hunting symbols at BUMC

The Bethel United Methodist Church is home to many unique grave markers, and our class went on a scavenger hunt to find some examples of these personalized gravemarkers.

Some history about the church is that it was founded in 1797 in the heart of downtown Charleston, SC. They have services every Sunday and they are obviously a methodist denomination. More information can be found on their website here. 

The following examples of gravemarkers were the ones that caught my eye and made me question the meaning of their burial. 

 The first one I found had these beautiful flowers on the top of the die in socket grave. Buried here is Charles D. Bateman, he was born on August 29, 1828, and died on September 22, 1889 (61). According to his death certificate found here, he killed himself. The flowers on top of his grave signify the frailty of life, meaning he was in the condition of being weak and delicate.

 Next, we have this cradle grave with a book over a podium. The deceased was a pastor by the name of Reverend William H Fleming. He was born on January 1, 1821, and died on April 6, 1877 (56). According to his death certificate, he died of pneumonia and was a very well respected man who attended college and earned the title Doctor of Divinity. The bible on top of the grave represents a religious layperson or cleric.

This die in socket caught my eye because it was up against a wall and clean. Here lies Pracilla Sarah Shepherd, born on June 28, 1809, and died on March 10, 1885 (75). She was a mother to eight children and a loving wife to Robert Henry Eason. There are no details on the cause of death but the symbol on the grave means the sovereignty of the lord, meaning she taught about God.

This die on socket grave is a personal favorite just because it is draped over and meaningful. The deceased is Rosa Mary Burnham Muckenfuss and was born on October 9, 1835, and died on November 2, 1881 (46). There is not a lot of information regarding her death but we can infer that she was a loving person. The drape over the grave represents sorrow or mourning, and the flowers represent the frailty of life.

This pedestal tomb is unique because it was one of the only ones in the churchyard. The deceased is Sarah Heron and there was little to no information about her and her life journey. She was born in 1789 and died on November 12. 1835. I'm guessing there was an urn on top of the cone-like structure because you can see that something was there and that it was chipped or fell off.

 This obelisk grave marker was in the corner of the churchyard and is "home" to Abigail S. Swift Capers. She was born in 1811 and is estimated to have died on August 30, 1846 (34-35). What the obelisk symbolizes devotion to god, an important event or achievement in their life.

 Here lies Sarah Margaret and she was born in 1838 died September 12th, 1855 and aged seventeen years. What really caught me eye was the weeping willow and the urn on the grave. I thought it was interesting because no other graves' insight had the same art on it. The weeping willow signifies natures lament; sorrow and mourning and the urn is the greek symbol of mourning, the body as a vessel of the soul. So we can infer that people were obviously upset about her passing because of her age and possibly how she was as a person.

This petit grave was located near the parking lot and was up against a concrete wall in front of a parking space. The deceased is Casey Poyas, and was born in 1871 and is unknown when they died. However, there is a hand pointing to the sky symbolizing a reward of righteousness. conformation of life after death. Often also associated with someone who was known to practice religion.

The second to last die in socket grave was in the main churchyard. The deceased is Elizabeth Martha Simons Virno Moore, she was born in 1796 and died on October 26, 1861 (64-65). There is no information on how she died but we can gather that she was religious because of the angel and urn on her tomb. The angel symbolizes spirituality and the angel is an agent of god. The urn represents an ossuary.

The final grave I found was also up against the concrete wall in the parking lot. The deceased are Alice Elmina and Samuel Ward. Alice born on April 22, 1852, and died on August 7, 1854 (2). Samuel Ward was born on August 16, 1855, and died March 7, 1856 (6 months). There is no information bout how they died but we can infer they were loved. There is ivy on the die in socket grave and the ivy represents memory; immortality; friendship; fidelity; faithfulness; undying affection; eternal life. 

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