I haven’t heard any complaints about my cemetery blogs, as yet, so I thought I’d tell you about a very special headstone in the cemetery across the street from me in Charlotte. I’ve pointed out previously that willow trees were commonly used on headstones because they depict utter sadness.
The headstone belongs to Delia Harriet Springs, a young woman who died in 1861; she was twenty-five. Delia was the member of a prominent family, but because she was unmarried (a spinster lady) she ls listed in her family’s records as Delia—unmarried—died 1861.
Her married sisters, on the other hand, were described in loving detail. Elizabeth was “considered very beautiful, amiable and attractive”. Margaret was noted for her “kindness with wit and humor that rendered her lovable and interesting.”
I bring this up because Delia was clearly under appreciated during her lifetime.
But it gets worse. Her beautiful willow tree headstone was the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. If you study the photograph on the right, you can see how stunning it was.
But in the photograph on the left, you can see the results of vandals who attacked the headstone (along with others) with baseball bats during the summer of 2020.
The damaged parts were rescued and I’d like to believe that in the future Delia’s headstone will be restored, but I’m not hold my breath.
Delia had a right to be remembered.
Comments