JONESBORO, Ark. – The sale of a pet cemetery in Jonesboro has many residents disappointed with plans to develop the property while removing the monuments.
Jason Gazaway with Gazaway & White Real Estate made a post on social media attracting attention to the subject on January 9. In the post, he asked animal lovers to circulate the message that a client had purchased the property containing the pet cemetery, located at the 4500-block of Stadium Boulevard, near Fox Meadow Lane, in Jonesboro.
The property, which was previously the location for the Jonesboro Monument Company, will be redeveloped, Gazaway said in his post. However, they first hoped to connect with any owners of pets interred at the cemetery.
“My client has plans to develop the property but we want to be very sensitive to the loved ones of the pets interred there and allow for the monuments to be retrieved if desired,” Gazaway wrote.
Most of those responding to the post weren’t happy.
“I will share, however, this is horrible!” wrote Tracey Higgins in a reply.
Several others shared their disappointment in the comments, as well. One comment asked if cemetery laws apply to pet cemeteries. While some laws do make it illegal to destroy or remove a cemetery marker, it appears that the legal definition of “cemetery” applies exclusively to that which contains human remains.
While it might be legal, it was evident in the replies that it wasn’t popular.
“Sensitive? Unbelievable. Repulsive greed,” wrote Shannon Stage.
When speaking to our reporter, Gazaway acknowledged that most of the initial response from the public had been negative.
“I think a lot of the people that are angry, I get it,” Gazaway said. “But, I really hope it gets to where I get to dealing with people who actually have pets there.”
County records show Craighead Electric Cooperative purchased the land from Bryan Sutterfield for $800,000 on January 3, 2024.
Gazaway said he had approached the owners about selling to Craighead. Then, the issue of the pet cemetery came up. Gazaway said when working with the owners, he was told there had been no pets buried at the location in the past five-to-seven years.
However, the previous tenant at the address, who did not wish for his name to be used in this report, told NEA Report that at least one pet owner showed up to help maintain the grounds every couple of weeks. To him, the location was still important – something Gazaway acknowledged.
“We all love our pets,” Gazaway said. “I knew it would be a very sensitive issue and we want to be sensitive to people that’s pets are there. So people can contact me about getting the headstone for the pet. We’ve got no immediate plans for the property and want to give plenty of time for people who want to get the headstone.”
Gazaway said he plans to store the removed headstones that aren’t claimed. He also added that loved ones could collect the remains of the pet, if they so wished.
So far, he said about half of the calls from pet owners weren’t even planning to retrieve the headstones. They just wanted to know someone cared, he said.
He asked anyone who has a pet there to contact him at (870) 215-1300 or jgazaway@gazawaywhite.com.
A press release from Craighead Electric was issued regarding the land purchase after our initial story was published. The release, quoting CEO Jeremiah Sloan, said that their workforce has grown 47-percent since 2014 and the expansion was a necessary one for their company.
“Craighead Electric and empower have the upmost respect for any pet that was buried on this land and fully intend to work with families affected to make necessary arrangements,” Sloan said. “Unfortunately, CECC and empower were unable to obtain any documentation or records regarding the cemetery upon purchasing the land. We need the public’s help to locate as many families as we can. As things stand today, we do not have a date that we plan to begin construction and want all families to know they have ample time to contact us.”
Craighead Electric Cooperative, empower, Delivered by Craighead Electric, and Coop Cares will be donating in honor of families affected by this purchase to our local NEA Humane Society located at 6111 E. Highland Drive in Jonesboro, the press release said.
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Horrible even A factory in Illinois large company honored the cemetery by allotting a deciated area where it was located as hollow ground. Gazaway and CCE should rethink.
If it was to be developed as a commercial property for businesses, I would say to people remember that their store and property should be shunned and boycotted, and reputation destroyed on social media. Unfortunately, it is hard to boycott an electrical cooperative that is uncooperative with the community’s opinions. On the flip side If they had to develop other remote property for the cooperative, they would just pass that extra expense along to their customers. The gist of it all is do you want to be outraged by the callousness of their plans or possibly protect your wallet against Higher electricity rates.
Scumbags I have a pet burried there for over 20yrs was not told it was temporary and I would have to dig my dog back up this is very callous and greedy this is bringing bad memories back of my pets death that is hurtful I thought I was doing the right thing at the time I wanted my dog to have peace and not be alone and be with the other pets there now because of these greedy peoples plans I’m not at peace with my dogs death anymore now I’m worried about all this it’s not right their not thinking about the people they are hurting or the desecration of the cemetery I hope the land is cursed and their buisness is destroyed over all this and the CEO that made the call on it has horrible luck the rest of their life.
This is terrible. My precious DeeDee has been buried there since 1992. This is as painful day as the day she was buried there. How is this possible???? Tears all day. I will be at the meeting and do everything possible to make these heartless money lovers pay for the pain they are causing.