Grave Mismanagement: Missing, Discarded, Misplaced headstones

Just as troubling as Howze Jr. and his family’s disregard for the living is their growing pattern of disrespect toward the dead. Within months of acquiring Lakeside Cemetery, what began as surface-level neglect quickly escalated into alarming mismanagement.

Amid disconnected phone lines, misspelled signage, and other visible signs of disorder, serious doubts have emerged about the competence of those now overseeing the grounds. These lapses suggest that routine—but critical—administrative functions may have broken down entirely.

In May, photos taken by Melissa Spiker circulated online showing several headstones discarded beside a green industrial-sized dumpster—some broken, others intact. These were not anonymous or unclaimed markers. One, crumbling in a corner, bore the name of World War II veteran George Buckner, clearly identifiable by its government-issued style. Another was recognized by Keysha Moseley, who was horrified to find her grandmother’s headstone among the pile.

In any professionally managed cemetery, headstones—whether new, damaged, or removed—are never treated like trash. When replacements are necessary, markers should be handled carefully, stored properly, and, if disposed of, done so respectfully through a licensed monument company. Families should be notified and offered the opportunity to retain the original. Leaving gravestones—some visibly crumbling—in a public heap violates industry standards, fiduciary obligations under perpetual care, and the basic dignity owed to the deceased. Mishandling a veteran’s marker may also violate federal law.

Associates of the current owner claim the discarded markers predate their ownership, but no effort has been made to remove or explain them for months, even as outrage grows. Meanwhile, new problems emerged. In May, Deb Gibbons Thomas searched through knee-high weeds on her family’s lot, looking for the headstone of a baby she had lovingly cared for over 40 years—it had vanished.

Other visitors reported pre-sold plots with no signs of preparation, including some reserved for individuals whose passing may be imminent—several so overgrown with mature trees they appear entirely forgotten. This raises serious concerns that the current team may not even know which plots have been sold—or worse, that some may have been resold. If true, this would breach consumer contracts and could constitute fraud. If plots are being sold through House of Paradise without disclosing the funeral home’s ownership or control of the cemetery, that lack of transparency could amount to deceptive business practices.

The collapse of basic burial protocol became painfully clear to Norine Blount’s family—and likely the unknown Hollman family—when, in June, Blount discovered their unaffiliated headstone lying across her grandmother’s recent grave. The Hollman stone had not been installed—just placed on bare earth with no alignment, no foundation, and no explanation for its origin or location.

Poor or missing burial records risk permanently erasing the final resting places of the dead—a failure serious enough to warrant state intervention. Between May and June 2025, multiple families—including Geoff Albertson and Robin Weunski—reported being unable to locate where their loved ones are buried.

These issues, combined with the absence of on-site staff or customer service, raise urgent concerns about whether essential administrative functions are being performed at all—including maintaining accurate plot maps, updating interment registers, verifying ownership deeds, coordinating burials, processing headstone placements, issuing burial permits, and keeping legally required records. As reported by Erie News Now, when families cannot access even basic assistance, it raises serious questions about what records, if any, exist—but there is no one to ask, and no one answering.                                                                    

Herbicide (aka "Round Up") is being sprayed on weeds around headstones rather than manual trimming methods, such use of a weed wacker, which takes longer.

The chemicals damage stones over time and is bad for the environment. 

🚩 Herbicide use is not best practice and an industry red flag 🚩

Snow covered fallen tree blocks headstones, threatening damage and underscoring access, maintenance, and safety issues at the cemetery. December 2025. 

Reviews from multiple families across Google and Facebook

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