One mother was shocked when she went to visit the grave of her deceased son and found that the expensive, custom headstone had been removed from the burial site.
The Great Malvern Cemetery council chiefs removed the headstone of Maximus James Corbett-Gardener without speaking to the boy’s parents. Max was just four years old when he died of epilepsy-related complications. Max’s mother, Jo Corbett-Weeks, had saved nearly $5,000 to purchase the special memorial: a teddy bear embracing a heart with a sweet epitaph. The memorial was erected just before little Max’s seventh birthday and was removed without warning just three days after it had been placed.
Max’s mother was understandably infuriated.
“This was something special from me to him,” Jo said. “It was like a birthday gift. I felt that it suited my little man perfectly. The cemetery council did not reach out to me. They just removed it with no warning.”
The Great Malvern Cemetery council had a few words regarding the removal of Max’s headstone.
“We received a complaint,” one Malvern Town Council member said. “Max is buried in the adult area of the cemetery. The adult plot area and the children’s plot area have different standards. The council attempts to maintain a standard in regards to shape. This headstone would have been approved for the children’s area, but it is not appropriate for the adult’s area.”
Another council member added that the stone mason had not received permission to put the memorial at the site.
“The stone mason did not seek permission and has now caused grief for two families, the best way to deal with the issue was to remove the gravestone immediately.”
“I just don’t understand, this is very frustrating and hurtful. I had Max buried in the adult section so that he could be near to other family members. I want the stone reinstated. I could understand the complaint if the site was unkept, but just because it featured a star? Come on.”
The council has arranged to meet with Max’s mother to discuss the matter, including a new gravestone design.