Cemeteries, a place for sympathetic mourning or reflection, and for some the appreciation of the past or of funerary art. It is something we all share, the desire for memorialization of those we love or admire. And it works well, with stones and monuments to tell you who the person is and their two most important dates. Well-kept grounds, easy to walk upon while adding a nice peaceful background to mourn or reflect. And the keepers or caretakers of your loved ones remains care about their mission, and give their best to the families who have entrusted them with this needed task, to give respect in this moment and the rest of their loved one's eternity.
This is different at Hillcrest Abbey East, of Savannah Georgia. This is a cemetery that is just one in a group of cemeteries owned by Savanah Cemetery Group, inc. In 2007 there were complaints of their maintenance practices being found lacking, and an action was taken against them by the Georgia State Board of Cemeterians. Three cemeteries owned by this group were given a cease-and-desist order for what caused the complaints and all three were fined. (https://www.savanahnow.com/story/news/2007/08/29/state-starts-action-against-savannah-cemeteries/13790163007/ )
In 2010 the group was taken to court by the DePue-Wilbert vault company for setting rules in 2008 against the use of concrete vaults offered by the vault company and instead made a rule where only steel or polymer vaults were allowed within their cemeteries. Incidentally these materials were what the owner of the group, Lawrence Nikola, jr., used to make his company’s vaults, and it was entered into evidence and the court files for this case that he had previously stated that he intended to put Charles Depue (the owner of DePue-Wilbert vault company) out of business and replace him as the supplier of vaults to thousands of preneed clients. The case in its entirety may be found here:
https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/ga-court-of-appeals/1546468.html
In 2013, a vault was robbed and remains were stolen. ( https://www.wtoc.com/story/21615708/savannah-tour-guides-speak-out-about-hillcrest-stolen-remains/?outputType=amp )
The president of this cemetery group was then Kyle Nikola. Kyle Nikola is also the President and Cofounder of Fidelity Memorial group which gives good promises of having the highest integrity and excellence in service. Why then, under his leadership, in 2025, does Hillcrest Abbey East look like this:
Pictures are worth a thousand words. Showcased here is evidence of clear neglect. Water damage, broken vaults and faceplates, missing doors that lead into the shelves of the vaults, broken or missing pieces of walls and breaking pathways, along with falling pieces of decorative wrought iron. On my visit I watched people unable to find their loved ones due to broken faceplates and scratched up names and I watched a woman trip on the crumbling brick walkways. It costs about $10,000 to lay your loved one to rest in one of these crumbling crypts, based on a quick search. I think that says everything better than I ever could.
Add comment
Comments