“RULES AND REGULATIONS”
EFFECTIVE DATE: JANUARY 01, 2024

1. HOURS for visiting the Cemetery are 7:00AM to 7:00PM.
2. SIGNS, NOTICES OR ADVERTISEMENTS may be posted only by Joshua Creek Cemetery Board of
Directors or people authorized by the Board of Directors.
3. CURBING/COPING around lots must be installed by a professional that is qualified to do the work.
Curbing/coping cannot exceed four inches (4”) above natural ground level and must be reinforced
with steel rods. No “homemade” coping, curbing, fencing, hedging, borders or any enclosures of any
kind shall be allowed around any grave(s) and no walkways of brick, cinders, tile, terra cotta, sand,
cement, gravel or wood shall be allowed on any grave(s). Joshua Creek Cemetery reserves the right
to remove the same if so erected, planted or placed.
4. HEADSTONES shall not exceed four feet (4’) in height and six feet (6’) in length. No homemade slabs
or headstones are allowed and no painting allowed on slabs/headstones.
5. ABOVE GROUND BURIALS (such as mausoleums) are not allowed.
6. FENCING of any type is not allowed around lots/graves.
7. VAULTS/GRAVE LINERS are not required for burial at Joshua Creek Cemetery.
8. MAINTENANCE & UPKEEP OF BUYERS’ LOTS AND GRAVE SITES is the responsibility of the Owner of
the gravesite(s) and not the responsibility of Joshua Creek Cemetery.
9. FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS (live & artificial) are to be removed by the Owner when they become
wilted or have a weathered, neglected or unsightly appearance. Joshua Creek Cemetery reserves the
right to remove all flowers when they show any of these appearances. The decision to remove
unsightly flowers, plants, inappropriate or excessive decorations, excessive ornamentation is at the
discretion of the Joshua Creek Cemetery Board of Directors.
10. DISPOSAL OF DEBRIS & RUBBISH such as dead plants, old decorations, dead limbs and any other
litter or debris that may be found on gravesites is the responsibility of the Owner. There is a
designated “Trash Dumping” area located on the west side of the Cemetery in the northern area.
The “Trash Dumping” site is for Joshua Creek Cemetery debris, rubbish and litter and is not for
personal use to dispose of personal garbage/trash.
11. INTERMENTS or INURNMENTS must be reported to the Cemetery by the Funeral Home or Owner of
burial space/lot in order to maintain accuracy of the Joshua Creek Cemetery records. No more than
two inurnments can be placed in any one grave space.
12. GLASS BOTTLES, CANS OR BREAKABLE ITEMS are not to be placed anywhere other than on the
gravesite slab/monument as they pose a hazard to mowing/weed eating. If they are not placed on
the slab or headstone, the Cemetery or their representatives (such as lawn service) reserve the right
to remove them to the “Trash Area”.
13. GATHERINGS, CELEBRATIONS, COOKING/GRILLING are not allowed.
14. LOUD MUSIC/BANDS are not allowed.
15. LOITERING/PARKING on Cemetery property for reasons not associated with the Cemetery are not
allowed.
16. EXCESSIVE DECORATIONS/DECORUM need to be limited so as not to create a party-like atmosphere
or a celebratory feeling in order to provide a solemn, serene and sacred environment for those that
wish to reverently visit the gravesites of their loved ones. Joshua Creek Cemetery has the right to
remove what is deemed to be excessive.
17. CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP: Owners that sell their spaces to others are responsible for advising
the new owners of the “Rules & Regulations” prior to change in ownership.

This website will allow you to locate anyone buried at Joshua Creek Cemetery. Use the  " Locate a Grave Site "  to locate someone by name, then use the “Map of Cemetery” link to view  the map.
Currently, our web site is updated once a year. We recently added the oldest part of the cemetery, and we are making every effort to present you with all of the information that we have available.

Our goal is to provide you with a convenient way to locate the burial place of your loved ones. We hope this web site will help to lessen the confusion for you.

We are here to serve you, so please let us know what your needs and questions are. We are happy to help.

Please take a minute to visit our Donations page and see if you can assist in the efforts to maintain and beautify the cemetery.

Joshua Creek Cemetery would like you to come see the below sign placed in the cemetery. Anthony Barnes took his time and efforts to work on his Eagle Scout project in the Cemetery.  With the help of the Desoto County Historical Society, Ponger-Kays-Grady Funeral Home, Donna McPherson and the Joshua Creek Cemetery Trustees,  60 unmarked graves in the original part of the cemetery now have markers on them.  They also placed a large sign in the cemetery that  shares a little more information on the Joshua Creek Church and the Cemetery when it was originally started in 1870.

Joshua Creek Cemetery is located in Desoto County, Florida, located just off SE Co. Rd. 760,  East of Arcadia.

At this time we are excited to also share information for anyone having problems locating a buried loved one, or who would like to learn a little more history on the cemetery to contact Donna McPherson at dlmcpherson0848@comcast.net 

Donna is a contributor to the Find A Grave site that locates and takes pictures of headstones and has them online for family members to view and leave notes on memories for others to see.  Check out findagrave.com