Members of the Southern Maryland Delegation:

Here is an update on Southern Memorial Gardens since we last communicated with you in April. Briefly, our department asked for and received permission from the U. S. Bankruptcy Trustee to arrange for landscaping and maintenance on the grounds of the cemetery. With the help of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services and Calvert County General Services, the cemetery grounds were professionally maintained. Most importantly, the bankruptcy court continues to allow independent contractors to perform burials for pre-need contracts entered into prior to August 12, 2011.

Since April, our department continues to monitor the bankruptcy proceedings and is working with the U.S. Trustee’s Office and court to assess and protect the rights of pre-need contract holders. As information becomes available, it will be forwarded to you and posted to the Office of Cemetery Oversight section of our website: http://www.dllr.state.md.us/license/cem/cemsmg.shtml. Please feel free to contact me at any time if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you.

Scott R. Jensen
Interim Secretary
Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation