On January 31, 1915, Kelly Mitchell, Queen of the Gypsy Nation, died during childbirth in Coatopa, Alabama. She was buried in Meridian, Mississippi at Rose Hill Cemetery because the city had enough ice to keep the body cool until her funeral, a funeral attended by over 20,000 people. Since her death, people visit from all around the world to leave trinkets on her grave. One reason why folks might leave items is to let others know the grave has been visited and, therefore, the person is not forgotten. For the Queen of the Gypsies, people leave items to attract Kelly to their dreams in hope she will help solve their problems. If you visit, outside of the Mardi Gras beads, you will likely see bottles of Orange Crush because it was supposedly her favorite drink.

Over the years, several attempts to rob her grave were prevented. They often made national news.