Family fears parents’ graves are in jeopardy because of nearby cemetery drainage ditch
CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — For the Crew siblings of Norfolk, Easter Sunday started as a joyous day of reflection at Roosevelt Memorial Park.
“We do it every year on Easter around the time of Easter because my mom loves flowers,” said Samantha Crew, one of four sisters, in a Facetime interview.
They paused to remember their father Frank, aka Cigar, who worked for the city of Norfolk, and his beloved bride Ethel, who was known around Ghent for her fried chicken and spaghetti dinners.
Their Easter joy quickly turned to pain after Samantha Crew decided to tour the cemetery.
“I pretty much felt that spirit of walking the gravesite itself,” Crew said. “And as I did that, I walked towards the lake listening to all the calmness that was around, walk[ing] towards the lake of the river area. And I saw all those vaults and I was trying to make sure what I was seeing is what I was seeing. So I asked my brother to come over to verify for me. And he said, ‘Yeah, they [gravesites] are slipping through the mud.’
Among several photos sent to 10 On Your Side, one appears to show exposed concrete near a drainage ditch. Drone 10 flew over the cemetery to get a closer look at gravesites near Newtown Creek, which meets the Elizabeth River.
Regina Mobley: And did you file a complaint with the cemetery?
Samantha Crew: No, I have not.
Regina Mobley: But you’re going to?
Samantha Crew: Yes.
Regina Mobley: And what is your advice to other families who may have loved ones buried along this drainage canal?
Samantha Crew: To go out and check it out to make sure it’s not their loved one that’s coming through the cracks like that, because it’s a lot of headstones out there that are real close to the burial, to that river creek.
State records show the cemetery is owned by a Bristol, Pennsylvania company. 10 On Your Side reached out to a contact person and left a message.
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