Edward F. and Ethel M. Smith Married over 60 years

Today is a day you're supposed to celebrate your love for that special someone in your life. I'd like to take some time here to celebrate some love I found in the cemetery. Edward and Ethel Smith. What originally caught my attention was the epitaph "The Mystery of Love is more profound than the mystery of death". And then on the very bottom "Together Forever". That's something we say about ourselves and even other people all the time. "Oh they've been together for ever". So I did a little digging and although I can't pinpoint the exact marriage date I could tell that Edward and Ethel were married earlier than 1920 from census records and already had 3 children Francis, Melvin and Edward Jr. Which puts my estimate of being married in the neighborhood of 65-70 years. Their marriage survived The Great Depression and two world wars. The death of Edward in December of 1978 was most likely more than Ethel could bear and she passed 3 months later in March of 1979. I would love to know more about this wonderful couple that no doubt after being together that long withstood anything and everything. Sadly Edward and Ethel can't tell me their story but there must be other people out there like them. Ones that give me hope that love can and does last forever. In some cases it's just not meant to be...or maybe it is and nobody knows until it's too late Happy Valentines Day Everyone.

Andre "Mac Dre" Hicks

Bay Area hip hop legend Andre "Mac Dre" Hicks was born in Oakland, CA on July 5, 1970. At the age of 19 he released his first single "Too Hard for the F*ckin Radio". Between 1989 and 1991 Mac Dre was busy making a name for himself releasing 3 consecutive albums. By this time he'd moved to Vallejo California's Country Club Crest neighborhood or as it was called "The Crest". In 1992 Dre was charged with conspiracy to commit bank robbery when it was thought he had ties to the "Romper Room Gang" who had robbed several Bay Area banks. This was due to many references to the gang in his songs. This didn't stop Dre from working because while in prison he recorded the album Back N da Hood via prison phone. To hip hop fans in the Bay Area this album remains a classic. After his release from prison in 1996 Mac Dre immediately went back to work on his music releasing album after album of classic material. Then in 2000 Mac Dre relocated to Sacramento, CA and started the label Thizz Entertainment. Mac Dre was able to gain a huge following in the Bay Area and a few other cities and seemed content to just release the music he wanted to release and not be tied to the restrictions and rules of a major record label. Dre built his career on the underground music scene and still remains one of my favorite hip hop artists today.

In 2004 while in Kansas City, MO a car pulled up next the the vehicle Mac Dre was riding in and opened fire. The vehicle swerved off the road and ran into a ravine where Dre was thrown from the vehicle. Autopsy reports determined that he was killed from a single gunshot wound to the neck. Nobody really knows who Mac Dre's killer was but a Kansas City rapper by the name of Anthony "Fat Tone" Watkins was believed by many to be involved. In 2005 Fat Tone was found murdered alongside Jermaine "Cowboy" Akins allegedly killed by a good friend of Dre in retaliation for Dre's death. He is now serving time for the crime. In 2006 Mac Dre's headstone was stolen a local rapper by the name of AP .9 put up a $10,000 reward for it's return. Obviously the headstone has been replaced but I'm not sure if it's the original or if sometime or somewhere somebody will try and sell it somewhere. For this reason the cemetery office will not disclose it's location. It took 4 trips Mountain View Cemetery before we found Mac Dre's gravesite searching through more than 8000 graves.

Although hip hop is often filled with violence Mac Dre seemed to stay away from that after his release from prison. The Bay Area hip hop scene was shocked and saddened by the death of one of the greatest Bay Area rappers to ever live. In my opinion Bay Area hip hop is now saturated with a bunch of people all doing the same thing...trying to be like Dre. Thizz Entertainment is still a label out here today but it's not the same without Dre. I don't know if my opinion is swayed by the lack of Mac Dre or if the hip hop scene out here is really saturated with rappers trying to be Mac Dre and still using his name to promote themselves.

On a side note I must credit my girlfriend with the find. I will not disclose the location out of respect for Mac Dre's family.

Tombstone Tuesday - An interesting find

Click the picture for a larger version...But does anyone know what this epitaph may mean? It was just sitting there with nobody's name on it. The nearest grave was about five feet from it. The epitaph seems to have a hidden meaning. Of course I could just be fooling myself because I have no idea what it's intended meaning is. The part that gets me is "We have worn our white robes in defiance of the world in this the last travail." It keeps going through my mind every time I look at it. The stone is from Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, CA. Jeane has helped with the symbols but I'd still like to know if anyone has any ideas on the epitaph itself.

