#AtoZChallenge - Tapophilia

Welcome to the Blogging from A to Z Challenge for 2026!

My theme this year is simply things that I’m grateful for.

It’s a broad and varied theme but was surprisingly easy to fill in each letter!

A taphophile is someone with a passion for exploring cemeteries, studying gravestones, reading epitaphs, and appreciating the art, history, and cultural significance of burial sites. The term comes from the Greek words taphos (meaning "tomb" or "grave") and philos (meaning "lover of"), literally translating to "lover of graves". Taphophilia can range from casual interest, such as visiting famous graves or photographing memorials, to a more scholarly or historical pursuit, including genealogy and the study of funerary art.
from taphophile.com.au

Seems pretty straightforward!  

I love to explore cemeteries - the older, the better!

I adore the peace, art & history and wonder about the lives represented in that dash between years. 

Rosalie Raymond

 Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston SC

I regret not getting out of the car and exploring the entire Raymond plot.  

They have some very neat stones. 

Oak Grove Cemetery, St Mary's GA

The first time I saw this was in 1992 and for some reason it always stuck in my mind. So when the Spawn's dance team when to nationals in Orlando, I planned our trip so we could go here first.  Plus St Mary's is also where the Naval Submarine Base is, which is where my first ship in the Navy had been stationed. 

Sacred to the memory 

Col. John Patterson

aged 52 years

Mary Young, his daughter

aged 19years & 6 months

Charles Young, the son of

Mary Young, aged 18 months

James Batcholer, aged 17 years

John Morris, aged 8 years

9 months, relatives of the above. 

All born at Philadelphia, State of 

Pennsylvania and fell victims within

a few days of each other, to the

yellow fever of 1801 at St. Mary's

State of Georgia

This marble is erected by

Francis Young and 

Lewis Levy, sons in law of 

Col John Patterson

The grief of their affectionate relatives

speaks louder than this cold marble. 

Goodrich Cemetery, Bruce Twp MI

George Walden

1826-1847

This cemetery is supposedly haunted by George.  I believe it!

North Dryden Cemetery, Dryden, MI

Deuteronomy Cooley

1852-1861

This whole cemetery has a lot of unusual names, but his tops the list!

Coming up in June - one of the guys from my search & rescue team is going to be playing taps at the Michigan War Dog Memorial for 3 fallen police K9s.  One of our SAR K9s is going to be interred then, too.  This is going to be one of the toughest things I've ever witnessed!  I've been wanting to go explore there, but not in this manner.