Graveyard crawl

Sophie is working on a Christmas fundraiser for Fondren Renaissance. Artists are making ornaments to sell. She had the idea to incorporate a tombstone rubbing from one of the Fondren family's stones. She did a little research and found that there were some in Greenwood cemetery and Lakewood. We started in Greenwood. 

 

This is the oldest Jackson city cemetery. Mary Grace drove us in the Subaru which is a good thing since we had to off road it a bit. The roads in the oldest section were very narrow and we needed to turn around. MG bumped right up on an empty section and made a u turn. Sophie and I were screaming " don't run over graves"!!  

 

One of the first things we saw was this cornerstone. 

 

Beautiful oldstones 

 

We had a map and came across this scene. 

 

This is Little Bob. He was the loyal dog of a little girl who died. The sweet pet spent all the rest of his days by her grave, returning home each night. When he died the family went to court to allow him to be buried there and a statue of him placed there. 

 

Next we found the Fondren family plots. Got some great rubbings. She intends to use the word Fondren in her project. 

 

Paid a visit to Eudora. 

 

These old cedar trees cast a gorgeous canopy. 

 

Giant magnolia trees   

 

Thought this may have been the family of the historic home but Sophie said no. He was a past mayor though. 

 

One of the more prominent families of early Jackson. 

 

Loved these unusual dark iron markers. 

 

Great view down West Street. 

 

We puzzled over this closed hand symbol. I know what most mean but had never seen this one. 

 

The answer was on the side of the monument. He was a beloved teacher of deaf children. That was a symbol was a sign language hand signal. 

 

Made this rubbing of an A. 

 

Pretty border. It was a great adventure. Love old cemeteries and all the history the hold. It was very hot despite it being mid October. We fixed that with a big ole frozen margarita at Picante's afterward.