February is Black History Month

Born a slave in 1844 Obediah Summers worked as a servant for a top soldier in the Confederate Army and in 1862 was captured by the Union. The Union forces gave Obediah a choice. Fight for the Grand Army of the Republic (a part of the Union Army) or return to the south and remain a slave. Obediah made the wise decision of joining Company A of the 18th Regiment of the United States Colored Forces. After his discharge in 1866 Obediah became a preacher at the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Around 1891 he decided to build his own church The Old Bethel Church on 15th Street in Oakland, CA. About the same time he was appointed the first African-American chaplain of the state legislature. No doubt a huge step for a man of color given the time period.

Today Obediah has a marker in the Grand Army of the Republic plot in Oakland's Mountain View Cemetery. But it wasn't always like that. You see up until 2005 Obediah Summers was buried in the unendowed section of Mountain View Cemetery. It wasn't until a docent by the name of Dennis Evanosky, who happens to be the Civil War plot expert at the cemetery, discovered the location of Summers body that procedures to remove and re-inter Summers' body began to take place. Since it was not a national cemetery permission was not needed to remove Summers' body, however it was discovered that he was also buried with an infant grandson which halted the procedures. Evanosky would have to seek permission from the city of Alameda before proceeding with efforts. Since Evanosky was neither family nor did he have to resources to hire a lawyer. He was able to locate Summers' great grand-daughter Myrnna Adams. After 2 years of efforts petitioning the cemetery Summers remained buried in the undendowed section. Adams has become too tired of the fight and the only thing Evanosky could do is have Summers memorialized in the section he belongs in. Summers was also a member of the Masons and Odd Fellows in his lifetime as well as other organizations.

Summers died in Oakland on March 15, 1896. He was 51.

Small Stuff

I've been trying to take the time while I'm in a cemetery to stop and notice the small things. It seems that many times the things that catch my eye are on a larger scale so I immediately gravitate toward those. Recently I've realized that there are many things to see while I'm on my way there. Makes me wonder how many of these little things people have left behind and have gone unnoticed. This pic could have used some lighting enhancement but I've had a long wee and was too lazy to do it. Look for more small stuff since I've recently become aware of what I've been walking by. This was an interesting shot. Almost as if the little statue was posing for me even though the whole side was dirty from the nearby mud puddle...

Lone Tree Cemetery Hayward, CA

I had to go to Hayward, CA the other day for a meeting and hadn't taken lunch. I decided I could eat or see what the nearest cemetery was. Of course I'm going to the cemetery. Lone Tree was a medium sized cemetery that I would have never found without the help of my handy GPS on my cell phone. There were a couple stories here and one I'm still doing a little research on. The other is this firefighters' memorial you see here. I thought this was a great way to memorialize firefighters. Sometimes I'll see a fire bell or something to that effect but never had I seen fire hydrants randomly placed throughout the section. I'm sure someone is going to ask what that big set of hands is in the background of this picture. Did you think I missed that? Not hardly. It wasn't a grave marker that I could tell but somebody did scratch a fish like the one that is said to represent Jesus and J. Muir '94' on the bottom. I would think it is a reference to John Muir but haven't done the research to verify it. It could also be the artist that carved it now that I think about it. It seems that work gets in the way of a lot of my research. And since I don't get paid to do this I have to put that first sometimes. This carving was still incredible. It had lines in the fingers and everything. Just like real hands would. I stood there looking at it for a good 15 minutes. Either way it was a treat to be able to stand there and touch the hands and inspect them for a little while. I just wish my lunch break had been longer. I don't like feeling rushed through a cemetery...

Hells Angels Motorcycle Club Oakland, CA

"When we do right, nobody remembers. When we do wrong, nobody forgets." That is said to be the primary motto of the group known as "The Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club" (HAMC). As I was strolling through Evergreen Cemetery in Oakland California last week I was walking far away on the hill toward the back. I noticed what appeared to be a series of black grave markers that looked rather new. I decided I'd make my way back around that way on my way back to my car. Once I got closer and saw what I had been looking at I got as excited as a kid in a candy store as I usually do when I come across something special. There in the cemetery stood the graves of 9 members of the Oakland chapter of the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club. The Hell's Angels are known as a notorious biker gang and crime syndicate by some and by it's members as just a group of guys that have banded together for the love of motorcycles who are involved in fundraisers, group rides, parties and motorcycle rallies.

