Monument to Michelle Obama ancestor vandalized in Georgia

ATLANTA, June 11 (UPI) -- A monument dedicated to an ancestor of first lady Michelle Obama was pushed off its foundation block by vandals, authorities in the town of Rex, Ga. said.

Resident Vicki Smith told WSB-TV, Atlanta, that when she first saw what had been done to the monument she "shed a few tears."

Smith helped get a monument to Melvinia Shields, the great-great-great grandmother of Michelle Obama, to the Clayton County community.

Shields was born into slavery in 1844 and later moved to Georgia.

Clayton County Commissioner Sonna Singleton said the monument company will have to lift the heavy stone to check for cracks and place it back on its foundation.