One of the many reasons I wanted to visit Oakland was to visit this memorial to love. I'd seen it before but had neglected to read the inscription and the accompanying engraved plaques. The statue tells it's own story - a man and a woman leaning into each other. She is resting against him, her arm along his side. She's wearing a dress with bare feet, and gazing into the distance. He's turned toward her and totally focused on her while he combs her long hair. They are lovers, the tenderness and devotion is almost palpable.
The inscription: "To Love. To Passion. To Deb."
The engraved plaques tell more of the story. Deb, Deborah, was born in 1953 and she died in 2006 at age 53. Gerald, was born in 1959, his plaque awaits a second date...he lives on without her.
Loved and lost.
Oakland Cemetery:
Land for Oakland was purchased in 1850 and it was designed as a Victorian "rural" garden cemetery. Over the years it grew, and was eventually surrounded by the city of Atlanta and industry...still the gardens are beautiful, under renovation, and a quiet oasis. There's a lot more to the history of Oakland, it is now on the National Register of Historic Places, you can find more information here: http://www.oaklandcemetery.com/
Photography & prose by Terry Rowe.
Your visit & comments are appreciated.
You can see my art work or photographs at www.terryrowe.photography. Any photographs in my blog are also available for purchase.