Perhaps the most intriguing thing for me was their nicknames. Here you see Doug "The Thug" Orr. To me this was an awesome nickname. I mean if you're going to have a tough name I think "The Thug" pretty much sums it up. And after looking at his picture I figured Doug was not the one I'd want to meet in a dark alley. I had to remind myself that Doug probably had a family who he was probably really nice to. He was probably nice to his friends as well. But I wouldn't want to get on his bad side that's for sure...





Another one of my favorites was one Mr. "Mouldy" Marvin Gilbert. Not that I would like to have the name Mouldy myself. I again found myself staring at his picture and wondering what life must have been like for Mr. Mouldy. I would like to believe that the Hell's Angels just got a bum rap for a few members being involved in illegal activities and the rest of the guys were guilty by association. Sort of the way a Pitbull biting somebody makes the news whereas a German Shepard does not.







Another interesting figure I found was Lee Moran. He didn't have a nickname listed but at the bottom of his marker was a small plaque that read "81" Lee Moran Record 1003lbs Squat July 8t, 1984. Yes people I said 1003lbs. This man lifted just over half a ton. Here is an excerpt I found regarding Lee's Record attempt.
Courtesy http://www.strengthtech.com
Lee wanted the 1003 on his third, a weight he's been priming for all year. One of the most spectacular event to ever occur in our sport began to unfold as Lee stood with this awesome load. The bar whipped terribly, and as Lee tried to steady himself for the signal, one collar popped off the bar, almost as if it were shot from a gun. Hundred pound plates flew off of that end, stressing the other collar, which popped loose as well, releasing plates in that direction and causing spotters and officials to run for cover. The bar, now overloaded to one side rocketed up off Moran's back and flew through the air, a deadly missile which splintered the stage as it landed. Miraculously no one seemed to be injured and Lee was more unaffected than anyone else there. I grabbed him and asked, "Are you okay?" "Ken, what the hell happened?" He was totally non-plussed, and mainly concerned that whatever had happened wasn't his fault and would he get another attempt at it. With another 3rd attempt granted as a matter of course, he asked "Can I do it?" "You can do it." "You're right coach, I can do it." Announcer Tony Carpino whipped the audience to a roar as the bar was again secured. Moran stood with the half a ton, and sunk it. I mean he hit the bottom with at least and inch to spare and shot it to the top. History was made as three white lights greeted the effort, setting off pandemonious celebration.

In all there are 9 total stones. On the back of a couple of them are the names of a few women but I wasn't sure if they were actually buried on the other side of the men or not. I attempted to get someone from the chapter to give me a story to no avail. Oh well maybe next time or maybe someone will read this one day and contact me with more information.

That Thing Thursday

As I was strolling through Evergreen Cemetery in Oakland, CA the other day I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. Off in the distance I could see the Met Life blimp. I thought it would make a good "Thing" for this week. I have no idea what it was doing in the area. Normally it cruises the nearby Oakland Coliseum and arena but to my knowledge there was nothing going on there that day. I have more posts to follow on this cemetery but it is pending research so I will not be able to post it just yet. I can tell you that once I get the response I'm looking for that the next post I have on this cemetery will be very interesting. In the meantime I took a closer pic of the blimp but it was so far in the distance that everything else came out a little blurry. It was way on the other side of the cemetery and then some. I've always thought it would be cool to take a ride on one of these airships. It used to be that I'd see the Goodyear blimp more often but I haven't seen that one in quite some time. It's always Met Life now...and I guess they can thank me for the free plug here...Met Life if you're out there reading this I accept Paypal...

Monday Madness

I usually don't post on Monday but I've been going a little mad as of late. With the Christmas holiday approaching it's getting crazier and crazier around here. My job always tries to kill us right before the end of the year. I think mainly so the sales guys can get their end of the year bonus while everyone else has to be happy just collecting their regular paychecks like the drones we are. It's at this time of the year when I usually realize my title at work is only given so that I can deal with all the crap other people don't want to deal with. And usually when I'm down and in a funk I turn to Photoshop where I can lose myself in a false reality and create something that takes me somewhere else. Even though I'm really just sitting here in my chair on my laptop.

