Pleasant Garden Cemetery-- a historical gem!

photo by Michael Garbarino

PHOTO LINK HERE

Today I took a tour of Pleasant Garden Cemetery in Chattanooga, TN. It is in the Ridgeside community on Rowe Road. It was raining gently as we walked through the cemetery. I didn't take a camera, so any photos will be from others.

I parked in front of the Shaari Zion Cemetery, also known as Workmen's Circle Cemetery. That was also new to me. Here is some information about it: TN GenWeb Cemetery Database

I was looking forward to the cemetery tour with Donivan Brown, but he ended up not being able to make it. I hope to tour again, learning what I can from him.

There was a large green marker at the entrance of the cemetery. We saw Otis "Hot Sauce" Washington's headstone. There was a bottle of hot sauce on one side and another bottle of something on the right. I had to look up this person to learn that he and his wife Madie had a restaurant locally and he was known for his hot sauce. Here is another link about Otis. We made our way to Ed Johnson's site and found it well taken care of, with a bouquet of yellow and purple flowers (click on the link for Ed Johnson  in the previous sentence to see photos). There were other items too. To help you find the grave, there are small pieces of wood stacked at the top of the path.

Wandering through the cemetery in the rain was a beautiful experience today. It was much bigger than I knew. There was a beautiful pink crepe myrtle that we walked by. I saw quite a few yucca clumps. It is a place I would like to spend more time. I would also like to volunteer some time and energy to cleaning it up. It truly is a historical gem and deserves more attention and care.

Bessie Smith is buried at Pleasant Gardens Cemetery. I saw a photo of the site on the AACPF site (see below). I looked it up on Find A Grave. Here is the information; click here.

The cemetery was considered for a National Register for Historical Places, but I don't know if it was given that title or not. Click here for the article from the chattanoogan.com on January 10, 2025. I found the DRAFT of the form on tn.gov.

Some additional websites about Pleasant Garden Cemetery:

• AACPF (has volunteer history, general history, and some photos)
• Find A Grave (you can search for specific names)
• Pleasant Garden Cemetery on FaceBook (photos, information, up-to-date happenings)
• Surprise! You Own a Long-Lost Cemetery (information about the cemetery and Levi Henry and his connection as a Young descendant)
• Tennessee Historic Landscape (photos, information)
• Black Graves Matter (YouTube video from 2023)

Maybe you're like me and hadn't heard of this cemetery. Now you have. Thank you to all the families, friends, volunteers who have been working to clean and restore the cemetery.

Today's experience and "tour" at the cemetery was a start to a new adventure for me.

The journey is an adventure!

Deb

My stained glass journey continues....

 

[Photo used for pattern; did not use this piece of glass]

(Cliff and pattern)

Today someone asked me if I thought my stained glass journey would be where it is today. The answer is "no".  I had NO IDEA how much fun it would be, how therapeutic it would be or how much I would enjoy the learning and challenge process.

I went from one small project with minimal work on my part to doing about 15 small pieces of ornaments that required drawing out a pattern (or finding one), cutting glass, grinding, etc. Then I started making flags, strips and flowers. The flags and strips required cutting. I learned how to make jump rings. The flowers have been fun to mix and match colors. 

Then I started my big project-- Cliff. I sent off a photo to Kat (Kat Scarlett Patrick) to get my pattern. There are 37 pieces to this project. I printed the pattern on thick paper, then I started cutting out the pattern. I learned about cutting. If you include the lines, your pattern will "grow". Ideally, one cuts just on the inside of the line. I got some Cliff-colored glass and started cutting pieces. I learned that cutting pieces on a bigger sheet of glass required more thought and consideration then cutting smaller patterns out of scrap. I learned to look at the glass to find places in it that showed the colors and patterns from the photo. I learned some techniques on grinding small pieces. I learned some cutting techniques.  I learned how to cut out foil on small pieces. I learned how to make eyes by using a small kiln that goes in a microwave and turns small glass pieces into "globs". :)   

Another important lesson learned during my stained glass journey so far is that most anything can be fixed. You might need to recut, refoil, grind more, find another way to do things, etc. BUT, there are work arounds. There is a process of letting go, not being too perfectionistic, of becoming comfortable with the product. These have been good lessons. It has also be a helpful spiritual practice in that it helps me focus on the Creator. There is something expansive about creating something from within. It has helped me be more appreciative of the amazing Creation around me from Creator. 

I have gotten LOTS of help along the way. I am grateful for a patient teacher at the shop.

I'm not done yet. I have a way to go on Cliff. But I am getting there. Then I will go back to making flowers, some more flags, and a few other projects I have in mind. Oh, and this year's ornaments. But, I won't be sharing photos of those until closer to the holidays.... or even after the holidays. Those will be a surprise. Well, the patterns will be. But, hey family-- guess what gift you are getting from me this year?!?! One of the reasons I am doing ornaments as gifts is that it was so special for me to get an ornament every year from my Godmother/Aunt Carol. I have a collection of special ornaments that are part of the season.

Sometimes trying something new at a dinner and get together can lead to a new hobby, a new practice. That's what happened to me. I tried something new and then later it came back to me to try more. I jumped in and am learning and growing in this creative hobby/practice.

Honestly, I don't consider myself creative. However, I have done photography since I was a kid and enjoy contemplative photography these days. I also write. I have created things throughout the years for sermon handouts, brochures, etc. I have written a few retreats. When I am honest with myself, I am creative. Living into the unique creative juices that are me gives me life.

I encourage us all to try new things. We might just be surprised at the impact it has on us.

Enjoy the adventurous journey.

Deb

Photos of my current project (the pattern, and steps along the way-- NOT in order):

PHOTOS ARE MINE.

Credit for the pattern: Kat Scarlett Patrick

Credit for the teaching and patience: Cheryl Overmeyer 

My other blogpost about my stained glass journey:

My Stained Glass Journey... it's only just begun

New Growth

This morning as I was on the patio drinking coffee with Cliff, I noticed there was new growth, new life in the yucca planters. These yucca planters held vibrant yucca plants at one time, but had died off. Evidently I have a strong "brown thumb" and can kill even yucca plants.

I saw signs of life in the planters. I was surprised because it has been quite a while since there were signs of life. The planters themselves are pretty cool. They are Mexican pottery. I got the plants and the planters at Bees on a Bicycle. They are sadly no longer in business, as there is a life cycle for all things.

For these yucca plants, somehow, it was time for new life, new growth. I weeded out the weeds and took out the dead leaves from fall that were in the pot. 

Both planters revealed several clumps of young yucca.

As I thought about this new life and new growth, I realized that I had no idea what was going on underneath the soil. I thought the plants were gone. But, I was wrong. 

Isaiah 43:19 comes to mind: 

"Look! I'm doing a new thing; now it sprouts up; don't you recognize it? I'm making a way in the desert, paths in the wilderness." (CEB-- Common English Bible)

What new thing is sprouting up in my life? In your life? 

For me, I don't yet know, but it was encouraging for me to see new life, new growth and to remember that just because something seems gone, it doesn't mean it is. There is work being done underneath the surface, from the inside out. 

It's not an easy thing to trust what one cannot see, to believe that there is life and growth when there is no evidence.

Yet, when it sprouts up, so does the hope and encouragement.

May I, you, we remember that there is more going on within than we realize or recognize.

Here's to new things and making a way in the desert, paths in the wilderness.

May the adventurous journey continue.

Rev. Deb