This 10-Year-Old Girl’s Grave Is Built With Easy-Access Stairs So That Her Mother Could Come To Comfort Her During Storms
At first glance, this grave in Natchez City Cemetery in Mississippi may look perfectly normal. But if you were to walk closer to it, you’d notice that behind the tombstone, there’s a mysterious door hiding a set of stairs leading down to the casket.
This peculiar grave belongs to a 10-year-old girl named Florence Irene Ford who passed away from yellow fever back in 1871. When the little girl died, her mother named Ellen had a small window installed at the head of her daughter’s casket, and a narrow stairway built six feet down to the level of the window.
At first glance, this grave in Natchez City Cemetery in Mississippi may appear perfectly normal
Image credits: Wikimedia Commons
Why did the mother have such an interesting request, you ask? Apparently, little Florence was terrified of storms and every single time one rolled in, she would run to her mother, who would lovingly comfort her.
But if you were to walk closer, you’d notice a few strange things about it
Image credits: Natalie Maynor
When the girl passed away, her mother couldn’t bear the thought of not being able to comfort her daughter anymore. Because of that, she wanted the grave to have these unique alterations that would allow her to feel closer to her daughter.
Behind the tombstone, there’s a mysterious door hiding a set of stairs
Image credits: Shanna Riley
The stairs lead to a small window fitted at the head of the girl’s casket
Image credits: Natalie Maynor
Throughout the years, the grave hasn’t changed that much. For instance, the epitaph on the tombstone is still easy to read: “As bright and affectionate a Daughter as ever God with His Image blest.” Basically, the only thing that changed is the glass window that was covered to prevent any potential acts of vandalism back in the 1950s.
The stairs and the window were installed so the mother could comfort her daughter during storms
Image credits: Shanna Riley
Throughout the years, the grave hasn’t changed much
Image credits: Shanna Riley
And here’s what people on the internet are saying about this mysterious grave
297Kviews
Share on Facebook“Covered to avoid vandalism” how about people quit being so shitty and respect the property others. Why is that so hard?
Because they either lack the empathy to respect others, or willfully choose to disrespect others. Either cases, they're POS.
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Load More Replies...I agree, also with the concept of "everyone grieves in their own way" but this seems unhealthy. Kindda like people not touching their loved ones rooms for years after their deaths: you need to move forward.
Load More Replies...It must be very confronting for a mother to look through the glass and see her child decomposing
So there is a window into the coffin so she can see her dead daughter? That is extremely creepy and morbid. I doubt if anyone would want a parent to do this. This woman needs help or needed help.
That was under the Victorian time 🤔. There were a lot of scary and horror writers during that era Poe, Shelly, Wild, Stoker, Stevenson... and I suppose this kind of things were a normal thing back then?! For me In these days it is macabre and not a healthy way to handle grief.
That poor mother. She was basically sitting in hole in the dark, next to her daughter's rotting corpse. Her daughter was beyond life, and beyond feeling scared of thunderstorms. The mother wasn't providing comfort to anyone at this point. She should have been given psychological help for this, not indulged to this unhealthy degree.
Both beautiful and heartbreaking! I love the little cherub sitting on the wall, watching the scene. You can easily imagine the mum looking after her daughter, and the cherub contemplating their love <3
A Mothers Love For her Child can never be Forsaken! May She Rest in peace always.
Death does not separate a relationship. For those who think it's unhealthy do not understand. I've had friends die 8 plus years ago and I can still feel their presence. Back in the day, people took picnics in the cemetery to visit the departed and pay respects. A mother's love doesn't die after death. If the woman physically couldn't eat due to grief or ever leave the memorial, it's a little unhealthy. To miss her daughter and grieve in this way? It's perfectly fine.
“Covered to avoid vandalism” how about people quit being so shitty and respect the property others. Why is that so hard?
Because they either lack the empathy to respect others, or willfully choose to disrespect others. Either cases, they're POS.
Load More Replies...This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Load More Replies...I agree, also with the concept of "everyone grieves in their own way" but this seems unhealthy. Kindda like people not touching their loved ones rooms for years after their deaths: you need to move forward.
Load More Replies...It must be very confronting for a mother to look through the glass and see her child decomposing
So there is a window into the coffin so she can see her dead daughter? That is extremely creepy and morbid. I doubt if anyone would want a parent to do this. This woman needs help or needed help.
That was under the Victorian time 🤔. There were a lot of scary and horror writers during that era Poe, Shelly, Wild, Stoker, Stevenson... and I suppose this kind of things were a normal thing back then?! For me In these days it is macabre and not a healthy way to handle grief.
That poor mother. She was basically sitting in hole in the dark, next to her daughter's rotting corpse. Her daughter was beyond life, and beyond feeling scared of thunderstorms. The mother wasn't providing comfort to anyone at this point. She should have been given psychological help for this, not indulged to this unhealthy degree.
Both beautiful and heartbreaking! I love the little cherub sitting on the wall, watching the scene. You can easily imagine the mum looking after her daughter, and the cherub contemplating their love <3
A Mothers Love For her Child can never be Forsaken! May She Rest in peace always.
Death does not separate a relationship. For those who think it's unhealthy do not understand. I've had friends die 8 plus years ago and I can still feel their presence. Back in the day, people took picnics in the cemetery to visit the departed and pay respects. A mother's love doesn't die after death. If the woman physically couldn't eat due to grief or ever leave the memorial, it's a little unhealthy. To miss her daughter and grieve in this way? It's perfectly fine.
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