Two local Black funeral directors, along with the Rev. Jesse Jackson, were among those who testified Thursday before a state task force that is analyzing how to better regulate cemeteries.
Two local Black funeral directors, along with the Rev. Jesse Jackson, were among those who testified Thursday before a state task force that is analyzing how to better regulate cemeteries. The funeral directors were upset because instead of doing business they are busy gathering records at the request of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. “We have received notice from the department that we have 21 days to gather records that pertain to the Burr Oak Cemetery,” said Spencer Leak Jr., co-owner of Leak & Sons Funeral Home. “Some of these records are five years old and while getting the information is not a problem, this request amounts to a subpoena.” Leak said most funeral home directors do not have a problem providing the records as long as they have sufficient time to do so. “All I am asking for is more time. This request has caused me to hire additional people to help with all the research,” Leak testified at the meeting. “Black funeral home directors have been hit hard by the Burr Oak scandal.” The Rev. Jackson told the 11-member panel, which includes eight Blacks, that instead of inundating funeral homes with record requests perhaps the panel should begin requesting Perpetua Holdings of Illinois, owner of Burr Oak, to come and testify. “I see everyone but Perpetua at the table. Why haven’t they been summoned yet?” Jackson questioned. “We know historically Black cemeteries have been cast aside by governments. There are a number of highways now built over cemeteries.” Charles Childs, co-owner of A.A. Rayner & Sons Modern Funeral Service, said that lately the only business taking place at many funeral homes is the gathering of records. “It’s a burden on us. Not only are the families suffering from the Burr Oak scandal but so are the funeral directors,” Childs said. Gov. Pat Quinn has given the panel until Sept. 15 to make recommendations to him on how to better regulate cemeteries. Earlier this month, four cemetery employees were charged with dismembering a human body, which is a Class X felony, punishable by up to 30 years in prison, according to the Cook County State’s Attorney office. In addition, the four cemetery employees are accused of reselling already occupied burial plots to unsuspected families and pocketing the money. One of the accused, Maurice Daily, bonded out of Cook County Jail Thursday, according to Steve Patterson, a spokesman for the Cook County Sheriff office. The other three remain incarcerated while they await trial. The next task force meeting is 2 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 6 at the James R. Thompson Building. ______ In photo: The Rev. Jesse Jackson meets with family members searching for the graves of relatives at Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, Ill., Thursday, July 9, 2009. Graves were discovered dug up Wednesday and bodies dumped into unmarked mass graves in an alleged scheme to resell the plots to unsuspecting members of the public. Three men and a woman are facing felony charges after police found what they called "startling and revolting" conditions at the historic cemetery in the south Chicago suburb. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
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