Repair of Ms. Emily's Grave at Decatur Cemetery

A 160-year-old gravesite of the "forever young" Ms. Emily Pittman in Decatur Cemetery is receiving some restoration and repair courtesy of the Decatur Preservation Alliance. Local Blacksmith Ray Bowen has been contracted by The Friends of the Decatur Cemetery to repair the cast iron gate surrounding the tomb of Ms. Emily. Emily died young at the age of 21 and is a descendant to some of Decatur's first land owners. Not much is known about her, but her gravesite is a monument to a cherished young southern lady.

The Decatur Cemetery is the oldest burial ground in Metro Atlanta and Decatur's largest green-space. The cemetery is also the final resting place of Confederate soldiers, politicians, musicians, doctors, authors, and poets. The cemetery also serves as a peaceful retreat for those with blood still pumping like walkers, runners and southern history enthusiasts.

The cast iron door and name plaque has temporarily been in the hands of Ray Bowen in his shop Invictus Forge and saw the light of day for the first time on Thursday since last summer for a fitting review with Friends of Decatur Cemetery member, Victor Donham. The door will return to Ray's shop to reattach the name plate and finishing before final installation. Ray expects to be complete by next week.

Stop by Ms. Emily's site with the Friends of Decatur Cemetery this Sunday at 2:30 p.m. for the first "Cemetery Stroll" of the season that continues through October.

For a recap on my visit to Ray's shop as he began the work on Ms. Emily's gate door click here.

Ray Bowen levels up Ms. Emily Pittman's name plate to the gate door of her 

gravesite.

Victor Donham of the Friends of Decatur Cemetery inspects the integrity of the

 repaired gate door. 

                                      Ray Bowen and Victor Donham remove Ms. Emily's gate door one last to return

                                      to Ray's shop Invictus Forge to reattach the name plate and some final finish work.

Ray Bowen, Blacksmith and Victor Donham of Friends of Decatur Cemetery at the grave site of Ms. Emily Pittman to test fit the repaired cast iron gate door.

Ray Bowen returns to the shop with the name plate of Ms. Emily one

 last time for finishing touches.