Some are unhappy with current repairs of damaged graves in Lincolnton cemetery

LINCOLNTON, N.C. — Repairs seem to be underway at a local cemetery after WCCB Charlotte’s Zane Cina started to ask questions. Complaints about damaged graves have piled up at Forest Lawn Cemetery and Mausoleum in Lincolnton. Now WCCB has answers from the North Carolina Cemetery Commission about what the organization is doing to help concerned patrons.

Since WCCB’s first report in February about disrepair at the cemetery, 22 different complaints have been filed with the State’s Cemetery Commission. Of those complaints, 10 are about issues dealing with individual merchandise damages such as cracked headstones. A Commission representative stated in an email that six of the 10 have been repaired, and the other four are awaiting vase replacements. The Commission rep said evidence of orders for those four vase replacements have been provided by cemetery staff.

WCCB contacted the cemetery’s Florida based owner, Faithful Heritage Holdings, INC, to ask about recent grave repairs. A self-described manager answered the phone but only said “no comment” before abruptly hanging up the call. WCCB did not have a chance to ask a question. A handful of cemetery customers have said they struggle to contact ownership themselves.

A crew visited Forest Lawn Cemetery Wednesday to see what repairs have been completed. Next to several graves three large piles of dirt draped with loosely tied tarps could be seen. Next to one of the dirt piles laid an upside down headstone completely severed from the ground. A rectangular block of granite could also be seen. Of the thousands of graves, the crew only found one headstone with a crack running down the middle. More than 30 different grave plots were observed to be covered in straw, which barely hid the exposed dirt underneath. Of these many graves only one appeared noticeably to be slightly sunk in. A representative with the Cemetery Commission stated while it is not pretty in the short term, straw covered graves are necessary to keep seed or sod and fresh soil from getting washed out and blown away during windy or rainy weather. The straw ultimately allows for grass to grow over plots uninterrupted.

A former Forest Lawn employee spoke anonymously during a phone call. The employee believes the straw won’t fix the more apparent problem that comes with sunken in graves. “You need to put dirt on that,” the former employee said. “Straw is not going to cover it.” The former employee said she does not have any loved ones buried in the cemetery, but she still watches the graveyard closely as she deeply cares for the affected families. The employee feels that cemetery ownership is dragging its feet with repairs. “I think they’re hoping it goes away,” the past employee said. “They’re hoping that these families quit calling.”

The previous employee said she too has struggled to reach ownership. She desperately wants answers. “Release a public statement, do something, take accountability,” she said.

The Cemetery Commission planned to visit Forest Lawn by the end of the week, but due to staffing issues, that visit has now been pushed back to the second week of March. After that visit, an update will be sent to each of the received 22 complaints. A Commission rep said Forest Lawn grounds crews are in contact with the State organization almost daily, and ownership is cooperating.

The state’s Cemetery Commission continues to urge all who have experienced damages to graves to complete a complaint form by following the process linked here. Complaints can also be reported by emailing reports@nccemetery.org.