Mysteries of Magnolia Cemetery

Magnolia Cemetery is one of Charelston, South Carolina's most beautiful gravesites. Surrounded by other cemeteries, there is no lack of intricate stones. What separates Magnolia from surrounding cemeteries is the amount of family plots. One that really stood out to me was the Gruver family plot. Charles Laney Meyer, a doctor of Charleston, was born January 17th, 1927 and died on December 31, 1895. His epitaph reads "Blessed is he that considereth the poor. His name shall live after him." His memorial also features an urn, books, and drapery, these symbols indicatie he was well educated.  The other marker on the plot belongs to Lucille Simons Meyer Gruver, she was born December 8th, 1835 and died May 28th, 1898. Her epitaph is illegible, but her cradle gravestone is adorned with flowers.

Grucer plot

Another thing I noticed was how beautiful the space was, the city of Charleston can often feel overwhelming and loud, but walking a couple miles from downtown and into this area is like an escape. In the cemetery, there is a saltwater pond where you can walk across a bridge and see fish jumping while enjoying the sounds of various birds. There is also a beautiful view of the marsh surrounded by the sculpted stone.

View from the bridge

Before visiting Magnolia, I had never heard of a receiving tomb. In his book, In the Arms of Angels, Patrick Harwood defines the purpose of this receiving tomb as a place "to keep the departed safe and secure until their gravesites could be completed." This tomb is one of the original buildings in the cemetery and has been preserved to the immaculate condition it is in today.

Receiving tomb

Magnolia Cemetery is like a hidden escape that humbles and allows creative thought. With countless important lives hidden in its many acres,  the possibilities for new knowledge and research are endless. Findagrave.com, ancestry.com, and In the Arms of Angels by Patrick Harwood are all very helpful resources for digging deeper into the mysteries Magnolia has to offer.

Class photo