Cedar Hill Cemetery

 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.

A walk through Cedar Hill Cemetery

New photos are always to be found at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Vicksburg.

Cedar Hill Cemetery

Cedar Hill Cemetery

Jan. 16, 2010

Four Golden Lambs

The Golden plot at Cedar Hill Cemetery

Four children, ages 1, 2, 3 & 9

Go hug your children now.

Sunset at Cedar Hill

Cedar Hill Cemetery

Located at the end of Mission 66

Vicksburg, MS

February 2010

Let their be life...

While wandering around Cedar Hill Cemetery on Saturday, Jan. 16, I was thrilled to run across this massive stump of a magnolia tree that had been cut down a long time ago that was now being reborn through several branches or seedlings springing from it. I wish I could describe the feeling of happiness that descended on me when I walked up on this. I was overwhelmed Wow! What a lesson! Do we have a great God or what?

Crosses at Cedar Hill

I ventured to Cedar Hill Cemetery on Saturday morning, Jan. 16. It was overcast, the clouds just ready to release their rain. And the crosses in the older part of the cemetery were calling to me....

Where is James Pugh?

While taking pictures early Saturday morning, Jan. 16, in Cedar Hill Cemetery, I ran across this tomb. It left me wondering about what happened to James Pugh? He clearly meant for himself to be buried here, with this name all across the front of the tomb, but the only person who looks to be buried there is his wife on the left side. There is no burial information for James on the right side. Where did he go? I have had fun thinking of different scenarios for this and I am posting this especially for my favorite blogging wordsmith, Rachel over at http://lawntea.blogspot.com, who I bet can come up with a doozy of a story explaining it all. I hope she has time to respond. I can't wait!

Cedar Hill Cemetery

I never know what to expect when I venture into Cedar Hill Cemetery in Vicksburg. There is always something new, but I was not expecting to find the buzzard, above, sunning himself as a new day started in early November. Kind of spooky. The photos at the bottom were taken during what I call the magic moments, the time of day when the sun casts a golden sheen over everything for just a few minutes. Then, poof, it's gone. Two friends of mine, Robert Walker and Ritch Southard, were with me and both took some excellent images on this day.