Sunsets and Headstones at St. Luke and St. Paul Graveyards

The sun hitting a headstone at St. Luke. 

On a quiet September evening the St. Luke and St. Paul graveyards take on a somber tone as the sun sets on the headstones and the breeze wanders through the grass. I had the pleasure of wandering through both of these graveyards with my FYE class.

Linda McCants, a volunteer and member of St. Luke since 1972, talked with us about the history of the St. Luke graveyard and told us about her experiences as a volunteer. McCant explained the history of the church, and that, "The Church kept books for years and some of them are so fragile that when you go to take them out of the safe you have to wear white gloves."  

McCant recounted her own interest in graveyards, stating "It's interesting to go back and research the church and the cemetery because most of our records were burned in the Civil War."

St. Luke cathedral with the grave yard located behind it. 

While exploring the two graveyards I came across multiple headstone types, including:

Die on Base 

Die on Base grave markers are typically marble or granite and are distinguishable from regular headstones due to the base. This grave stone is for Matilda Burger Dawson, Born October 13, 1875- Died January 15th 1945. A banner at the bottom of the grave says "at rest."

Ledger

Ledger markers are thick slabs of stone that are notable because they cover the entire grave. This ledger marker is in scared memory to Sophia Percy Guerard Born 1817 and lived to the specific age of 31 years two months and 15 days. 

Die on Socket 

Die on socket graves are notable for being mounted in a socket.  This die on socket marker broken due most likely to vandalism. 

Box Tomb 

Box tombs are rectangular structures that can also be called values or chest tombs. This box tomb is for Thomas Horrs. I noticed that many of the box tomb tops had become worn and unreadable with age, so all ic could gather from this tomb was that he was that he was loved and a member of what may of been government. Death and Birth dates unfortunately unreadable.  

Sarcophagus

Sarcophaguses are essentially stone coffins. This was was for a child, Catherine Williams, Born in 1852 and lived five years, three months, and two days. Very heartbreaking! 

Cradle Grave

Typically a young child's marker, although not in this case. This grave was for Anna P. Ingramham,  wife of Col Pickens, Born April 25, 1845- Died March 22, 1920.  The grave has the epitaph "Blessed are the pure in the heart for they shall see God."

Headstone

Standard, most common grave. This headstone is for Stephen Elliot, Born 1771- Died 1830 son of William Elliot and Mary Barnwell Elliot. The headstone reads that Elliot was a botanist, banker planter, legislator, and teacher. 

Columns

Tall grave slants with a slant cut at the top to symbolize life cut short. This grave marker is sacred to the memory of Christopher Gadsden, HUME M.D. Gadsden died on the 30th of September in 1849 at  the age of 24 years 4 months and 17 days. The epitaph reads "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead and christ shall give thee light."

Slant Marker 

Very common and popular grave marker today. This slant marker is for Theodore Dehon Wagner, Born March 1819- Died February 23 1880. Wager lays at rest with his wives, Sophia M. Wagner (1825-1893) and Sarah Ella Warley (1833-1873). 

Mausoleums

A Large house or building that houses multiple tombs above ground. The mausoleum was build by the family of William Johnston in 1844. Johnston lives from 1776-1840. Members of the Johnston family are within the mausoleum. A plaque says the "E" in Johnston was restored by the family in 1848 and another plan says the records of those buried inside the grave marker can be found with the church reads and the charlestown historical societies.