Jonestown memorials held at cemetery with remains of 400

OAKLAND, Calif. – Ceremonies at a California cemetery marked the mass murders and suicides 40 years ago of 900 Americans orchestrated by the Rev. Jim Jones at a jungle settlement in Guyana, South America.

The remains of more than 400 Jonestown victims are buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Oakland.

Jones’ adopted son Jim Jones Jr. and other former Peoples Temple members conducted a service Sunday at granite slabs bearing names of all 918 who died in Guyana on Nov. 18, 1978.

Minister Jynona Norwood, who lost 27 relatives, separately unveiled a portable memorial wall to honour more than 300 children and other victims. She left off the names of Jones and those she says assisted him.

Both memorials list California Congressman Leo Ryan, three newsmen and a church defector killed by temple gunmen at an airstrip.