MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Hundreds of families are demanding better for their loved ones buried at Mt. Carmel Cemetery. Overgrown grass and untrimmed trees cover the headstones of even well-known Memphis legend Tom Lee.
The overgrowth has gotten so bad that Memphian Darchelle Mitchell, whose mother was buried there in 1991, has decided to help with the cleanup with her own money.
“The military had me stationed in other places away from here," Mitchell said. "After retiring, I moved here and came here to visit my mom to...put my first set of flowers on her grave for Mother’s Day, and I couldn’t find her. It was devastating.”
Along with Mitchell’s mother, Tom Lee is buried somewhere among the blight. The downtown park is named after him because of his heroic efforts to rescue more than 30 people from drowning in the Mississippi River in 1925.
"The city blames the state, the state blames the city," Mitchell said. “So, if they’re not going to do it, I am going to do it. I started a GoFundMe page that is starting to slowly pick up traction. I spoke with Monster Tree Service today, and we entered into a contract. I am going to use my VA disability to start paying him to cut down these trees. If I have to do one tree at a time, I’ll do one tree at a time."
The City of Memphis said Mount Carmel and other cemeteries will have their grass cut this week if the weather allows.
The city also said “it is not under a court order to maintain the grass at abandoned cemeteries.” Both the city and Shelby County are exploring solutions outside of court.