"In the Arms" Now In the Arms of the Governor!

What a thrill it was when I saw this photo shared by Magnolia Cemetery Superintendent Beverly Donald! Beverly was in Columbia on June 11 to receive an award as part of the 2014 South Carolina Historic Preservation Awards held in the state Capitol.

Beverly Donald, Gov. Nikki Haley and my new book! 

Magnolia Cemetery received an award for the recent stabilization and preservation work performed on the Receiving Tomb, which dates to the cemetery's opening in 1850. The tomb was used to safeguard bodies until their burial sites were completed.

Gov. Nikki Haley was the event's key presenter. For the Receiving Tomb, awards were given to the Magnolia Cemetery Trust, Bennett Preservation Engineering PC and the Preservation Society of Charleston, which included the Receiving Tomb as one of its "Seven to Seven" Charleston area projects.

Beverly had the opportunity to meet Gov. Haley and gave her a copy of my new book, "In the Arms of Angels: Magnolia Cemetery-Charleston's Treasure of History, Mystery and Artistry." The book features the Receiving Tomb as one of the cemetery's "most monumental" structures.

Work on the Receiving Tomb in 2013- now stabilized exterior improvements are up next