
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 2, 1994                   TAG: 9403020149
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C4   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: BOONES MILL                                LENGTH: Short

CEMETERY OFFERS GRAVE SWAP

A growing perpetual-care cemetery is trying to expand even more by offering a grave-swap program for people who hold contracts at financially troubled Franklin Memorial Park.

For $62.50, those who have contracts for space at the Franklin Memorial Park can exchange it for a space at Mountain View Memorial Park or its affiliate, Evergreen Burial Park in Roanoke.

Mountain View sent letters to hundreds of people who have bought services from Franklin Memorial Park offering the exchange.

"We do know that some people haven't received their deed or certification of ownership, or they don't have a designated lot," said Don Wilson, who owns Mountain View.

He said six people already have traded spaces, and several have made appointments since a public hearing for creditors of Franklin Memorial Park.

Franklin Memorial Park filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

Mountain View has been criticized for sending the letters, but Wilson believes the flak is unjustified.

"I don't think we're taking advantage of a situation," he said. "I just think some lot owners at Franklin Memorial Park already feel taken advantage of.

"We're just trying to give them peace of mind."

Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.

by CNB