Augusta, GA – Augusta city officials are preparing to reopen three local cemeteries that have been closed for nearly six months due to extensive damage caused by Hurricane September. Starting Wednesday, March 26, the Magnolia, Cedar Grove, and Westview cemeteries will begin a “soft reopening,” with families allowed to visit their loved ones’ plots during designated hours.

The parks and recreation department has been working closely with FEMA to address the damage caused by fallen trees, debris, and destroyed gravesites. According to Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation, Alfonza Williams, the reopening process has been a meticulous and cautious one. “We had to be very safe and cautious in the cemeteries not to cause any further damage to anything while removing trees with the process we had in place,” Williams said.

The damage, particularly to gravesites and headstones, has required significant repairs. Demetrius Few, a contractor working with the city, described the destruction: “Some of the plots were destroyed, like slabs. We had to take them up and replace them, and just make sure everything is leveled out right.”

In the months since the hurricane hit on September 27, parks and recreation crews have worked tirelessly to clear debris from the cemeteries and restore order. However, despite the city’s efforts, some areas remain unsafe, and Williams stressed that the reopening would be gradual. The cemeteries will not be fully open to the public immediately.

“We do have areas in there that are cautioned off. There are areas that we still can’t have citizens near for safety reasons,” Williams explained. “That’s why I’m calling it a ‘soft opening,’ because it’s just not open to the public to float through the entire cemetery.”

The “soft reopening” means that families will only be allowed to visit their loved ones’ plots during specific hours. Visitors must also sign a waiver before entering the cemeteries to acknowledge the safety risks. For now, the designated visiting hours will be from 8 AM to 11 AM and 1 PM to 3 PM.

This controlled reopening comes after months of unauthorized attempts by Augustans to access the cemeteries. According to Few, many families, frustrated by the closure, tried to sneak into the cemeteries despite the barriers in place. “There’s a lot of family members that have been trying to sneak in. They didn’t understand, they just wanted to see their family—which I understand. But it’s kind of dangerous,” Few said.

Williams acknowledged these attempts and emphasized the importance of securing the cemeteries for safety. “I’m sure that that has happened. We try to do our best to have those locked and secured for safety measures, but again you do have people that will take other measures to get in by any means necessary,” he said.

The reopening has been a highly anticipated event for many in the Augusta community, with families eager to return to their loved ones’ gravesites after months of uncertainty. “It’s very important that they get in, especially those that visit their loved ones on a regular. They haven’t been able to for the good part of the last six months,” Williams said. “It’s very important to myself, the mayor, and all commissioners.”

As the city works toward a full reopening, officials are hopeful that the remaining safety concerns will be addressed, allowing for unrestricted access in the near future. For now, families can begin to visit the cemeteries once again, with a renewed sense of care and caution.