Southern Graves

I've written about the gravestone of Virginia Osborne Crook (d. 1859) in this space before. It's symbolism, really. You can find what grapes, wheat, and a "diving" dove represent here . In this post, I prefer to share a list of names of people enslaved by the Crook family. Maybe this can be of help to someone researching an African American line pre-Emancipation. Columbus Daily Enquirer (Georgia) Friday, 25 November 1859 - pg. 4 [via GenealogyBank ] VALUABLE Negroes at Administrator's Sale. IN compliance with an order of the Court of Ordinary of Harris county, I will sell at public outcry on the first Tuesday in January next, in the town of Hamilton, all the Negroes belonging to the Estate of the late Miss Virginia Crook, to-wit: Mumford a man about 40 years old, a blacksmith; Maria, his wife, about 38 years old, No 1 house woman and cook, washer and ironer, and 3 children, Bulger a boy 5 years old, May a girl 4, and Tom 1 year old. Lard a man 40 year...

This tombstone for Virginia Crook (d. 1859), located at Waverly Hall Cemetery in Harris County, Georgia, contains several Christian symbols. The cross and book (likely representing the Bible) is common enough, and the symbols widely known. The dove is also often seen and represents peace and purity. I learned something else about the dove when it is depicted as "dive-bombing" from Heaven -- it represents the Holy Ghost, as written in John 1:32-34 - 32 And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 33 "I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' 34 "And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God." The other items I have not often seen are the grapes and wheat. Grapes alone could symbolize the blood of Christ. Wheat alone may ...