Ever pass a small cemetery many times and each time say to yourself, "I have to remember to check that place out." only to forget to do it? I have. More times than I can recall. So when I passed this little fenced cemetery for about the 100th time I simply stopped right then and there.
Fewer than 11 listed graves, but not all photographed. After I had audited all the markers and had two remaining I was about to write them off as having no markers when my activities attracted the attention of the older lady who lived next to the site. Naturally she had to come and insure I was not up to anything nefarious.
I explained myself to her satisfaction and mentioned the two unmarked graves. She perked up and told me one of them is not actually in the cemetery. It is several yards away in the wooded area adjacent to the cemetery.
And so the hunt was on!
It took only a couple of minutes, with her help, to locate the marker.
She shared with me that the area had not always been as overgrown. That she had placed the bunny figurine with it.
This child's grave is another in the long line of stories that are lost to the mists of time.
1867 was just after "The Recent Unpleasantness". Reconstruction was underway and the South was broken. Few people had excess money. Hell, few had money at all! This is a very high quality headstone in terms of both materials and workmanship. It had to be expensive at the time. Something few could afford. Yet here it is.
And why here? Alone? Granted the next burial was not for another 20 years or so. Still, why were the other burials not here with her instead of removed as they are.
Questions like this bore into my mind. I can write so many stories to explain them. Alas, we will never know the truth behind them.
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