New director takes over city cemetery
Published 12:17 am Monday, May 5, 2014
NATCHEZ — The new director of the Natchez City Cemetery says he has found his most rewarding job yet.
Tony Nagurski took over as director of the city-owned cemetery in February. Nagurski said he has met two kinds of people so far in his job.
“There’s tourists that come here looking to sightsee, and it’s fun to have conversations with them and share history,” he said. “And then there’s the families I meet for burials.
Nagurski said when he meets people for burials, it’s the darkest time a family can go through.
“It’s personally rewarding to offer them some compassion and try to help ease their pain,” he said.
The Natchez City Cemetery, located on Cemetery Road, was established in 1822 and covers approximately 100 acres of land.
Nagurski, a Michigan native, moved to Natchez three months ago from Kentucky. Nagurski said he “fell into” his new role as director.
Nagurski was visiting friends in Roxie, and a friend told him former cemetery director Danny Brown was resigning.
“When I heard about the job, I felt like it was custom made for me,” Nagurski said.
The Natchez City Cemetery Association felt the same way when the board interviewed Nagurski, treasurer Nancy Kimbrell said.
“He just seemed to have the skills that might help us in keeping the cemetery pristine,” Kimbrell said.
Nagurski ran a landscaping business and has worked in business management for many years. He is also a certified auto mechanic and has worked in logging and tree management, as well as construction.
Nagurski said he is adjusting well to Natchez and enjoying the city.
“I love the people here,” he said. “Everybody treats you like family. I love history, and there is no shortage of history here.”
Nagurski replaced Brown, who resigned to turn a part-time job for the U.S. Postal Service into a full-time job but not without reservations about leaving the cemetery.
“That cemetery, it gets in your blood,” he said. “It gets in every fiber of your body.
Brown said he is confident in Nagurski’s ability to run the cemetery, and both men said they hope the pubic support for the cemetery continues.
“I know we’re taxed to death, and we all have to pay our bills, but to take care of your loved ones, first and foremost it’s what we’re supposed to do, but it’s an honor to do too,” Brown said.