Dillon grave mystery solved

By Kelly Gillespie
Reporter
Published: July 25, 2008

Authorities know who is responsible for a makeshift grave that appeared in a Dillon cemetery three weeks ago, said Dillon County Chief Deputy Sheriff Douglas Pernell.

They officially solved the mystery Thursday.

The grave, where someone placed a piece of cinder block that read, “Spark’s mom,” was discovered in St. Mary’s Cemetery on June 30 by the plot owner, who had come to check on the burial sites of other relatives.

Willy Spark, 73, a New York resident, identified himself to deputies as Spark. He said his nephew has been buried at the site since 1974, Pernell said.
Originally deputies said Spark thought his mother was buried below his nephew, and the plot owner told authorities no one was buried there.

Spark said the site appeared to have been freshly dug because he was trying to care for the grave site, which he thought was caving in, Pernell said.

On Thursday, deputies gained a better understanding of the situation.

Spark traveled to Dillon from New York, and Pernell said Spark was using a tree as a landmark to where his mother and nephew were buried.

Pernell and Spark discovered the plots actually were a few feet away.

Algnia Spark was buried at St. Mary’s Cemetery in 1971; Frank Spark was buried next to her in 1994.

Pernell said for the past 20 years, Willy Spark visited the wrong plots.

The plots Spark thought were his family’s belong to the Tarte and Townsend families.

Pernell said the Tarte family will be taking care of the Spark family plots from now on, that way Spark will not have to travel.