Unusual Graves: Beyond Simple Headstones

Some graves go beyond simple headstones and serve as works of art. These unique graves are built out of grief and paranoia, and they help define the individuals they commemorate. One example is the grave of Timothy Clark Smith located in Evergreen Cemetery. Smith, who had a fear of being buried alive, had an underground room constructed out of cement and stone, complete with a window to confirm his demise. Another unusual grave is the tomb of Lila Maude Davidson-Hansel in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her tomb features a glass roof that allows sunlight to shine on her, fulfilling her request to be laid where the sun would always illuminate her. Lastly, the grave of Mitty Wilkins Manning in Holly Springs, Mississippi, has a sliding window on the marble slab revealing an empty tomb. It was designed for Mitty's mother to look down at her daughter, but her body was eventually buried underground, leaving an empty grave with a sliding window.