I did this picture the other day. The style is called Tilt Shift Photography. I guess they actually make lenses that do this. Since I neither have the correct camera nor the correct lens, I decided that I'd see if I could fake it in photoshop. Please click the picture to see the larger image. What it's supposed to do it make the scene appear miniature. What you see here is a shot of Millionaire's Row at Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, CA.

Freaky Friday

I generally try to stay away from the graves of little kids while it seems my girlfriend is drawn to them. My reason is little kids are scary. In every horror movie or ghost story I've ever seen, those that have a little kid are the scariest. Think about it. The Shining, Not only was the main little kid scary it also had those 2 chopped up twins in the hallway. Pet cemetery, Even though the little kid didn't get scary until the end he freaked me out almost as much as that lady in the bedroom with the weird back thing going on. The Grudge, creepy little, screaming like a cat, bad haircut Asian kid. So as I was digging for something to post today I happened to look in one of her folders and I see this picture of this little girl. Alive and well I might say cute kid but in a picture taken some 50-100 years ago I'm going to go with freaky...

Holy Sepulchre Cemetery Hayward, CA

On one of my many lunchtime excursions I had the opportunity to visit Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward, California. This cemetery was established in 1913 for the burial of Catholics in Hayward and surrounding cities. Upon entering what struck me most about this cemetery was it's extreme organization of tombstones. I was discussing this with Cheryl over at The Graveyard Rabbit of South Alameda County and we both agreed that it appears to have been laid out with a laser. It seemed to me like every tombstone formed a near perfect line. In my opinion it took away from the character of the cemetery itself. I always complain that cemeteries are never well kept. This one is at the extreme opposite of such. I thought it was too well kept. I guess I'll never be happy. It was strange that I didn't immediately notice the large cathedral style mausoleum as I entered. Initially I thought it was a large church. As I got closer I realized that it was not a church but a beautifully decorated gothic style building. At least it appeared gothic to me. Just like it appears I need to brush up on my architecture. It is fittingly called "The Mausoleum of the Apostles" named as such because on the front it has a large statue of each Apostle with Jesus front and center with his arms stretched out welcoming everyone in. I sometimes take my curious co-worker with me as I visit some of the cemeteries and I guess he figured that since Jesus was welcoming us that we should go in. So I immediately followed suit as he walked in like a kid in a candy store. I walked a little slower because I have learned to take my time because I don't like to miss anything. Even though I always seem to. I was still trying to take in the artwork I had just witnessed on the outside of this building. It was absolutely amazing and must have taken forever to complete. Working in construction I always try to figure out how they put things together. Or how they lifted something so heavy. I guess it goes with the business. I dont' think many construction workers do what I do as far as cemeteries go. Most of us just hope that we don't end up there sooner than we have to. One of the things I found most interesting inside was they had these benches that you kneel on to pay respects to your loved ones. I'm not sure what they're called. But everytime I passed one I thought to myself how many people have probably knelt and grieved or prayed on these little benches. I began to sort of freak myself out to the point where when I'd see one I thought I could feel energy coming off of it. Everyone that knows me knows I don't believe in ghosts or anything like that but I have said before that I've felt things. Now even seeing this picture it is giving me a bit of anxiety just remembering the indescribable feeling that came over me that day. I don't know if it was emotion or residual energy left from the many loved ones that have knelt on these tiny benches for hours grieving over husbands, wives, mothers, fathers and children.

Claudia Killingsworth April 15, 1924 – September 20, 2009

Claudia Killingsworth
April 15, 1924 – September 20, 2009

The Bay Area has lost one of its’ hardest working icons. Claudia was well known within the religious and charitable communities. Sister Killingsworth passed suddenly with the Lord blessing her with her wish. She was not sick or disabled, he simply took her home.

Claudia was one of six (6) children born to the union of Floyd and Paralee Cooley McKinney in the city of Sunflower Mississippi. She started school in a church built by her grandfather, Floyd McKinney, for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She received her early education in Mississippi, Chicago Illinois completing it at Southern Christian Institute “SCI” in Edward Mississippi where she met her husband James L. Killingsworth. She and James Sr. were married for sixty-five (65) years. She and husband James, are also alumni of Jarvis Christian College, Hawkins Texas. The Alumni for Jarvis Christian College at Mills Grove Christian Church, with the home going of Claudia, leaves husband James L. Killingsworth and Doris Barrett to continue their fundraising efforts for the institute.

