A map of Laurel Cemetery, Consisting of Hickory Grove, Crestview Cemetery, Oak Hill Cemetery, and Lake Park Cemetery, compiled and drawn by W. Monroe Houston, Jr.
Did you know the most useful map in cemetery research is the cemetery plot map? With a plot map, you can quickly find your ancestor’s grave in the broader context of the cemetery.
A plot map breaks down the layout of a cemetery, allowing you to visualize where you’ll be researching in a cemetery. With some luck, you may find that the cemetery you’re researching has an online form that allows you to search graves by name. And even if a cemetery hasn’t digitized its burial records, you can find burial information on the free website Find A Grave. Use plot maps in combination with these tools to make finding your ancestors’ graves a breeze.
Cemetery plot maps can also show more granular detail. Some cemeteries may have maps that identify individual lots or even individual graves. Scour a cemetery’s website to find out if it has these more detailed maps, particularly for times past.
If you still have trouble finding your ancestor’s grave, check with the cemetery office to learn if lot numbers have changed since your ancestor’s time. In fact, you might find other old documents related to your ancestor’s burial, such as plot records or cemetery deeds.
On findagrave.com, Hickory Grove has 9,661 memorials, Lake Park has 2,325, and Crestview has 615. This cemetery is located in Laurel, Jones County, Mississippi, on 15th Street, just off Highway 15 North.
Mr. Houston spent many hours compiling a book with this information, and we have a copy in our genealogy library. The information cut-off date is about 1997-1998, as the copyright is 1999.