Family upset over alleged mistake on grave headstone - FOX 35 News Orlando

A Rockdale County funeral director is facing a lawsuit in a dispute over a headstone. A Morgan County family claims the owner of Levett Funeral Home in Conyers made a mistake on the headstone and refuses to fix it.

Bennie Lee Clark's family is embroiled in a heated battle with newly-elected Rockdale County coroner George Levett.

Bennie Clark passed away two years ago, but there is still no headstone on his grave at a Morgan County cemetery.

Levett, the owner of Levett Funeral Home in Rockdale County, sold the family a double headstone after Mr. Clark's death in February 2011. It was to be engraved with the names of Mr. Clark and his wife, Josey, who plans to be buried beside her husband in the family plot one day.

"It's been almost two years and it's hard to go up there because it's been constantly weighing on us, this over our head and nothing been done," Josey Clark said.

Josey Clark and her children claim the funeral home made a mistake on the headstone order, inscribing Mr. Clark's name on the wrong side.  When the family asked Levett to fix it, they say he refused, offering instead to dig up Mr. Clark's remains and move them to the side of the headstone bearing his name. The family is outraged.

"It's hard, it's very hard. It's devastating to even be out here," Salter said.

Levett told FOX 5 in a phone interview that no mistake was made on his part.  He says that the headstone was engraved as ordered by the family and says he has tried to work with them to resolve the issue.

The Clark family has filed suit for the $700 they say they paid for the headstone. Levett offered to refund the money after talking with FOX 5, but the family says it's not about the money, it's the principle.

"You know, you don't want to be burdened with this when you have lost a loved one," said Josey Clark.

The Clark family says they are eager for their day in court.