'I keep going back to the word respect:' Families upset over overgrown grass at Tulsa cemetery

Some families are upset after seeing what they call the disrespectful conditions in a Tulsa cemetery. Families came to Rose Hill Cemetery on Memorial Day to pay respects and found grass and weeds growing over their loved ones' headstones. When Tom McCarver saw the condition of his mother's and stepfather's headstones, he took it upon himself to clean them up.

When he got a text from his son on Memorial Day, he was disappointed

"I keep going back to the word respect," Tom said.

His son is a veteran and came to Rose Hill Cemetery to pay respects to his grandparents, Tom's mother and stepfather. That's when Tom received a picture showing his parents' grave covered in grass and weeds. Tom's stepfather is also a veteran, so it didn't sit right with him.

"There really wasn't a whole lot of thought process. I just told my son that I would get my weed eater and I'd come out and I would get his mama and papa all taken care of. And, you know, the thought behind it was, just get it cut down so at least it's respected, respectfully able to be seen," he said.

Hal Ezzell is the president of Rose Hill. He posted a statement outside the cemetery telling people he agrees the cemetery "is in an unacceptable state." He says a lack of staffing and the recent rain made it difficult to mow regularly. He says they plan to have everything in shape by the end of June.

Several groundskeepers were on site mowing the grass and weed-eating while News On 6 visited the cemetery.

Tom says he hopes they can make his parents' final resting place something to be proud of.

"Maybe make this a place where people want to come and see their family," he said.

The president of Rose Hill Cemetery was not available for an interview, but did say on the phone that they've hired two more groundskeepers to help maintain the grass.

Overgrown grass at cemetery

Groundskeeper cutting the grass

Where Tom trimmed around his family's grave

Tom's family's grave

Another grave covered in grass

Front of cemetery

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