Cemetery Gets Makeover After Extreme Vandalism
This video is no longer available.
CARROLL COUNTY, Tenn.- Volunteers are working to repair the Old Palestine Church and Cemetery after vandals destroyed more than 24 tombstones in September. “It’s a person, it’s a family grave marker,” volunteer Johnny Pruitt said. “I mean, this stone represents somebody lying in the ground where their family put them to rest.” Groundskeeper Jim Thompson told WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News the cemetery has been vandalized at least three times over the years, but the damage done this past summer was the worst he has ever seen. “What I seen when I came up here made me want to cry,” said Thompson. “This makes you happy to know that you have got people in the neighborhood that think enough and care enough to donate their time.” Thompson said several volunteers have come from all walks of life to restore the broken headstones. Volunteers have worked an estimated 100 hours since the damage was reported. Deputies said the church has been a vandals playground for years. Thompson said there is graffiti, satanic symbols and messages of hate written across the walls and podium of the structure. “Broken windows, graffiti on the walls yes we have to get that off,” resident Gail Carr said. Residents said they are keeping their eyes open, watching over the cemetery as a community of guardians. Thompson said since the vandalism, several residents have randomly stopped in to check on the cemetery gravestones. So far no arrests have been made in the vandalism. If you have any information in this case contact the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department at (731) 986-8947. If you would like to help the church maintenance, a fund has been set up for the Old Palestine Church and Cemetery at any First Bank branch.
