Galilee Memorial Gardens

October 2020 Update

The receivership of Galilee Memorial Gardens ended in October 2020.  The following final orders have been issued by the Davidson County Chancery Court that establish the final terms under which the cemetery’s business has been wound up:

• Final Order of Discharge and Termination of the Case upon Receiver's Notice of Completion (October 23, 2020)
  
• Order Terminating the Receivership of Galilee Memorial Gardens, Divesting the Receiver of Cemetery Real Property, Providing that Cemetery be Maintained with Improvement Care Trust Fund Earnings, Providing for Disposition of Records, and Discharging Receiver upon Filing Notice of Completion (July 24, 2020)
  
• Order for Entry after Hearing to Set Conditions for Liquidation of Galilee Memorial Gardens Cemetery; Prohibiting Burials, Disinterments, or Activities other than Permanent Maintenance and Limited Visitation of Graves; Finding the Cemetery Lacks Assets to Distribute and Barring all Claims or Suits Against the Cemetery or Defendants in Receivership (March 11, 2020)
  
• Notice for Ms. Churchwell-Davis [regarding protections in state law for cemeteries to remain as Cemeteries] (March 16, 2020)
  
• Memorandum and Final Order from Hearing of 4/10/2019 to Dissolve Corporation and All Business Entities in Receivership; to Grant Receiver Exclusive Title to the Original Cemetery Parcel; to Permanently Enjoin Defendants from the Galilee Cemetery Business, and to Determine or Bar Claim of Defendants (June 12, 2019) 
  

Additional documents related to Galilee Memorial Gardens are below.

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Galilee Burial Records

The burial records and condition of burial grounds of Galilee Memorial Gardens have been reconstructed by the receiver.  These records and a bound paper version have been provided to the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, History Department, 3030 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN  38111, and are available online on the receivership website where you can search for a person’s grave space and view the updated Google map showing garden locations.  

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Cemetery Visitation 

The gates have been opened at the Cemetery at 8283 Ellis Road, in Bartlett, Tennessee.  The cemetery may be visited on all days.  All visitors enter the cemetery at their own risk.
 

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The Commissioner for the State of Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance was appointed as Receiver for Galilee Memorial Gardens, located in Bartlett, Tennessee, on February 21, 2014.  Receivership Management, Inc., acted as the Special Deputy Receiver in this matter. This receivership has ended.

The documents posted are not intended to be complete records of these matters. 

