Paris City Cemetery vandalism continues
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PARIS, Tenn. — The Paris City Cemetery has been around for centuries and has become the final resting place for several prominent West Tennesseans. Now, the groundskeepers are trying to figure out how to preserve what’s left of the cemetery after it was vandalized. “I don’t understand the purpose,” Tammey Barnes said. “I don’t understand what they were thinking.” Some Paris residents say they’re angry, disappointed and disgusted that the Paris City Cemetery that preserves so much history is now being destroyed and degraded by some of their own. “It makes me extremely angry,” Lori Richardson said. “It’s the oldest cemetery in Henry County. If you don’t have deep blood lines in this town, you do not get buried there.” Tombstones have been pushed over, some even ripped out of the ground. Others were destroyed by thrown rocks and other objects. “It’s not the first time this has happened — it’s an absolute shame,” Richardson said. “You lose something — the whole community loses something,” Barnes said. “There’s got to be a way to teach these people the value of these things.” The Paris Police Department was made aware of the situation through a complaint. No suspects have been named or caught, but residents say they have an idea for the vandals. “I think they should come back in the middle of the night and fix this,” Barnes said. Others have a different approach for who they suspect may be committing these crimes. “Get a hold of your kids, whip their ass — sorry for the bad language — but whip their butt,” Richardson said.
