Category Archives: Symbolism

-Georgia, Cemeteries, Symbolism

Circus Train Wreck Memorial-Columbus, Georgia

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On November 22, 1915, the Con T. Kennedy Carnival Show left Atlanta for a show in Phenix City, Alabama. Unfortunately, over 50 passengers were killed when their train collided with a steel passenger train, which was significantly stronger than the carnival train. After a mass service at the Columbus First Baptist Church, there was a large funeral procession to Riverdale Cemetery, where the carnival show members were laid to rest. The Con T. Kennedy erected the “Under the Big Tent” monument in memory of those who lost their lives.

-Georgia, Cemeteries, Famous People, National Register of Historic Places, Symbolism

Flannery O’Connor at Memory Hill Cemetery-Milledgeville, Georgia

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Flannery O’Connor (1925-1964) was an American writer for her novels and short stories. Her final resting place is next to her parents in Memory Hill Cemetery in Milledgeville, Georgia. Despite being born in Savannah, Milledgeville was Flannery’s home. Her family moved there when she was fifteen and lived there until her passing at 39. Her childhood home and the family farm, Andalusia, still stand in Milledgeville.

Whenever I’ve visited her grave, there have been flowers and other mementos. When I took this photo, someone(s) had left behind coins as a sign that someone visited. The IHS symbol stands for Iesus Hominum Salvator, which means Jesus, savior of mankind, or it can stand for the first three letters of Jesus’s name, iota eta sigma.

-Georgia, Cemeteries, Symbolism

Garbutt Family Plot-Lyons, Georgia

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William Rawlings Garbutt, 1908-1910
Missouri Garbutt (1864-1912) and William Rawlinga Garbutt (1890-1907)

The Garbutt family was a prominent family in Lyons, Georgia. Their wealth was generated by work in the lumber industry Their home still stands in Lyons. You can see it on Brian Brown’s Vanishing Georgia website.

-Georgia, Black History, Cemeteries, Symbolism, Vernacular Headstones

Sheffield UMC Cemetery, Georgia

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Down a sandy road, there is the Sheffield UMC Cemetery which has several vernacular headstones made with tile. Outside of marbles, this is one of the most used materials I see in homemade headstones and ledgers. There was a church next to the cemetery, but it burned many years ago.

-Georgia, Cemeteries, Symbolism, Vernacular Headstones

Lord. I Am Redy-Tifton, Georgia

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This vernacular headstone can be found in Greenwood Cemetery in Tifton, Georgia. The KOFP represents the Knights of the Pythias. The interlocking links are a symbol of the Independent Order of the Odd Fellows, and the links stand for friendship, love, and truth.

-Georgia, Cemeteries, Historic Photos, Symbolism

Union Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery-Miller County, Georgia

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The Union Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery contains three very interesting markers. Two are of Stephen and Narcissus Spooner. The other one is for Marion Blankenship.

Stephen Morrow Spooner, 1823-1901, was a farmer in Miller County, Georgia. There was once a Spooner, Georgia in this area. My assumption is the town was named after this family.

One interesting story about Stephen Spooner is that I. 1871, he killed Dr. James Barrow Guest over a disagreement according to one news article I found. I cannot Iocate a follow-up article that states whether or not there was a trial. I do know he was living at home in 1880. His property contained 550 acres and it’s value was assessed at $1000 in the late 1870’s.

The Spooners’ 3rd great-grandson, Kevin Daniels, informed me that two different sculptors created their monuments.

Courtesy of Ancestry

Marion Kenneth Blankenship was not your average Elvis Presley impersonator. “Kenn” was was a very talented musician and singer who was nominated for the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.

Porcelain portrait and marker for their beloved Fancy