By Jamie Dexter, Interim Public Information Officer for MCSO
WOODLAWN, Tenn. – An investigator with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office looked into a complaint of a vandalized cemetery last week, but has found more questions than answers.
It began when a man with the American Legion went to McGee Cemetery off St. Paul Road in Woodlawn the day before Memorial Day to place American flags on the gravestones. What he found were headstones turned over, damaged and destroyed.
Investigator Bishop Delaney followed up with his investigation, where he took pictures of the headstones and took a closer look.
“Seeing it like that was appalling – it was a clear sign of disrespect,” Delaney said. “I determined that some of the gravestones were so old that the words were worn away. Others had dates that indicated they were over 100 years old. I knew there was definitely some history there.”
Delaney contacted the Montgomery County Archives, but they said no contact information was on file for a responsible party for the cemetery.
Delaney hopes the public can help find those responsible for the vandalism of the headstones, as well as find someone who is in charge of the cemetery.
“I hope the public will be able to help to find who is in charge, so the repairs and replacement of the gravestones may begin,” Delaney said. “Many of them look like they could be repaired to maintain the history of the families there.”
If anyone has any information about the possible vandals or of those responsible for the property, please contact Delaney at Ext. 13409.
