Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
27 days ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
27 days ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
27 days ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
27 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Mississippi Meridian Grave of Kelly Mitchell

Grave of Kelly Mitchell

The simple gravesite of a Romany clan leader is dotted with offerings, including cans of her favorite drink, Crush orange soda.

Meridian, Mississippi

Added By
philleykevin
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
The Rose Hill Cemetery, where Queen Kelly Mitchell is buried.   NatalieMaynor/CC BY 2.0
The Rose Hill Cemetery, where Queen Kelly Mitchell is buried.   NatalieMaynor/CC BY 2.0
Visitors often leave gifts at Mitchell’s gravesite as an offering.   NatalieMaynor/CC BY 2.0
January 2019   whitneyohara / Atlas Obscura User
  mary3moriarty / Atlas Obscura User
Mitchell family gravesite   whitneyohara / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

In February 1915, thousands of Romany people from all around the United States slowly but surely made their way to the town of Meridian in Mississippi. Their queen had died and they wanted to pay their respects to the head of the clan.

Queen Kelly Mitchell passed away on January 31, after suffering complications during the birth of her 15th child (some reports put the number at 14), while the family was camped out in Coatopa, Alabama. Her husband, King Emil, had sought local medical assistance and even offered a fee of $10,000 if doctors could save her, but the efforts were in vain. The couple were the leaders of the Mitchell clan of Romany people, one of the largest in America, and Emil, who was born in Brazil, had moved to the country as a child and had been crowned king in 1884.

Romany people are a traditionally nomadic group, thought to originally belong to the northwest of India. They were once commonly referred to as "gypsies," but that term has now taken on a negative racial connotation. Widespread movement across centuries has led to their presence all around the globe, where they assimilated the culture of the different places they live in but also retained a distinct Romany identity.

After Mitchell's death, it was decided that she would be buried at the Rose Hill Cemetery in nearby Meridian and her body was placed in state for 12 days, to allow time for more people to come and pay tribute.

Queen Kelly’s funeral was a distinctly Romany event, which nearly 20,000 people attended, creating a musical party atmosphere in the overflowing town. A newspaper report about the funeral read, “Her swarthy face with its high cheekbones is typical of Romany tribes and the head, the upper portion of which is covered with bright silken drapery pinned at the back with pins, rests upon a cushion of filmy silk and satin. The hair is braided Gypsy fashion and the dark tresses shine. The body is attired in a Royal robe of Gypsy Green and other bright colors contrasting vividly with the somber hues usual under such circumstances.”

Rumors that an extravagant coffin was crafted out of gold for her at a cost of $15,000, and that gold coins had been thrown into the casket at the time of the burial, took root, and the site was damaged several times by grave robbers before it was reinforced with better materials.

Despite these attempts, the gravesite is a festive corner of the cemetery, with its many trinkets that people leave, hoping that the gifts will please her and their problems will be solved. Crush orange soda cans also dot the grave, as this is rumored to be have been the queen's favorite drink. Beads, coins, whiskey, and cigarettes are some other common offerings to the deceased Romany leader. Her husband, who died 27 years after her, is buried next to her, along with some of the other members of the Mitchell family.

Related Tags

Gravestones Death Burial Places Royalty Cemeteries Graves

Community Contributors

Added By

philleykevin

Edited By

Kavya Ram Mohan, whitneyohara, mary3moriarty

  • Kavya Ram Mohan
  • whitneyohara
  • mary3moriarty

Published

July 25, 2017

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2014/12/a_golden_casket_and_a_legendar.html
  • http://intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com/2012/05/24/the-queen-of-the-gypsy-nation/
  • http://www.gypsyjib.com/page/Mitchell+Family+USA
  • http://thesouthernrambler.com/graves-of-the-king-and-queen-of-the-gypsies/
  • http://sciway3.net/clark/freemoors/emilmitchell.html
  • https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=11343040
Grave of Kelly Mitchell
8th St & 40th Ave
Meridian, Mississippi
United States
32.3647, -88.71828
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Jimmie Rodgers Museum

Meridian, Mississippi

miles away

Soulé Steam Feed Works

Meridian, Mississippi

miles away

Simmons-Wright Company Store

Toomsuba, Mississippi

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Meridian

Meridian

Mississippi

Places 2

Nearby Places

Jimmie Rodgers Museum

Meridian, Mississippi

miles away

Soulé Steam Feed Works

Meridian, Mississippi

miles away

Simmons-Wright Company Store

Toomsuba, Mississippi

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Meridian

Meridian

Mississippi

Places 2

Related Places

  • Charles F. Mills Grave Bell

    Thunderbolt, Georgia

    Charles F. Mills Grave Bell

    A 19th-century cemetery device to ensure that the prematurely buried would be "saved by the bell."

  • The backside of the grave, which features the fudge recipe.

    Logan, Utah

    'Kay's Fudge' Gravestone

    Kay Andrews's recipe was so good, her family immortalized it in stone.

  • Two foam-green crypts with planters.

    Oaxaca, Mexico

    Panteón General (General Cemetery)

    This graveyard boasts a medley of diverse and imaginative funeral architecture.

  • The grave of Florence Irene Ford.

    Natchez, Mississippi

    Grave of Florence Irene Ford

    Florence’s mother built a stairway down to her daughter’s coffin so she could comfort her during storms.

  • Blocher Memorial.

    Buffalo, New York

    Blocher Memorial

    An elaborate memorial to a man local legend says died of a broken heart.

  • A section of the Tophet.

    Carthage, Tunisia

    Tophet at Carthage

    An ancient burial ground believed to have been used for ritual sacrifice.

  • Joe Byrd Cemetery

    Huntsville, Texas

    Captain Joe Byrd Cemetery

    Inmates dig the graves at the largest prison cemetery in the U.S., the final resting place of both cowboys and Indians.

  • Geneva, Illinois

    Easy Chair Grave

    This carved armchair marks the final resting place for two pals in the Chicago suburbs.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.