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| Violet Cemetery, Osceola, Ar |
I want to be buried here. Someday. Just plant my dead body in the midst of the gorgeous tulips, and I would be happy for all eternity.
Is this not the most beautiful cemetery?
Violet Cemetery is the final resting place for early settlers, war veterans and founding fathers of Osceola, Arkansas. Obviously I won’t be allowed in. The first grave marker dated 1831 pre-dates the founding of Mississippi County and Arkansas Statehood. It’s truly a peaceful patch of heaven, smack in the center of downtown Osceola, across from the tired little post office and fire station.
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| tulips grow like ground cover |
Years ago, a group of dedicated citizens formed an association to beautify the neglected cemetery. Raising funds, they re-set and repaired markers and planted violets at each grave, hence the name. Although the violets were not blooming when I visited, the tulips were absolutely brilliant. Multiplying and spreading across the cemetery, they were nearly choking out the grave markers, pushing up through the cracks of the stepping stones, clearly thriving in this spot. Gene Robinson, an energetic resident who was devoted to Osceola, worked tirelessly to insure Violet Cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places. She died recently, but I bet she is smiling over these happy tulips.
Although activity has migrated toward the interstate and the new Wal-Mart, in the center of Osceola, Violet Cemetery still shines.
“The true meaning of life is to plant trees under which you never expect to sit.” Nelson Henderson
“Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter into the joy of your lord.” (King James, Matthew 25:23)
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| Works of art… |
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| Osceola history died Nov 23 1884 |
Very pretty.
It is a beautiful place.
I enjoy reading all your blog’s.
O-yeah, Sterlings, it’s where everybody went on Saturday. You could smell the popcorn when you walked in the door.
The Violet Cemetery looks beautiful with all the tulips.
I remember that popcorn:)
Thanks ,,,love the Violet Cemetery,,,beautiful,,,I remember Sterlings ,I worked there during my high school years,,,I worked in the candy department,,where I had to weigh and bag it for customers,the best candy was the maple nut ,,it is still around in hard to find places…yes ,Osceola was a booming place when I grew up in the country near Keiser,,,,thanks again for the memories…love ya ,Gail
I LOVE the historian in you! You make my brain dust off the cobwebs that have accumulated there the past few years! I truly hope I live long enough to read your books and to claim ‘the fame’ of being your cuz! LOL. I remember those bustling days downtown… I worked at Belks too, esp loved the holiday seasons when I could giftwrap! And loved the upstairs too – back then, it was really something to have a store with upstairs! It was a fun job in the summers mostly, but I worked with some wonderful ladies. Not the least of which was my sweet momma. She knew that mens dept backwards and forwards! Thanks for the memories!
Belks was great! One stop shopping but not crammed packed like the department stores today!
PS… I meant to say, LOVE your ability to create the clever titles too! Do you remember Tiny Tim getting married on the Johnny Carson show, singing the tulip song? Lol. I remember watching with mamma Ruby, she loved that show! Speaking of MR, made her dumplin recipe yesterday and it was great! When I tweak my mistakes, next time, they will be spectacular!!! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
I do remember Tiny Tim on Johnny Carson:)) and I wish I had some of those dumplings! It’s up to you to keep that tradition going:)))
My great great-grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Turner Barham, died in Osceola on 29 November, 1869 from complications of childbirth. She was buried in Osceola, but I do not know which cemetery. Do you know if there were other cemeteries in Osceola besides Violet Cemetery in 1869? I know it’s a long shot, but I was impressed with your writing and thought you might have a clue where I could search for more information on my great great-grandmother. Thanks. Robert Manis
Mr. Manis – There are several Osceola Cemeteries including Ermen Lane Cemetery which was established in 1918 (I believe). There are also lots of small family mounds with unreadable markers scattered around the farmland which may explain why you haven’t been able to find her. Have you researched via findagrave.com? Good luck and keep me posted! Thanks for commenting too. I find it fascinating.
I just visited Violet Cemetery on Thursday and found the grave markers of my grandmother Sallie and her father A.V. Mills. My first time back in Arkansas since I was born in Blytheville in 1957. Thank you to those who care for the resting place of our families. So glad I just found this website. Thank you.
How special! I hope someday you’ll return to the cemetery when the tulips are blooming. It is a stunning thing to see. Thanks for reading, too! I hope you’ll come back.