NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) - There’s a new hurdle for one of the “Angel of Hope” statues that have become infamous for enduring hurricanes, thieves and vandals on Cherry Grove beaches.
The state’s Department of Health and Environmental Control sent a letter to Maye Jepson last month, claiming her angel near the Point violates several laws governing what can be on the dunes.
Jepson said her family put up the statue in August 2023 to honor her late brother, Andy Hayes, a veteran who loved the beach.
Jepson first saw similar statues in the 1980s and hoped to continue the decades-long tradition of giving people a place to remember their loved ones.
“When you’re mourning yourself when you see people doing that, it somehow helps you with your mourning,” Jepson said. “It seems to bring some strength and some hope to people who are at a really low point in their lives.”
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Jepson said she understands the rule and is now searching for a new spot on private property.
“I’m old enough to have gotten over a lot of things in my life, and I will get over it because I know where Andy is, but it will be sad,” Jepson said. “It will be even sadder when I watch people walk out there looking for her.”
DHEC confirmed agents stumbled upon the statue while maintaining the dunes in January. The agency said it would work with Jepson to find a happy medium and released this statement to WMBF News:
While we understand the important tribute these types of statues are for friends and family, the agency is responsible for overseeing protection of our state’s sensitive dune systems, and state laws and regulations don’t make exceptions for these types of memorials. We hope the family may be able to find a different, suitable location to display the statue.
A marine biologist told WMBF News they support DHEC’s request, saying this statue and others increase foot traffic on the dunes, which can harm both the environment and wildlife.
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2024-04-17 12:25:00Z
CBMiXGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LndtYmZuZXdzLmNvbS8yMDI0LzA0LzE3L3N0YXRlLWFnZW5jeS13YW50cy1hbmdlbC1ob3BlLXN0YXR1ZS1jaGVycnktZ3JvdmUtbW92ZWQv0gEA
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