and I would like to tell you about my first
experience with a natural burial.
I had spoken with John Wilkerson of GLENDALE MEMORIAL
NATURE PRESERVE on several occasions to ask questions about
their natural cemetery. GMNP is located in the Florida panhandle
near DeFuniak Springs. I called him and asked if Beth and I could
come down to visit GMNP. We are old hands at camping so we
asked if we could camp on the land instead of getting a hotel room.
He was very gracious and invited us down and said we were
welcome to camp.
We arrived late on a Wednesday afternoon and took John and
Barbara out to dinner so we could all get acquainted. GMNP is a
fascinating place. Their many activities include: farming, operating a
saw mill, creating some huge yard art, and the natural cemetery of
course. It was a bit like a museum with all the vintage equipment,
automobiles and many other items from years gone by.
The next morning we got a tour of the 350 acres. While we were on
the tour Barbara received a phone call from a family who had lost a
loved one. This was an expected death and the lady that crossed
over had actually come out to the farm and had picked out her burial
space months before. The burial was scheduled for Saturday, and
we were invited to stay and attend the funeral. We had planned on
leaving before Saturday but of course we decided to stay over. We
got to help dig the grave and see how the different layers of earth
were removed and separated so they could be returned in the same
order they were removed.
I woke up very early on Saturday morning and began gathering flower
petals and leaves from around the property so we could help
decorate the grave site. John also asked me to go with him to rake
and gather two very large bags of pine straw. Just before time for the
family to arrive, Beth and I were allowed to decorate the grave site.
We covered the area around the outside of the grave with pine straw
to cover the bare earth from the digging. We also made a layer of
pine straw in the bottom of the grave to form a soft bed. We sprinkled
the leaves and flower petals around the grave as well as inside. It
was very pretty the way it was decorated. A slow but steady rain had
begun to fall and continued for the entire funeral.
The family began arriving and shortly after, the deceased was
brought to the grave site. She had chosen to be buried only in a
burial shroud that was made from bed sheets. She was lowered by
the family into the grave and there were prayers and a few words by
loved ones. The body was covered with a little pine straw and
sprinkled with more flower petals. Then the family members began
filling in the grave with dirt until the body was well covered. Then
John's crew, Beth and I filled in the grave the rest of the way. The top
layer of sod was replaced and the grave was mounded as is
traditional in a natural burial. The last thing done was more pine
straw was used to cover and the remaining flower petals were
scattered to make a very beautiful grave site. My one regret is that we
took no photos to share our experience with others.
What an incredible experience and blessing we received.
Blessing to all......Jim
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