A local family is deeply disturbed due to what it claims is improper maintenance at a Dallas cemetery.
On Saturday, Dallas resident LaTrici Hines recorded a tearful Facebook Live video of the state of Lincoln Memorial Cemetery, where her sister, mother, and father are buried. Hines described the conditions she stood in as comparable to a “dump,” according to WFAA.
Sandra Hines-Hoskins, Hines’ sister, was buried at the cemetery three months prior. Her surviving family members intended to celebrate Easter by visiting loved ones at their burial sites. However, the family found conditions at the cemetery ruinous and felt many resting places had been desecrated.
They alleged that Lincoln Memorial Cemetery had numerous issues on and near their loved ones’ plots. These issues included large piles of soil nearby, wooden boards left for weeks, and tracks that appeared to be made by heavy equipment.
In the video, Hines said what she saw was “uncalled for” and “not acceptable.”
“If y’all have loved ones buried out here at Lincoln, y’all need to get out here and check on them,” Hines said in the video.
Hines said she intends to keep promoting awareness of the state of the cemetery until it takes action.
“As long as I got breath in my body if I have to come out here every day, I’m going to do that,” Hines told WFAA. “And I’m going to take pictures every day until something is done,” she continued.
This is not the first occurrence of complaints about the state of this cemetery. Other families have also come forward complaining of issues related to the cemetery, such as damaged headstones, sunken grave markers, fallen trees, and overgrown grass in previous years.
J. Kirby Pulliam, the cemetery’s manager, claimed in September 2022 that weather issues were to blame for those issues, according to WFAA.
Some lawyers said it is possible to take legal action for improper management but that documentation is critical. They also advised that citizens speak to on-site personnel before seeking this action.
“You may be able to pursue a complaint with the Texas Funeral Service Commission,” said Patrick Carew, an attorney at Carew Garcia Bohuslav Law, according to WFAA.
The Dallas Express reached out to Lincoln Memorial Cemetery but did not receive a response by press time.