Woodlawn Park Cemetery – Miami, Florida

Woodlawn Park Cemetery Sign
Woodlawn Park Cemetery is one of Miami’s oldest and largest cemeteries.

This Is A Cemetery
Woodlawn Park Cemetery Gates
In the traditional Woodlawn style, the cemetery gates display a Gothic arched styling popular in the mid to late 1800s.

Though it is a garden style cemetery, Woodlawn’s many open areas allows easy access and visibility.  This is Miami.  So, rolling hills and 3-dimensional geographic features are not existent here.  However, I enjoyed the exotic plants and tropical vegetation. 

Cemetery Mausoleum

Cemetery Palm Trees
Even on this winter’s day (so cold back home) I enjoyed a long stroll through the traditional cemetery park layout.  Puffy clouds rolling behind swaying palm trees serve as a testament to Woodlawn’s tropical location.

One highlight of my tour of Woodland Park Cemetery was walking the vault of the substantial mausoleum. Richly coloured stained glass windows allow natural sunlight to illuminate the mausoleum’s hallways.  Marble corridors echo and reverberate each footstep.

Stained Glass Sun

Mausoleum

Blue Stained Glass

Mausoleum Garden

An interior atrium garden was such a refreshing surprise. I sat on a bench and meditated for several minutes. The calm solitude was a reassuring comfort.

 

 

State Line Cemetery – Texarkana Arkansas

Arkansas State Line Cemetery – Texarkana Arkansas
According to the sign on the entry gate, if you are over 8’3” tall you will have to mind your head when entering Arkansas State Line Cemetery.

State Line Cemetery - Woodlawn Cemetery - Texarkana Arkansas
State Line Cemetery – Texarkana Arkansas

Arkansas State Line Cemetery – Texarkana Arkansas
According to the sign on the entry gate, if you are over 8’3” tall you will have to mind your head when entering Arkansas State Line Cemetery. Fortunately, The Cemetery Detective is a couple feet (plus some) shy of this mark. State Line Cemetery is either also known as Woodlawn Cemetery or it directly borders Woodlawn Cemetery. Any readers who know the facts about the name of this cemetery are welcome to email me and I will set the record straight in this blog.

There are two particularly interesting tombstones within this cemetery that stood out. The first is a very detailed carving of a broken tree that adornes Abraham Parking’s tombstone.

The second carving is of a little girl with a missing arm that stands guard of Maggie Purifoy’s grave site and overlooks, with downcast eyes, visitors to her grave site.

Broken Tree Grave Marker Carving
Broken Tree – Similar to broken columns on other grave markers.
Maggie Purifoy's Grave Marker - Lace Dress, Bare Feet, and Chubby Legs
Maggie Purifoy’s Grave Marker – Lace Dress, Bare Feet, and Chubby Legs