Claudia accepted Christ at an early age, continuing with a strong faith over the years. Sister Killingsworth and her husband James Killingsworth Sr. became Charter Members of Second Christian Church, Disciples of Christ under the organizational skills of Rev. Peter C. Washington in September of 1949. On May 2, 1954, Charter members, Rowena Washington, Emma T. Robinson, James & Claudia Killingsworth and Floyd & Maurine Ward and other members of the congregation moved the church to a new location and became known as the grove Street Christian Church under the leadership of Rev. W.D. Elder. Mills Grove Christian Church became a reality on May 18, 1975 as Mills Terrace Christian and Grove Street Christian (DOC) combined their strength under the leadership of Rev. Eugene James.

Sister Killingsworth had been a member of the Ordained Diaconate Board of Mills Grove Christian Church (DOC) for many years. Her husband James Sr. serves as an Elder. She has been instrumental in serving the religious community within her church and to other churches in need of support. She continued to actively serve until the day before she was called home.
Claudia retired from the Food Services Department of the Oakland Unified School District after thirty-one (31) years of service. She was honored with a beautiful retirement celebration for her years of dedicated service to the students, parents and the Community of Oakland, as stated in her retirement program, “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.” Proverbs 31:10

Claudia works tirelessly with the East Oakland “Edes” senior citizens’ program helping to distribute much needed food and to participate and encourage others to maintain their activities in the exercise and trips made available. She also contributed the much needed emotional support. She was known at the Senior Center and in her neighborhood to be a source of love and comfort. During her early years of marriage, she found time to be a den mother for her son’s scout troop and other work with young people. She received several awards for her work with the youth. She was the caregiver for her aunt, Viola Grubbs who resided with the family for several years.

She also served the community through her several Masonic Affiliations, Regina Chapter#67, Order of the Eastern Star; Mary Elizabeth Court, Heroines of Jericho and Menelik Court, Daughters of Isis. She held many appointed positions with the Order of the Eastern Star. She was crowned as Queen of the Golden State Grand Chapter raising one of the long standing records of the highest amount of money raised. That money was used for Scholarships, baby showers for mothers at Highland Hospital. Through her affiliations women of her projects helped to raise money for scholarships, holiday baskets of foods, baby showers as mentioned above and items which were donated to homeless individuals.

She leaves to mourn her transition: Husband, James L. Killingsworth Sr.; Son, James L. Killingsworth Jr. a close companion Patricia Brewer; Two (2) grandchildren, Sonja Killingsworth & Leon Killingsworth (Kristina); Daughter-in-law, Adelma Killingsworth; four (4) great grandchildren, Avery 12 year. And Aiyanna Dueberry 10 yr. Ava 5 yr. and Ella 3 yr. She also leaves her sister, Hazel Page of Los Angeles; Sister-in-Laws, Edna Killingsworth of Oakland; Inez Killingsworth of Cleveland, Ohio; Nephews & Nieces David Killingsworth Jr., Fitzory, Stanley and Darlene Killingsworth all of Oakland. A host of members from her church and the religious community, as well as friends and those from the Masonic Family.

Claudia was always a very kind a giving person. She always had a smile and her favorite words were, “It will be alright” She will be truly missed in all the communities that she gave service.

Quiet hour, Tuesday September 29, 2009 6 PM to 8:00 PM

C.P. Bannon

6800 International (formally E. 14th St.) Oakland, CA 94621

Eastern Star Services

Donations to Mills Grove Christian Church for either,
“CWF (Christian women Fellowship) or The Youth Foundation

Home Going Service, Wednesday September 30, 2009
Mills Grove Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
5410 Fleming Avenue, Oakland, CA 94619
Services 10:00 A.M. to 12 Noon

Interment
Chapel of the Chimes
4499 Piedmont, Oakland, CA 94611
Immediately after the church service

