What is the role of the cemetery sexton?

The role of the cemetery sexton is fundamentally tied to the oversight of cemetery operations and maintaining accurate records. This position involves a combination of administrative and operational responsibilities, including managing the day-to-day activities within the cemetery, ensuring that the grounds are well maintained, and handling various administrative tasks such as keeping burial records, maintaining maps of the cemetery, and overseeing the use of burial plots.

A sexton acts as the point of contact for families, helping to coordinate burials and plot purchases, as well as facilitating the logistics involved in cemetery operations. This role is crucial for ensuring that all aspects of the cemetery function smoothly and that all necessary documentation is accurately recorded and easily accessible, providing essential support during difficult times for families who are grieving.

While managing human resources might be a part of broader cemetery management, it is not the primary focus of a sexton's duties. Similarly, planning ceremonies or designing tombstones falls outside the typical responsibilities associated with this role, making the second choice the most accurate representation of what a sexton does.