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Cemeteries are usually run by either a city, county, church or cemetery association. Because burial is the "end of the line" for a person there will be little you can learn from a tombstone. However, the records of an active cemetery can hold a wealth of information about the deceased. You might find everything listed on a death certificate to be recapitulated by the cemetery's records. Familial relationships can be construed because of "family plots" and the high incidence of a surname in one area of the cemetery. Cemetery charts, plot numbers and even contacts for local family members of the deceased are often maintained by the cemetery. If you have no idea where to start, request a list of the cemeteries in the area from the local chamber of commmerce. Get their telephone number from long distance information. You can also look under "cemeteries" in the yellow pages of the local telephone book. For cemeteries that have been closed or abandoned the local historical society would be probably the closest thing a researcher is going to find to having a friend in the area. They can also often refer you to a local researcher who might be willing to canvass a local cemetery for a specific individual's tombstone. Although you can contact local mortuaries, realize that without a death certificate, determining which mortuary took care of the arrangements is a hit or miss proposition. Many mortuaries have gone out-of-business, probably leaving their records in the trash. It is improbable that you can learn anything additional from a mortuary, that you haven't already learned from the cemetery's records. Obviously, if you haven't had any luck with cemetery records you should consider searching local mortuary records.
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