CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — A grave situation at Roosevelt Memorial Park cemetery in Chesapeake does not appear to have improved, and now, a local lawmaker is getting involved in the litany of issues impacting it.

From missing grave markers and headstones, to families frustrated with how they are being treated, Chesapeake Del. Cliff Hayes said he appreciated the spotlight being put on the situation.

“I’m just thankful you are out here shedding light on the situation,” Hayes said.

Among the stories 10 On Your Side has reported about the cemetery

“We are going to get in touch with the McCabe family and figure this out,” said cemetery general manager Samantha Pritchard at the time, in reference to finding the headstone.

With Hayes, 10 On Your Side spoke with Pritchard on the phone.

“We’re trying to get to the bottom of how we can address the concerns of our constituents,” Hayes said.

“All right and what would those concerns be,” she said in response.

The complaints include phones not answered, numbers disconnected, calls not returned.

Hayes told that to a Roosevelt employee, explaining that his constituents think they are getting the run-around.

“They are looking for answers,” Hayes said, “and nobody is explaining to them what is going on. Then when they reach out to me, and I’m the delegate, that represents this area, I have an obligation to fight on their behalf. “

McCabe told Hayes that he has yet to hear anything from the cemetery.

“I call seven days in a row, and every time I call, she’s not there,” McCabe said. “She’s not available and I’m told we don’t know where she is.”

Said Pritchard: “I have reached out. Like I said to the McCabe family, the memorial has been re-ordered, so we are in the process of taking care of things.”

But that’s the big disconnect. McCabe seemed unaware anything had been done.
It should be noted that the Better Business Bureau gives Roosevelt an “F,” and it is not BBB-accredited.

Pritchard, asked what she’s going to do about the low rating, said “Mr. Fox, I’m not going to get into all of that.”

For two years, Jocelyn Marsh complained to Jude about her parents’ headstone and the dates being wrong on it.

“I never got a call back,” Marsh said. “I would keep calling, and I would get the same thing, ‘we’ll call you back or we’ll have someone call you back.’ No one has called me to date and it’s 2024.