Girl killed in Fruitland accident buried in wrong plot at Jackson cemetery

An oversight in the office of Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson led the family of a 4-year-old girl killed in an accident last week to launch a graveside sit-in Thursday.

Family members of MaKayla Overy received a phone call telling them the plot where they had buried the child had been purchased 16 years ago and was owned by someone else. The cemetery, which is owned by the city of Jackson, said MaKayla would have to be exhumed and buried elsewhere.

Family members said the family had been through enough grief and started making phone calls to city officials, as well as U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, trying to see if something could be done to stop the exhumation. Joyce Teson, MaKayla's great-grandmother, said the phone calls resulted in assurances from Larry Koenig, Jackson's assistant city administrator, that the girl would not have to be moved.

Koenig said the incident was unfortunate but had been amicably resolved.

Cemetery sexton Joe Schreiner said he was not able to say much about the situation but that there had been a "little mistake" and everything had been worked out.

The owner of the plot, Barbara Lowes, said she did not want the family to have to exhume the body and that she and the city were working something out so the child would not have to be moved.

"I don't want this to cause more anguish to the family," Lowes said. "We are working it out so the child can have the plot. The city is working with me, and I am satisfied with what is being talked about."

For now MaKayla's mother is satisfied her daughter will not be disturbed. She said one reason that plot was chosen by the family is that the surrounding graves belong to family members and friends.

"They are not moving my baby. This is where she needs to be," Kristen Overy said.

cbartholomew@semissourian.com

243-8600

Pertinent Address:

435 Farmington Road, Jackson, MO