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 The Gibson Cemetery was recently struck by vandals, doing damage to several headstones. Photos Provided [Click to enlarge] |
The cemetery has many old headstones dating back to the late 1800's and the early 1900's and is like many older cemeteries, in that it is taken care of by a few people and by donations from private citizens.
Gearld Matthews of Gibson, volunteer caretaker, discovered the damaged and overturned headstones on the property.
 Whitener Monument employees, Tommy Clark and John Massey repair the broken headstones at Gibson Cemetery. [Click to enlarge] |
According to Chief Deputy Wallace Poynor, of the sheriff's department, there is an ongoing investigation into the destruction of the Gibson Cemetery monuments.
Matthews said he talked to Whitener Monument asking what it would cost to have all of the monuments repaired and they told him nothing.
Glen Whitener of Whitener Monuments had his employees Tommy Clark and John Massey repair the monuments at the Gibson Cemetery free of charge.
According to Whitener, we have a skill and talent to work on the materials used in making headstones.
"I feel we should give back to the surrounding communities. We owe it to the cemeteries to take care of them, they are our history," Whitener said.
"I really appreciated them doing the repair and they really did a great job," Matthews noted.
I would like to give a heartfelt thanks to the Whitener monument company and its workers for repairing the vandalized headstones. The person or persons who damanged the headstones should be put in jail and be made to preform community service at a funeral home so they can see just what a family has to go through during thier loss so maybe this wont be repeated.
Community service? These vandals, when caught, should be jailed for some time, then do community service, and pay huge fines. They should also have to pay the cost of repairs or replacement, and pay something to the families. This is probably not the only property they have destroyed.
Many people have saved every penny they could to buy a headstone for their loved one(s) that passed, some taking years to save, and then to go there and see it broken into one or many pieces is heartbreaking. This is personal property damage and just because they did not come into a person's house they usually only get a slap on the wrist. Most people would want to see more done if they had taken a bat to a car windshield or a window on their house...I personally do not see a difference. It should have a worse punishment. If they only have to do community service, then I feel as other judges have in different areas, put a sign on them with the crime they did in huge letters and make them wear it for a couple of months and maybe, if they have any feelings, they might feel ashamed of what they did.
To Whitener Monuments, I applaud you for giving to those families. Many of those families might not have been able to repair or replace them. Thanks!
Way to go WHITENER!!! SHAME on the one or the ones that done this. If I were one of the the grave site you messed with, I'd come back to haunt you!!!!!!!!!!!!!
O my GOD! it's 2008 the DEAD can't be at PEACE
yes that was so sweet i know my mom is at oak ridge and i cant put things that are too pretty because they will take it home with them if they want it it just makes me sick that people are that lowdown to steal off of someones grave but anyway now i just try to keep something pretty but not too expensive for fear of somebody stealing it thats really sad anyways that is really sweet that they fixed the headstones
Whitener Monument Company has also repaired gravestones in the historic Coldwater Cemetery free of charge. We have had, sadly, many occasions to order memorial markers from them for the Lulu Cemetery. The entire staff, from the office to the installers at the gravesite, has been sensitive, accurate with the carved information, and invariably reliable. In regard to sensitivity, the reporter's (Ms. Alexander) mentally undemanding pun, "A grave matter," doesn't add much to an assessment of her compassion or to the plus side of her banality index.
Yes way to go Whitener! I dont understand why people do that, 10 to 1 its a bunch of teens up to know good.
Whitener, you are to be commended! Thanks! And to the vandils, Shame On You! I know if that were my loved ones, I would be furious. I hope they can find out who did it and give them some long term community service working in the surrounding cemetaries who all too often operate on volunteer work and donations.