Complaints filed over misplacement of grave markers at Wilmington cemetery

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — One man says the Calvary Memorial Cemetery has no record of his father being buried there.

“It’s heart wrenching to know that you chose this place for your loved ones’ final resting place and it’s not being taken care of,” said Eric Lee, who’s mother and father are both buried at Calvary Memorial Cemetery.

Lee says when he visited the other day, his mother’s temporary marker was ripped apart and was laying on top of a different gravestone.

“You basically have to come in a move the sand off the headstone. And when I came, maybe a week ago, I couldn’t even find my mother’s temporary marker,” said Lee.

It’s another chapter in the long time saga concerning the upkeep of Calvary Memorial Cemetery. Nearly one year ago, cemetery owner Jack Krupicka handed over management responsibilities to Wilmington attorney Bruce Jackson.

Jackson says they have made considerable improvements.

“When I took that over, things changed pretty quickly. And we have not had a whole lot of trouble since then,” said Bruce Jackson.

While Jackson says he has not gotten any complaints within the last year, Lee says his family has filed complaints with the NC Cemetery Commission.

He has even called the number posted outside the cemetery, but has not heard anything.

“I don’t think we should have to call them to say, ‘Hey, you might want to go by your property and maintain it a little bit before you start to get more complaints,'” said Lee.

Lee says he has friends who are also upset with the upkeep, and they want something done.

“When you put your family in their final resting place, you want that place to be presentable,” said Lee.

The NC Cemetery Commission says they have had 13 complaints about the cemetery since 2017, and four complaints in just the last two days.