Southern Graves

Not a great title, I know, but I couldn't resist the alliteration... I've been giving you snippets for about seven months, and I'm finally ready to share everything in one place. Photos from Fairview Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, Georgia are now all online -- more than 110 of them. As a reminder, you can view them as a slideshow or individuals, and comments are enabled. Click on the small slideshow below to go to the Picasa Web Album. Enjoy! Surnames included are the following: Adair, Alexander, Bagby, Brown, Byrd, Carter, Casey, Craig, Crow/e, Dunlap, Gossett, Green, Gresham, Haney, Hood, Huff, Hutchins, Jackson, Kelley, Liddell, McGee, Mitchell, Moss, Noel, Pattersen, Rakestraw, Reid, Roberts, Russell, Simmons, Sparks, Steadman, Strickland, Stuart, Terrell, Thompson, Wight, Williams, and Wilson.

Sometimes I come across a tombstone that at first glance appears simple, or common. When I pause and take it all in however, I find that is not the case at all. Like with Elizabeth Gossett's stone pictured below. It contains symbolism, a good bit of genealogical information, and a personalized epitaph. Art and data rolled into one. A hand with a finger pointing up indicates Elizabeth's soul has risen to Heaven. Though not seen in the photo, here is a transcription of her entire epitaph: Elizabeth / Wife of I. F. Gossett / Born Mar 23, 1823 / Died Mar 26, 1903 / She was a member of the M. E. church 62 years. / Her last words... I am going home . Elizabeth was laid to rest near her parents, Casey and Susan Crowe. Their stone is behind hers in the photo. All are buried in Fairview Presbyterian Church Cemetery at Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, Georgia.