Saturday, May 23, 2009

Yazoo City, Mississippi -- Part 2

This is a continuation of my post from yesterday about a trip I made to Yazoo City, Mississippi. Yesterday's story ended in the sleepy little Delta community of Satartia ... and today, I would like to begin on Main Street in downtown Yazoo City.

(You can click on the photos to enlarge them, if you'd like)

I love the contrast of the bold splashes of color on the restored buildings next to the old brick and stone architecture of the other buildings ...

And speaking of old buildings, here are a few pictures I took of some deserted buildings in the downtown area.

These old windows look like they could be on an Italian or European building, instead of a building in a small Mississippi Delta town ...

I love the old chipped plaster and the iron window grates ...

I found the next two buildings around the corner from Main Street ...


The most prominent landmarks in any small town (or large town, too, for that matter) are the church steeples. The twin spires of the Trinity Episcopal Church on Main Street caught my eye, along with the stunning stained glass window ...

No visit to Yazoo City is complete without a visit to Glenwood Cemetery, the final resting place of renown Southern writer Willie Morris, and the legendary Witch of Yazoo. To read more about Mr. Morris and the "witch," click on the links to my previous post about Yazoo City, which tells their stories in detail.

I went by to pay my respects to Willie, and took this picture of his grave site ...

I love the inscription on the plaque, which reads: "Even across the divide of death, friendship remains an echo forever in the heart." Isn't that beautiful!

The witch's grave is 13 steps from Willie's, so I shot a picture of hers, too ...

Here are a few more pictures of headstones that caught my attention ...


And speaking of lilies, here are some flowers that are forever captured in stone ...





I love the flowers on the next stone, and also the inscription, which reads:

"An exquisite architect forever building up the castle of happiness: always seeing the silver lining to every cloud; ever imparting gladness and joy and sunshine to others."

This plaque caught my eye and is a timely reminder of the significance of the Memorial Day tributes being planned for the weekend ...



As I was leaving the cemetery, I noticed this little angel that appeared to be hiding in the shrubbery ...


And, of course, I couldn't leave without investigating further. I know it's silly, but I couldn't stand to leave her there with her face in the bushes like that, so I pulled some of the branches away from her face ...


I don't know about her, but it made me feel better.

This last photo is of a crypt that was on a hill a good distance off the road, and, I have to admit, the closer I got to it, the more uncomfortable I felt. Fortunately, with my telephoto lens, I didn't have to venture too closely ...

And that ends the story of my visit to Yazoo City. I hope you enjoyed seeing it through my camera lens, and if you're ever in the area, I encourage you to go experience it -- and the Mississippi Delta -- for yourself. I promise you won't be disappointed.

7 comments:

Marjorie (Molly) Smith said...

Good morning, I really enjoyed your post today and yesterday. I too used to love going to old Cemeteries and looking at the different headstones and sayings. We haven't done that in awhile. Will have to start doing it again. It is so interesting.
Have a great Memorial Week-end.
Molly

Lisa said...

What a fitting tribute this Memorial weekend! The workmanship on those tombstones is exquisite! As always, your photos are divine!

Joyce said...

Friendship saying is so sweet. Hubby is obsessed with photos of graves so I have found some interesting head stones that I plan to post in the future. Some of them are just gorgeous. Thanks for sharing your photos with me.
Joyce

Unknown said...

Hi Janie,
I don't think I've ever been to Yazoo City...I love the different color buildings!

Your cemetary pictures are great...I may try to do a post here of a cemetary.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend!
:) Diane

Anonymous said...

I just wanted to pop in and wish you a happy and safe holiday week-end...

I will be back to read all about your trip...

Kathy :)

RachelD said...

Janie,
This was just beautiful, and brought memories of old times, old places. I've always had a special feeling for walking among the resting places of those gone before, touching a forever-flower in the stone, reading the lasting memories of the ones left behind.

I wonder what happened to crack the stone of the Witch---it was placed after 1995, and I have a picture of Willie standing with it, fresh and unmarred, and he passed away in '99, I think.

Thank you for the special glimpse of a faraway place so fondly remembered---and I love how the new bright facades of the buildings stand out as would flaunty painted lady Victorians amongst the staid brick Regency and Italianate dwellings of a long-ago neighborhood.

Just lovely.

Laurey said...

This is just what I needed today. And I love the saying "Even across the divide of death, friendship remains an echo forever in the heart." - that is so true!!! And the cemetery was so peaceful. The red bird and the angel were special gifts, too. Your photos really make my heart smile!!! Happy Memorial's Day!!!