I walked through the oldest part of Cedar Hill Cemetery in Vicksburg Saturday morning and the recurring theme as I gazed around was the number of fallen tombstones that were being slowly consumed by the earth. I figured I better take photos of them while I could before they are completely covered up by grass and then by the dirt itself. From my walk, it seems like quite a number of tombstones had already been reclaimed by the earth in the historic cemetery.
This is the oldest date I have ever found on a tombstone in the cemetery. As shown below, it is of the Rev. James Gwin, who was born in 1769 and died in 1841. It was humbling to look down on the grave of a man who was born seven years before this country was even founded. May he rest in peace as his entire plot slowly sinks into the earth.
Update on Jan. 26: For the rest of the story on the above tombstone, visit my friend Rachel at
http://lawntea.blogspot.com/. She has researched this tombstone and her findings are extraordinary!
One of the tombstones on this grave has toppled over and has already sunk down about two inches. The hillside on its right side has slowly pushed down the hill and is knocking it off-kilter. Another grave in the same location is below. It's fighting being buried.
I don't know what it is about this grave that I like. The broken planter calls out to me with some message, but I have yet to grasp it.
