MASCOTTE, Fla. — A very ornate cemetery in the city of Mascotte is now being described as an embarrassment by some residents.

Lisa Holland Martinez picks through debris on top of her son's grave. She says it got there from neglect caused by landscape workers.

“The entire grave is covered with cut leaves and dirt and debris from the lawn mowers that have been up here,” she said.

To understand Martinez's concern, you need to walk around the unusual cemetery. Every grave has been ornately personalized with mementos, parting gifts to those who have passed on, carefully cared for.

“I just want to come and do for him, what we can do, without the damage done,” Martinez said.

Several years ago, a change was made in how the cemetery is landscaped. City leaders decided to outsource to a landscaping company and eliminate city worker jobs.

Longtime resident Pam Terry has been recording the damage — and she's also blaming the landscaping company.

“Their resting spot's disgraced,” she said.

Terry has taken pictures of damage inside the cemetery, including a torn-up grave marker, and showed them to lawmakers at a recent city council meeting.

Martinez's son died 14 years ago in a traffic crash. To her, it seems like yesterday. She says she'll continue fighting for improvements to the cemetery, no matter how long it takes.

“It's all we can do for him. He's gone,” she said.