If you’ve ever eaten at Ria’s Bluebird, then you’ve experienced the legacy of Chef Ria Pell. After her win on Chopped, she became known about town and was well-loved in the community as shown by her headstone at Westview Cemetery and obituary.
Located in Waynesboro, Georgia, Magnolia Cemetery (aka as the Waynesboro City Cemetery) features several original Victorian monuments.
I have not been able to determine the history of the building. It was most recently a dialysis center. My best guess was that it was a seed and feed store.
Located in the Gibson City Cemetery in Glascock County, one of my favorite markers in Georgia. The Walker marker is a standout, especially for a rural cemetery. According to his death certificate, Edward died of the flu. It is listed as part of the Smithsonian’s Save Our Sculptures database.
Infant and maternal mortality rates were incredibly high in the 1800s. Pearl and Enon Chance had three children in 1892, 1893, and 1894. This grave marker in the Millen City Cemetery honors them. All were lost during childbirth. At this time in the United States, out of 1000 births, 281 infants would die (statista.com, n.d.).
The maternal mortality rate hovered around 25 deaths out of 1000 in the late 1800s. Pearl Chance died approximately one month after giving birth to her fourth child in 1896. That child, Mary Pearl Chance Hopkins, lived to be 99. (Here is a visualization of maternal death over the years.)
Because death was so frequent during the Victorian age, symbolism would be used on grave markers. Often portrayed as the “eternal sleep,” the use of pillows, as seen here, is quite common. While this is not a cradle for an infant, the infant has been placed on what looks to be a small bed. This also would convert the “eternal rest.”
One thing about this monument is that the children rest by themselves. The mother, Pearl Chance, was laid to rest in Waynesboro, Georgia. Waynesboro and Millen are twenty miles apart. The Chance family was of means so that they could travel easily. I’ve always wondered about this. The Chance family was influential in Waynesboro. Census records did not help me understand this mystery.
Sculpted by J. J. Horgan, the John J. Kelly monument pays tribute to John J. Kelly (1818-1872), a businessman and a leader in the Irish community in Savannah. The marker was erected by the Hibernian Society, a fraternal society offering aid and support to Irish citizens.
This monument is listed on the Smithsonian’s Save Outdoor Sculpture database and can be found in Laurel Grove North Cemetery in Savannah.
