Rest In Peace? Are you serious? - Richey Cemetery

 The best laid plans and all that. When Samuel Richey was laid to rest, and a few years later his wife, Mary, joined him, they were interred on what was undoubtedly their farmland in rural Gwinnett County, Georgia. In all probability there was nothing and no one nearby. Quiet. Peaceful. Bucolic. Everything one could desire in a final resting place.

Somewhere between 1855 (when Mary passed away) and today changes took place. A road and a railroad cut across the land. As best as I can determine, the railroad came well after the 1880s. I could find an 1884 map of Georgia rail lines and there is nothing near the location. Odds are that it was built well into the 20th century. The road date is much harder to pin down.

In any event the result of these two constructions was to leave Samuel and Mary isolated in what is designated as the railroad right of way between the two. Sadly this is a neglected and trash riddled area. Their false tomb markers - impressive for their day - are in danger of being lost and destroyed. Recently a tree has fallen on Samuel's grave. One of Mary's side tomb walls (very thick granite) has fallen over.

These are images from an earlier time when the graves were in better condition.

Here you can see the side wall having fallen from Mary's False Tomb. That sucker is some 8+ inches thick in the middle, and about 6 or 7 feet long. Solid Granite. There is no resetting it without multiple people and a lot of mechanical advantage! And getting gear in there means clearing a lot of brush. Restoring the two markers would be a good two day effort for a small crew. Longer if there is a desire to really clear and improve the area.

Getting to the site was a little dicey. We had to park on the roadside in front of a lot behind which are several houses. A thick wall of Poison Ivy forced us to look for entre several yards down the road then make our way back through the thickets to the graves. 

After the visit, as we were heading back to the car, one of the residents of the nearby houses was leaving. Obviously our presence was noted and we were eyed with more than a little suspicion. "Who the hell are these people and what are they doing creeping around my property?"

We explained that we were finding the cemetery over in the woods.

"What cemetery?"

We further explained there are two graves just across from where our car was parked. To say this guy was surprised is to understate in the extreme. He had, according to him, lived there for years and had no idea there were graves there. We had to show him photos and point to the location to convince him.

The real joy was watching the evolving look of 'freaked out' on his face. It was clear that the idea of graves that close to his house was unnerving. I think the fact that Halloween is approaching amplified the effect.

I really should not enjoy this kind of evil pleasure. 

But I do. As General George S. Patton, Jr. said about himself and war, "I love it. God held me, I do love it so."