Rain or Shine

Walking to Bethel United Methodist Church you could smell the rain in the air. The darkness that surrounded you almost made it impossible for you to even think that it was only 6 o'clock. About a block away from the church we felt one drop, then two, then after that the bottom dropped out. I half expected us to turn around and go back, class dismissed, but I was wrong. As we neared Bethel United Methodist, I thought to myself man it was a bad day to wear a white shirt.

Die in Socket

 Bethel has a multitude of gravestones. The gravestone to the left has flowers that appear to be lilies. The lilies symbolize purity and chastity. 

Headstone

This headstone was found leaning up against the church. This is where Joseph W. Ainger was buried, he was 49 when he passed away. 

The cross with the crown on it speaks to the all the power the lord has and how he is the one king and the ultimate decision maker. 

Cradle Grave

This grave has pretty self-explanatory symbols. William Fleming was a pastor in the 1800's and was 56 years old when he passed away. 

The book on top of the pulpit is more of a memorial of what he stood for and how he was always preaching, it was his life. 

Die in Socket

This grave is home to Rosa Mary a wife. She was very loved and you can tell by the two symbols on her gravestone. She was 46 years old when she passed away. 

The bouquet of flowers shows the grief the family feels over her death. The drapery represents the mourning the family is going through because of her death. 

This is possibly the most meaningful gravestone in the whole graveyard, the raw emotion of these symbols makes it so much more meaningful. 

Die in Socket

Due to the weathered condition of the grave marker, you cannot tell much more information that the name and the symbol. This woman was Olin Davis. She was likely loved and cared about deeply.

The rose is an example of undying love. This is one of the most romantic things to put on a gravestone, especially the gravestone of a loved one.  

Angel Gabriel

Die in Socket

This gravestone belongs to Rebecca Jane who passed away in the 1800's as well. She was only 19 years old. She was a daughter and was well loved. 

The angel symbolizes spirituality. This angel specifically is Gabriel you can tell this by the fact that he is carrying a horn in his hands. He represents resurrection and the day of judgment. 

Die in Socket

This gravestone was made for Hannah Pelfer. She was a wife, her gravestone eas even made in the early 1800's. This explains the amount of weathering on it. 

The symbol appears to be in perfect condition though. It is a wreath of many different flowers. Symbolizing memory and love. 

Headstone

This headstone is for Casey Poyas, there is no death or birth date. This headstone is actually in the parking lot of Bethel United Methodist Church. 

The finger up symbolizes how this individual is going to heaven. Making sure there is no worrying or anything like that, just making it known to all. 

Headstone that has fallen 

Due to how weathered this stone is there is no way of reading it. The symbol on this is a lamb, this is a way of symbolizing innocence. This is common on a child's grave, even though we can not read the writing we can think that this was a child's grave due to the symbols. 

Headstone that has fallen 

This headstone belongs to Charles Seyle who was 57 years old. This is headstone from the late 1800's. You know it is a headstone that has fallen due to how this is cracked. 

The cross with the ivy around it is symbolizing religion obviously. But the Ivy adds an aspect of eternal life. Meaning that with Jesus you have eternal life. 

Overall though all the rain, I had a great time. Walking into the church we learned a lot of cool information from Sue Bennet. She said that "Bethel is the oldest Methodist Church still standing". She had so many more cool fact like how" Charleston was the fourth largest city before the revolutionary war" being a native I thought I knew everything about Charleston but I was wrong. 

It was one of the best graveyard trips I had been on. Thank you everyone!!