One Of Mississippi's Oldest Cemeteries, Rose Hill, Is The Final Resting Place Of A King And Queen
By Daniella DiRienzo|Published September 06, 2019
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Daniella DiRienzo
Author
Though Daniella was born in New York and has lived in a couple of other states, Mississippi has been her home for more than 30 years. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships. In the years since, she’s had the privilege of having her articles appear in several publications, such as the Mississippi-based Parents & Kids Magazine. She’s also had the honor of interviewing actress Sela Ward for The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience.
Of all the historic cemeteries in Mississippi, Rose Hill Cemetery is one of the oldest. And like many cemeteries that date back centuries, it’s home to some interesting gravesites, including those of the King and Queen of the Gypsies. Almost as intriguing as the graves is the story on how the royal couple came to be buried in Mississippi. Take a look:
Located in Meridian, Rose Hill Cemetery is full of history. The oldest grave marker dates back to 1853; however, burials were likely taking place long before that.
…the King and Queen of the Gypsies. Easily identifiable, the royal couples’ graves are adorned in trinkets, jewelry, Mardi Gras beads, and other items.
Initially, you might think the gifts are tokens of affection, but that’s not the case. The items are actually bribes, which are left behind to entice the King and Queen to "enter your dreams and solve your problems."
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So, why are the King and Queen buried in Meridian? It all began with Queen Kelly's death in 1915.
Kelly, and her husband Emil, lived in Alabama at the time of her death. However, according to legend, Emil chose Meridian as the Queen's burial place since it was "The Queen City."
Although, others speculate he chose Meridian for another reason - it was the nearest place with a refrigerated morgue. This was an important requirement since it took 12 days for all of America's gypsies to make their way to the South for the funeral.
In the years following the funeral, rumors spread that the casket was made of gold and that mourners filled the grave with $20 gold pieces. Though false, these tales led to vandals smashing the capstone, trying to access the alleged treasure.
Nearly 30 years after Kelly’s death, Emil passed away. Buried next to his queen, Emil’s funeral was much more modest since he died during the throes of WWII.
Unlike his wife, there were no rumors regarding the contents of Emil's grave, so it remains unplundered.
The story of the King and Queen continues to pique people’s interests to this day. One great way to learn about the royal couple, along with the cemetery's other occupants, is by attending the cemetery’s annual costumed tour.
This year’s event is Saturday, September 28, 2019, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Rose Hill Cemetery is open to the public daily. Guided tours are available by request. For more information, call (601) 693-1361. To learn more about the annual costumed tour, click here.
Address: 701 40th Avenue, Meridian, MS, 39307
These aren’t the state’s only famous graves. Read about another here.
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