Epic Epitaphs

For those of you who do not know what an epitaph is, an epitaph is a phrase or statement written in memory of a person who has died in scripted on a tombstone. Usually it consists of a bible verse or poem! The last few months I have visited many cemeteries and have seen tons of different epitaphs, here are a few I found:

Drake Tombstone

These first four epitaphs I found are all from the cemetery that belonged to Hoopers Creek Baptist Church. This first die on socket belongs to John W. Blake and E Belle Baker Drake. It says, "Our Father Which Art in Heaven." This is a part of the Lord's Prayer which signifies that they are most likely very religious.

Lanning Tombstone

This next tombstone belongs to John and Martha Louise Lanning. On the bottom of the die on socket marker it says, "We stroll across heaven together." I think this is very sweet considering these two were married, died, and explain that they walk in heaven together. They must have really been in love!

Brackett Tomstone

Another grave that has an epitaph is the Brackett grave. This die on socket belongs to James Robert Brackett and Mary Essie Brackett. It has a picture of two hands reaching to the heavens for God's hand. Then, beneath the photo it says, "Precious Lord Take my Hand."

Martha Sue Aytes

This last tombstone that I found at this cemetery was a very unique one! It belongs to Martha Sue Aytes who lived from May 24th, 1938- November 3rd, 2010. It has a mother holding a little boy's hand while looking up at the clouds. Then, in the sky, it says, "Mamaw, If I climb the mountain and crawl out on to the clouds, can I touch the moon?" This is a metaphor for reaching for the stars and having a big imagination. Lastly, on the wooden plaque, it says, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom I shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom I shall be afraid? Psalm 27:1" I personally love this bible verse because I have always heard this from my parents and it gives me the strength to do things I thought I could not do before.

John Ravenel 

These next six tombstones come from the Magnolia Cemetery!  This first monument belongs to John Ravenel and says, "In this mortal life he strove, faithfully to interpret nature. And make the band give up its secrets: Toiling for no selfish ends. But for the welfare of his countrymen. His labor done, he entered gladly the life eternal, March 16th, 1882." This epitaph just expresses how much of a wonderful person John Ravenel must have been and that he entered heaven happily! I wish I could have met him!

Emma C McCabe

This next grave belongs to Emma C McCabe, who was born on September 1, 1875 and lived until December 18, 1958. On the bottom of this bevel marker, it says, "Blessed are the pupe of heart." I think this must be a typo actually because the word "pupe" does not exist. After doing some research, "best are the pure of the heart" is the bible verse Matthews 5:8.....maybe they were going for that?????

Rosaliecarr McCabe Cradle Grave

Next, we have a cradle grave which belongs to Rosaliecarr McCabe, who lived from Jan. 2nd 1846-Sept. 12th 1924. On the bottom of the cradle grave it says, "In thee Have a Trusted" which comes from a song by Georg Friedich Handel. This song talks about trusting the lord in order to follow him properly.

Rosa M Pringle's Headstone 

This next headstone belongs to Rosa M Pringle who lived from July 29th, 1823-March 2nd, 1919. On the bottom of the tombstone it says, "Time Could Not Chill. Nor Did Years Age. Her Hearts Unageing Youth." This is a more common poem of the final occasion and just explains that time is not stopped, while years did not age, and that her heart has always been youthful. This is very sweet!

Interesting Stories Found Right Outside of Asheville.......

Hoopers Creek Baptist Church

On my way to my sister's wedding in Asheville, I happened to stumble upon this little church with a little cemetery right across the street! This church was the Hoopers Creek Baptist Church. This church was located in Fletcher NC, right outside of Asheville.

The Mathis Couple

This tombstone really stood out to me because it is a bench! This bench belonged to Velma "Sue" Mathis who is still alive and was born on August 23rd, 1946. She married to Dennis Woodrow Mathis who was born on October, 11th 1948 and died on September 28th, 2013. It also says that they got married on October 14th, 1967. These people must have really been in love considering the wedding rings and the fact that it states the day they got married which most people do not do!

Kyle Wayne 

This next tombstone also caught my attention because it is the first headstone I have ever seen that is completely black with a colored picture on the front. It also has flowers which signifies that someone had been here recently.

Kyle Wayne Guice Closeup 

To get a better look at this headstone, I took a close up picture (to the right) which says "Kyle Wayne Guice Nov. 12,  1982 May 13, 2007 Beloved Son And Friend. For "Flowerdils" Are Blooming." I was not sure what this meant, so I decided to google this saying, but sadly nothing came up. Although, what I did figure out was that "Flowerdils" must be a word Kyle Wayne Guice must have made up because it is not a really word. I believe that this saying just means the world is still beautiful and, assuming this is his favorite flower, they continue to bloom for him. I was very curious to know more about this headstone considering this man only made it until 25 years old so I decided to look up his name. I actually found out that Kyle Wayne Guice committed suicide because he was on house arrest for a first degree-burglary and attempted sexual assault.  It also explains that Kyle shot himself but would not say where he shot himself. This was by far my most interesting find all year.

Katrina Dawn Gosnell

Lastly, I enjoyed this tombstone because it is a heart. I have never seen a heart tombstone! It is very sweet! This tombstone belongs to Katrina Dawn Gosnell who lived from June 18th, 1984- July 17th, 2004. I also decided to find out more about Katrina Gosnell because she died at such a young age. Although, it did not say the causer of her death, I did found out that her grandmother was as Reverend. Her grandmother's name is Shelby Joseph Beaver.








I encourage everyone to stop if they ever see an interesting cemetery because you'll never know what you'll find out!

The Mysterious Unitarian Cemetery

Candid Shot of Unitarian Cemetery 

A few weeks ago, on easter, I was wandering around the beautiful streets of Charleston and  happened to stumble upon the most beautiful cemetery I have yet to see; Unitarian Cemetery. At Unitarian Cemetery all the shrubs, wild flowers, and Spanish moss are overgrown surrounding the tombstones (see picture on the left).  It was almost as if I was walking into a secret garden! Unitarian Cemetery is part of Unitarian Church, which is a big, beautiful, tall, yellow church (see picture below).

Unitarian Church 

Before I get into my findings at the cemetery, I'd like to give a brief history of Unitarian Church! Unitarian Church is a large Gothic church that was built in 1854 by a religious group called the Society of Dissenters. It is actually known to be the "oldest church in the south" and was declared a national landmark in 1973.

For the Enslaved Workers

When I first walked into the Unitarian cemetery this was the first tombstone I saw because it was right in front. This tombstone was very interesting because it said, "In memory of the Enslaved Workers Who Made These Bricks And Helped Built Our Church 1774-1787" (see picture
below for a closer look). Then, on the front it looks like some type of a bird.

Closer look of the Enslaved Worker's Tombstone

Jane Mcleod and Henry Inman

This tombstone stood out to me because it first says Jane Mcleod Sept 11 1946-July 1 2015. Then, on the second line it says Henry Inman Jan 25 1942-. This means Mr. Inman is still alive but I am wondering if there two were married since their is a different last name? Interesting!

Lastly, this monument really caught my attention as well because of the size of it! On this monument it says. "Beneath This Monument Rest The Mortal Remains Of The Rev. Samuel Gilman, D.D. Who Was Born In Gloucest, Mass. Feby. 16th, 1791. And Died In Kingston, Mass. Feby. 9th 1858." Clearly, this Reverend was appreciated because of the detail put into this monument!









I recommend that you should all visit Unitarian cemetery, because like I said, it's my favorite cemetery in Charleston!