•  Verified Petition for the Appointment of the Commissioner as Receiver for Galilee Memorial Gardens and for Temporary and Permanent Injunctive Relief (January 24, 2014)
• Application for a Temporary Restraining Order and Temporary Injunction (January 24, 2014)
• Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and for Temporary Injunction (January 24, 2014)
• Temporary Restraining Order (January 24, 2014)
• Order to Show Cause Setting Hearing on Petition for Appointment of the Commissioner as Receiver for Galilee Memorial Gardens and for Temporary and Permanent Injunctive Relief (January 24, 2014)
• Order Appointing Commissioner as Receiver for Galilee Memorial Gardens Cemetery and Granting Temporary Injunction (February 21, 2014)
• First Interim Report of the Special Deputy Receiver for Galilee Memorial Gardens (March 24, 2014)
• Order Denying Motion to Intervene and Reiterating Stay of Proceedings (April 15, 2014)
• Second Interim Report of the Special Deputy Receiver for Galilee Memorial Gardens (June 26, 2014)
• Third Interim Report of the Special Deputy Receiver for Galilee Memorial Gardens (December 11, 2014)
• Fourth Interim Report of the Special Deputy Receiver for Galilee Memorial Gardens (April 23, 2015)
• Notice of Filing Amended Exhibits for Fourth Interim Report of the Special Deputy Receiver for Galilee Memorial Gardens (April 29, 2015)
• Agreed Order Permitting Receiver to Accept Deed of Adjoining Property for the Cemetery and for Cemetery Purposes (May 26, 2015)
• Fifth Interim Report of the Special Deputy Receiver for Galilee Memorial Gardens (July 15, 2015)
• Sixth Interim Report of the Special Deputy Receiver for Galilee Memorial Gardens (September 30, 2015 - corrected October 2, 2015)
• Updated Information on the Burial of Ms. Lucille Wade Talley in Galilee Memorial Gardens (November 18, 2015)
• Seventh Interim Report of the Special Deputy Receiver for Galilee Memorial Gardens (January 8, 2016)
• Eighth Interim Report of the Special Deputy Receiver for Galilee Memorial Gardens (March 21, 2016)
• Ninth Interim Report of the Special Deputy Receiver for Galilee Memorial Gardens (June 17, 2016)
  • Notice of Filing Collective Exhibits and by Electronic Storage Format in Support of the Ninth Interim Report (June 17, 2016)
  • Interim Report 9, Collective Exhibit A: Garden of Devotion (June 17, 2016)
  • Interim Report 9, Collective Exhibit A: Garden of Everlasting Life (June 17, 2016)
  • Interim Report 9, Collective Exhibit A: Garden of Gethsemane (June 17, 2016)
  • Interim Report 9, Collective Exhibit A: Garden of Hope (June 17, 2016)
  • Interim Report 9, Collective Exhibit A: Garden of New Hope (June 17, 2016)
  • Interim Report 9, Collective Exhibit A: Garden of Paradise (June 17, 2016)
  • Interim Report 9, Collective Exhibit A: Garden of Peace (June 17, 2016)
  • Interim Report 9, Collective Exhibit A: Garden of Prayer (June 17, 2016)
  • Interim Report 9, Collective Exhibit A: Garden of Trinity (June 17, 2016)
  • Interim Report 9, Collective Exhibit A: Office Area (June 17, 2016)
  • Interim Report 9, Exhibit B: Garden Maps (June 17, 2016)
  • Interim Report 9, Exhibit C: Grave Space Database - Reformatted (June 17, 2016)
  • Interim Report 9, Exhibit I: 2015 Interment Database (June 17, 2016)
• Agreed Order Setting Status Conference on Receivership for August 17 (June 24, 2016)
• Notice of Filing Transcripts of August 17, 2016 Status Conference (August 26, 2016)
• Order Following Status Conference on Receivership (August 30, 2016)
• Notice of Withdrawal of David F. Kustoff as Special Deputy Receiver (November 23, 2016)
• Agreed Order after Status Conference on Receivership Held May 3, 2017 (May 12, 2017)
• Motion for the Approval of Marker Placement Procedure (May 17, 2017)
• Order Approving Procedures for Setting Markers at Galilee Memorial Gardens (June 5, 2017)
• Order Granting Motion for the Placement of the Marker of Shannon Boyland (June 5, 2017)
• Tenth Interim Report of the Special Deputy Receiver for Galilee Memorial Gardens (June 14, 2017)
• Motion to Lift Stay for the Limited Purpose of Deposing Robert E. Moore (September 15, 2017)
• Motion and Memorandum to Intervene for the Limited Purpose of Lifting this Court's Stay as to the Receivership and the "Galilee" Defendants (September 22, 2017)
• Receiver's Response in Opposition to Motion by Wofford Parties to Lift Stay (September 29, 2017)
• Supplemental Memorandum in Support of Rule 24 Motion (October 2, 2017)
• Amended Notice of Hearing (October 5, 2017)
• Agreed Order Lifting Stay for the Limited Purpose of Authorizing a Deposition of Robert E. Moore, Jr. with Conditions (October 9, 2017)
• Motion for Entry of Protective Order (October 18, 2017)
• Receiver's Further Response Opposing Motion to Intervene to Lift Stay (October 25, 2017)
• Protective Order (November 1, 2017)
• Order on Motion to Intervene to Lift Stay Filed by Funeral Homes Class Action Parties R.S. Lewis and Sons Funeral Home, et al. (November 15, 2017)
• Order Attachment:  Transcript of Proceedings (November 15, 2017)
• Eleventh Interim Report of the Special Deputy Receiver for Galilee Memorial Gardens (December 18, 2017)
• Receiver's Motion to Dispose of Stone Markers and Equipment on the Cemetery Premises, and to Approve Receiver's Procedure to Address other Remaining Carved Markers (March 21, 2018)
• Order on Receiver's Motion to Dispose of Stone Markers and Equipment on the Cemetery Premises, and to Approve Receiver's Procedure to Address other Remaining Carved Markers (April 6, 2018)
• Twelfth Interim Report of the Special Deputy Receiver for Galilee Memorial Gardens (June 6, 2018)
• Receiver's Statement for Status Conference on the Termination of the Receivership of Galilee Memorial Gardens (Thirteenth Interim Report) (November 30, 2018)
• Receiver's Motion to Set Hearing Date on Matters for Resolution - To Dissolve Corporation and All Business Entities in Receivership; To Grant Exclusive Title to the Receiver of the Original Cemetery Parcel; To Permanently Enjoin Defendants from the Galilee Cemetery Business; To Determine or Bar Claim of Defendants (February 15, 2019)
• Order Setting 3/1/19 Conference (February 15, 2019)
• Order Setting 3/1/19 Hearing on Receiver's Motion to Set (February 21, 2019)
• Receiver's Summary of Corporate Entities' Status for Dissolution in the Cemetery Receivership (February 28, 2019)
• Receiver's Witness List, Receiver's Exhibit List, and List of Statutes Related to Hearing on Corporate Dissolution and Other Matters (March 15, 2019)
• Order with Notice to Defendants Setting Hearing for 3/25/2019 9:00 a.m. on Receiver's Requests to Dissolve Corporation and All Business Entities in Receivership; to Grant Exclusive Title to the Receiver of the Original Cemetery Parcel; to Permanently Enjoin Defendants from the Galilee Cemetery Business; to Determine or Bar Claim of Defendants (March 18, 2019)
• Order Setting 4/23/19 Hearing on Closure of Cemetery (March 18, 2019)
• Order Approving Attached Form of Notice of Hearing Regarding Galilee Memorial Gardens on 4/23/2019 in Memphis (March 19, 2019)
• Order Granting Expedited Consideration of Motion and Continuing Hearing Originally Set for 3/25/2019 9:00 a.m. on Receiver's Requests to Dissolve Corporations and All Business Entities in Receivership and Other Matters (March 21, 2019)
• Amended Order Setting 4/23/19 Hearing on Closure of Cemetery (April 15, 2019) 
• Transcript of April 23, 2019 Memphis hearing on the Receiver’s recommendations for closure of the Cemetery (May 2, 2019)
• Receiver's Memorandum on a Potential May 2019 Day of Temporary Visitation (May 7, 2019)
• Order Adopting Receiver's Proposal for Limited Visitation and Setting 5/17/19 Deadline for Receiver with Respect to Attached Proposed Order (May 8, 2019)
• Order of Times, Dates, Conditions and Arrangements for Limited Visitation at Galilee Memorial Gardens (May 20, 2019)
• Order Designating Holidays for Cemetery to be Open for Limited Visitation (May 20, 2019)
• Memorandum and Final Order from Hearing of 4/10/2019 to Dissolve Corporation and All Business Entities in Receivership; to Grant Receiver Exclusive Title to the Original Cemetery Parcel; to Permanently Enjoin Defendants from the Galilee Cemetery Business, and to Determine or Bar Claim of Defendants  (June 12, 2019)
• Receiver's Fourteenth Interim Report on the Receivership of Galilee Memorial Gardens (August 16, 2019)
• Receiver's Response to 9/16/19 Order to Identify Final Matters for Determination on Galilee Memorial Gardens (September 27, 2019)
• Order Setting 11/15/19 Status Conference (October 7, 2019) 
• Motion to Intervene by Shelby County, Tennessee; Memorandum in Support; and Notice of Hearing (November 1, 2019)
• Receiver's Response to Shelby County Motion to Intervene, With Supplemental Statement of Final Matters for Determination Concerning Galilee Memorial Gardens (November 8, 2019)
• Order Granting Shelby County, Tennessee's Motion to Intervene as an Interested Party (November 15, 2019)
• Notice of Filing Transcript of Scheduling Conference Held November 15, 2019 (November 22, 2019)
• Scheduling Order for Matters Remaining to be Determined Concerning Galilee Memorial Gardens (December 5, 2019)
• Lodged Proposed Order for Entry after Hearing to Set Conditions for Liquidation of Galilee Memorial Gardens Cemetery; Prohibiting Burials, Disinterments, or Activities other than Permanent Maintenance and Limited Visitation of Graves; Finding the Cemetery Lacks Assets to Distribute and Barring all Claims or Suits Against the Cemetery or Defendants in Receivership (December 30, 2019)
• Order Setting and Approving Modified Notice of 3/10/2020 9:00 a.m. Hearing Date and 2/21/2020 Objection Filing Deadline (January 8, 2020) 
• Receiver’s Notice Identifying Entity Willing to Assume Responsibility for Maintenance of Galilee Memorial Gardens upon Termination of the Receivership (February 28, 2020)
• Order for Entry after Hearing to Set Conditions for Liquidation of Galilee Memorial Gardens Cemetery; Prohibiting Burials, Disinterments, or Activities other than Permanent Maintenance and Limited Visitation of Graves; Finding the Cemetery Lacks Assets to Distribute and Barring all Claims or Suits Against the Cemetery or Defendants in Receivership (March 11, 2020)
  