Domingo Ghirardelli Feb. 21, 1817 - Jan. 17, 1894

Born in 1817 to an exotic foods importer and his young wife Domenico Ghirardelli became an apprentice for a local candy maker at an early age. Attracted to South America by the possibility of prosperity Ghirardelli spent several years in both Uruguay and Lima, Peru where he engaged in the trade of chocolate and later opened a confectionary store next to that of an American cabinet maker by the name of James Lick. Interested by stories of success in North America Lick set sail for San Francisco in 1847 with 600 pounds of Ghirardelli chocolate in tow which he quickly sold. Lick then writes Ghirardelli a letter asking him to come north and bring more chocolate. In the meantime, while learning Spanish, Ghirardelli decides to drop his Italian name Domenico and take on the Spanish equivalent of Domingo. It wasn't until 1849 after the death of his first wife and the news of gold in California that Ghirardelli decided to set sail for California. After little success finding gold Ghirardelli once again becomes a merchant setting up a tent store in the city of Stockton, CA. It wasn't until a couple months later that he opened his first location in San Francisco. Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory has now been in business for over 150 years and after fires and earth quakes it now stands at 900 N. Point St. in San Francisco, CA.

Although today Ghirardelli's mausoleum is located on Millionaires Row in Mountain View Memorial that was not always the case. It seems that the family originally had a mausoleum at the adjacent St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. As the story goes, As a young man Ghirardelli was a supporter of Garibaldi for the unification of Italy. It seemed that Garibaldi had differences of opinion on this subject. Garibaldi was exiled to South America and was exiled in 1836. Garibaldi's exile may have shaken Ghirardelli's faith in Catholicism. Thirty years later that faith would be destroyed. Ghirardelli had a teenage niece Aurelia who became gravely ill. A priest was called to give her last rites. Family members have conflicting stories about whether there was a bad rain storm or if the priest felt Ghirardelli hadn't given the church enough financial support. So Aurelia died without being given her last rites which infuriated Domingo and devastated Ghirardelli's deeply religious wife Carmen. Ghirardelli then forbade any of his family members to ever enter a Catholic church again. With this act still weighing on him Domingo had the mausoleum you see above built at Mountain View complete with a Masonic emblem above the door which was considered inappropriate by Catholics. Once it was ready, Domingo and his two sons went to St. Mary's in the dark of night and took the 4 bodies that were at St. Mary's and laid them to rest in the newly built mausoleum.

I found that story while just researching Domingo himself. I like the whole dark of night body stealing. I can't find any hard evidence that Ghirardelli was a freemason but an interesting story nonetheless...

Wordless Wednesday

Tombstone Tuesday

Henry S. Crocker 1832-1904
Clara E. Crocker 1845-1910

In 1856 Henry founded the H.S. Crocker Company Printers. Promising to deliver the best printing services the West Coast had to offer. Over 150 years later H.S. Crocker Co. is still in business.

It took me 3 trips to Mountain View Memorial in Oakland, CA to get a decent picture of this memorial. I kept getting too close and cutting off part of the feet or the sun wasn't right. It was always something. This has always been one of my favorite statues. Up close she is so lifelike and the detail on the robe is phenomenal.

Wordless Wednesday

Too Slow Saturday/Freaky Friday

This image was originally meant for "Freaky Friday" but since I was busy with that thing that gets in the way of all things fun a.k.a. work. I didn't get a chance to post it. There is nothing particularly freaky about it. I just found it a little strange that two days after I took mine Cheryl at GYR of South Alameda posted it as her Wordless Wednesday. And now it becomes a little freakier as I look at her picture(Click here) then again at mine you notice that in hers the grave seems clean other than a couple cacti. Then back at my picture and you see that there's a ball and a broken jewelry box lying on top. Her picture was taken May 10, 2009 and mine on August 17, 2009. I also took a picture of the jewelry box that was there as well. It looked old and weathered but I never touch anything that families leave on graves with the exception of standing up some windblown flowers. I'm not sure who is buried here because the grave is unmarked.I'm hoping maybe Cheryl can provide me with some insight on this one. I can only speculate that the family had no money for a marker but still comes to visit the grave site of a lost little girl. I don't know why but it seems as if this one turned out to be a little more freaky and interesting than I had imagined when I first started this post.

That Thing Thursday

This weeks "That Thing" is from Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Sebastapol, CA. I'm not sure how long the cross had been there but I found it interesting that it's made from loose rocks as if somebody continually puts it back together.

Freaky Friday

Most likely a victim of vandalism. This statue had 1 arm, 1 wing and no head. The pic was taken at St Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Oakland, CA. This is a beautiful cemetery which is dwarfed by the massive Mountain View Memorial right next door.

Wordless Wednesday