Right atop a hill on one of Meridian’s busiest streets rests a cultural masterpiece of heritage and mystery. 

    I am talking about Rose Hill Cemetery on 8th street. Although many interesting people are buried there one of the cemeteries main draws is the Romany rural family burial plot. Now I should tell you that one can have that “Gypsy Spirit” without having a drop of Romany blood! Since I base my life on a group of people long deceased before I was born and that I’m not kin too take my word for it. 

    One of the major stories of Rose Hill Cemetery begins with the Romany Gypsies over one thousand years ago halfway around the world and continues to this day in Meridian.  The Gypsies migrated from western India through the Balkans, Eastern and Western Europe to Portugal from which they were exiled to Brazil.  Here’s where our Meridian Gypsies connection begins.  In the 1860’s a group of Romany left Brazil bound for the USA. They arrived in 1862 with the future King Emil Mitchell a child of 5 years old in New Orleans.  Much of their life of wondering in the United States is a mystery because they did not keep written records. However, we do know that King Emil and his wife Kelly Mitchell had 9 sons and 5 daughters.  It was the 15th child born prematurely that claimed the Queen’s life in 1915 in Coatopa, Al.  The King summoned the country doctor and promised him $10,000.00 if he could save her life, to no avail. 

    The Queen was brought to Meridian because of its properly equipped refrigerated mortuary to await her funeral 12 days later.    Her funeral was the most extravagant funeral this town has seen in all of its 150 years.  Over 20,000 Romany gathered from around the world to pay their respects.  There were so many Gypsies that they had to camp out on the funeral parlor grounds and at Bonita Lakes. Imagine what a spectacle this was for not only the Romany, but the local Meridianites. 

    That funeral and Queen Kelly’s story, as well as growing up with the folklore surrounding the Gypsies inspired me to create the Queen City Gypsies 8 years ago.  The QCG is a Bellydance troupe which is dedicated to this historical legacy.  For the past 8 years that enthusiasm has continued to grow as the QCG have taken Gypsy dance, culture and Meridian’s heritage all around the nation.  So as you see this legend still inspires us today. Out of all the places in the world we are fortunate the Romany have a continuing connection with us here in Meridian.  Our city’s nickname “The Queen City” is perpetuated by the story surrounding queen Kelly’s funeral.

    If you would like to delve deeper into the Gypsy history, attend the Rose Hill Cemetery Tour October 16, at 6pm.  There will be 6 Royal Romany Gypsies personified as well as other interesting facts about their life and culture discussed.  Also, featured on this tour will be persons of great importance in Meridian’s history.  Don’t miss it. Come on out and celebrate 150 years of Meridian’s rich past.

    Gypsy Williams is a part of Queen City Gypsies.