• Commissioner's Motion to Terminate Receivership of Galilee Memorial Gardens and for other Relief (February 28, 2020)
• Memorandum of Law in Support of Commissioner's Motion to Terminate Receivership of Galilee Memorial Gardens and for other Relief (February 28, 2020)
• Shelby County's Response to the Commissioner's Motion to Terminate the Receivership of Galilee Gardens and for other Relief (March 6, 2020)
• Order (March 16, 2020)
• Notice for Ms. Churchwell-Davis [regarding protections in state law for cemeteries to remain as Cemeteries] (March 16, 2020)
• Commissioner's Memorandum of Law Addressing Purported Escheatment of Galilee Memorial Gardens and Related Matters (April 9, 2020)
  
• Shelby County’s Response to the Commissioner’s Memorandum of Law Addressing Purported Escheatment of Galilee Memorial Gardens and Related Matters (May 6, 2020)
• [Proposed] Order Terminating the Receivership of Galilee Memorial Gardens, Divesting the Receiver of Cemetery Real Property, Providing that Cemetery be Maintained with Improvement Care Trust Fund Earnings, Providing for Disposition of Records, and Discharging Receiver upon Filing Notice of Completion (May 22, 2020)
• Commissioner’s Supplemental Memorandum of Law Addressing Escheatment Issues and Post-Receivership Ownership of Galilee Memorial Gardens (May 22, 2020)
• Notice of 5/28/2020 [corrected] Hearing by Zoom Video Conferencing (May 22, 2020)
  
• Order Terminating the Receivership of Galilee Memorial Gardens, Divesting the Receiver of Cemetery Real Property, Providing that Cemetery be Maintained with Improvement Care Trust Fund Earnings, Providing for Disposition of Records, and Discharging Receiver upon Filing Notice of Completion (July 24, 2020)
  
• Final Order of Discharge and Termination of the Case upon Receiver's Notice of Completion (October 23, 2020)