Woodlawn Memory Gardens - Ozark, Alabama

Deborah Wagner

My mother had a prepaid contract with Woodlawn Cemetery. She passed away in May 2024. I called the office of Woodlawn Cemetery and was told that they did not have to honor her contract however, if I gave them $995 in advance they would honor the contract.
My response was, I had the written and signed contract and it should be honored.
Celestal told me, she did not have to honor it and no law or lawyer could make her. I would need to pay the $995 or I could make other arrangements for my deceased mother’s remains.
My dilemma at the immediate time, what am I going to do with the body of my mother? I had no options therefore, I told her I would pay the requested amount. She ask when we were going to the funeral home to make arrangements? I told her later in the evening. She informed and instructed me to give the check to Mr. John Cawley @ Fuqua Bankston FH and she would have the paperwork for me to sign and to proceed with the opening of the grave and getting the vault in place as noted in the contract.
I complied with her request however, this was not legal in my eyes nor was her attitude regarding the body of the deceased professional or ethical.
She has informed me it will take more than a year to obtain and place the DOD plate for my mother’s burial marker and she has repeatedly promised to repair the flower holder on the marker. Three months later nothing has been done.
She boast, under the umbrella of pride, that there is no law to make her comply with any previous contracts purchased at Woodlawn Cemetery in Ozark, Alabama!
Surely, there is something legally and ethically that can be done to make Woodlawn Cemetery proprietors (Celestal) comply with prepaid contracts, not monetarily bleed out family's in a time crunch dilemma, and her insulting attitude to family’s, who are grieving over the loss of a loved one.
If not legally, God will take care of her morally!

Another issue, my BIL passed in December 2021. He is also interred in Woodlawn Cemetery by a prepaid contract, as well. Celestal was asked by me, why there was no DOD plate on his marker after 2 1/2 years post death. She commented she would have to get it when she could. Recently, my sister was notified they had a VA marker ordered, delivered, and ready to place down at his gravesite. He currently has a marker just needing the DOD plate.
Patsy sent a photo of the VA marker to his wife, my sister, and their in no branch of service on the new marker. This is mandatory to be on all VA markers. My husband, a retired Army veteran, researched VA markers online, it listed the branch of service mandatory on all markers, THEY PROVIDE. Not sure where she obtained the maker shown to my sister.

My prayer is this cemetery, that holds many Dale County residents and military service individuals precious souls, will be owned and cared for by proprietors with an increased sense of moral values, ethics, and professionalism!!!

Deborah Wagner

ODA521533

My Mother Headstone is over 1 year and 3 months over due. No one can tell me when this will be done. I have tried multiple times calling and in person conversations with their administrate office. No one can tell me when this will happen. It went from 6 months to 8 months to 1 year and now they are trying to tell me 1 year & 1/2 to 2 years. I have to talk to administrative office and to the owner. I had excuses after another. It seems to me it is lawyer time they have had their opportunities.

Laura Stagliano

My parents bronze grave plate was broken and discarded in September of 2020, when preparing my mom's grave. My dad was a veteran and my mom was very honorable, too. After years of communications, still nothing has been done.

James Andreasen

Attended a funeral there today and it was so beautiful. It was held in the mausoleum. It was very peaceful and the view on the hill was pretty.

Diane Horan

My mother was interred in the Mausoleum over 1 year ago. Everything was paid for in advance. Still no nameplate/marker. They give multiple excuses but have not followed through . do not return calls etc. Have reported them to Better Business Bureau and Cemetery Consumer Service Council.

Ronnie Wilkerson

My vietnam veteran grandfather, and grandmother are both buried here. It is disgusting how the grounds are not kept up, and the plots aren't grassed over. My grandmother was buried this past August and is still red clay. My grandfather was buried in 2015 and still doesn't have grass. This is unacceptable by any means.

kevin kelley

Both of my in laws completely paid for their graves in this cemetery 18 years ago. We burried both of the in the year 2018, and the cemetery charged us $1000 for each burial, they claimed this fee was for a "vault setting fee". I can show anyone who is interested a contract that says the graves were "paid in full". They also tried to charge us $400 per grave for completing the years of death, again, I can show you on paper where my in laws had pre-paid for all these services. Do not give these crooks any money in advance, they are not to be trusted.

Patricia Hickman

If your family has not purchased a resting place I would highly recommend that you do not. The are currently not in compliance with their own contract. The grounds are not kept up. I have been pulling weeds and have also had to plant grass just to make my families grave sights look presentable. It really is a disgrace.