10:49 PM CDT on Wednesday, May 31, 2006

By YOLANDA WALKER / WFAA-TV

Okenetta Piper

Loved ones who buried Okenetta Piper on April 1 said they were shocked when they couldn't find the spot where she was laid to rest on a recent visit to Southland Memorial Park in Grand Prairie.

Piper's daughter and son-in-law came back on Mother's Day to mark her grave with flowers until the headstone was ready but said they weren't sure where to place them.

"All of the sudden it's like she's not here no more," said Reshard Bradford, son-in-law. "She's out here, but now she's not out here. She's supposed to be in 443, but no one knows what 443 is."

While they said they knew the approximate spot where she was buried, they had no clue where the spot was exactly and said the cemetery owner wasn't helpful.

"I couldn't even grieve...I'm just lost," said daughter Lazener Miller.

They made numerous attempts to contact the owner but said they had not heard anything back.

When News 8 showed up at the cemetery, the owner said he didn't understand why they were upset.

"Well, we'll show them," he said. "We've got maps. There's no problem with that. They should come to our office."

However, the family said they had already tried that, which the owner denied.

The family said Piper's final resting spot still remains unknown, and they don't understand why the owner of the cemetery hasn't been more helpful.

"She's not resting," Miller said.

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