ELIZABETHTOWN — The town of Elizabethtown has requested help from its citizens regarding repairs entering the next phase of the Elizabethtown Cemetery project.

Repairs to the damage of the cemetery, caused by Hurricane Florence three years ago, are shifting into work on headstone leveling and finish grading. In advance of this phase, citizens are being asked to remove any adornments from family gravesites by Sunday.

Finish grading is the addition or removal of soil to allow for proper drainage.

“According to the consultant of the project, WK Dickson & Co.,” a town news release said, “the items that need to be removed include vases, flowers, crosses, flags and other items not permanently attached to the grave marker. Living trees and plants should be removed, as well. Items can be removed after work hours or on the weekend with caution in the work zone.”

The two areas involved in the repairs are the section adjacent to Cypress Street, between Main Street and East Queen Street, and the northern section, between Queen Street and the Cape Fear River.

Contractor S & C Construction has completed a detailed survey and headstone survey, the release said. A team of employees will be working incrementally to remove the headstones and grave markers, level the ground, and then replace the headstone or marker.

No more than 100 grave markers will be disturbed at a time, the release said. The contractor estimates that it will take three days to complete the process in each segment.

Also, the town has asked that funeral directors contact the town before planning a service to ensure that the grave is not in a work zone.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is providing the funding on the approximately $3 million project.

Some of the cemetery dates to the 1800s, making the Elizabethtown Cemetery one of the oldest in the area.

Both a video explaining the complete process and the current progress report can be found on the town of Elizabethtown’s website at elizabethtownnc.org.

at https://elizabethtownnc.org/community/elizabethtown-cemetery/.

This story authored by Michael Futch of the Bladen Journal. Contact him at 910-247-9133 or mfutch@bladenjournal.com.