OKEECHOBEE – Visitors to Evergreen Cemetery and Basinger Cemetery will find it easier to locate the graves of loved ones thanks to website that uses the  GPS.

On June 19, Okeechobee County officials and staff gathered at Evergreen Cemetery for the launch of the new cemetery digitization project. The cemetery manager spent the last nine months comparing physical site data with handwritten records and converting the information to Chronicle, the new digital system.

Ground surveys and aerial photos were used to cross-reference data, ensuring that accurate information is contained on the website. Once a plot is accurately marked, it receives a geotag. Users can search for their loved ones by entering a name on the website. The Chronicle system uses your phone’s GPS (Global Positioning System) to guide you directly to the desired grave site.

Visitors can scan the QR code on the signs at the cemeteries to access the Chronicle website, or type in the website address, www.chronicle.rip and then search for the cemetery name.

Assistance County Administrator Justin Nelson said in 2021, the cemetery staff realized they needed an easier way to show the public where the graves are and which grave sites are still available for purchase.

He said they looked at a variety of different software options before choosing Chronicle, a website developed by an Australian company. Evergreen Cemetery and Basinger Cemetery are now on that website. They plan to add Fort Drum Cemetery.

Other plans for Evergreen Cemetery include a new maintenance building and ADA compliant restrooms.

County Commission Chairman David Hazellief thanked the county staff for their hard work. “We all have relatives out here. Over a matter of time, we forget where they are,” he added.

Nelson said the website also allows families to submit photos and stories about those buried in the cemetery. These will be reviewed by county staff.