Caught up in an adventurous whim, I decided to consummate an old goal:  Visit Rose Hill Cemetery and pay my respects to the Allman brothers, Duane and Greg, and Berry Oakley.  Duane and Berry died in motorcycle accidents in 1971 and 1972 respectively.  Greg died a little over a year ago on May 27, 2017.  What does Elizabeth Reed have to do with all this, you say?
 
The main entrance to Rose Hill Cemetery.  Established in 1840, several notable figures are interred here.  The cemetery has a Confederate soldier section as well as Jewish and Catholic sections.  The cemetery was named after Simri Rose who designed the cemetery to be both a cemetery and a park for the people of Macon, Georgia.  It is a truly beautiful place!  The views from here are fantastic!
This is the old bandstand.  It is located at the bottom of the hill next to the railroad tracks.  The bandstand was a popular place for weekend concerts.  At the end of the little valley on the right behind the bandstand, the grave site for the Allman brothers and Berry Oakley can be seen.
 
A photo snapped walking up the road to the Carnation Ridge entrance. 
The steps leading down to the grave site.  A certain physical fitness is required to walk around the cemetery.  It is very hilly.  "CARNATION RIDGE" can be seen printed in the top concrete step.
 
The view from the steps towards Carnation Ridge.  The bushes left-center are the back border of a section just before Duane and Berry's graves.
The first thing you encounter is Greg Allman's grave on the right as you come down.  There is a rumor that an Allman family plot is in the works but I have no other specific information at this time.
 
Greg's grave from the bottom.  Many people have visited since his death last year.  My cousin was a good friend of his.
Detail of a corner post.  Guitar picks, miniature cars, pennies and figurines adorn his grave.  You name it, it's there.  While I was visiting, a man left his watch!
 
The corner post on the right side.  More guitar picks, pennies and an interesting rock.
A photo of all three graves.  Greg, Duane and Berry.
 
Close up through the fence of Duane (closest grave) and Berry.  Each grave has a guitar carved on top.  Duane's appears to be similar to a Gibson Les Paul and Berry's a Fender bass.
At the foot of each grave slab are inscriptions.  It was such a beautiful, bright day that the sun was reflecting brightly off the two musician's graves.
 
Duane Allman was born November 20, 1946, died October 29, 1971.  He was 24 years old.  One of the most amazing solos I ever heard was his slide guitar work on the song Layla by Derek and the Dominos with Eric Clapton.  I was floored when I heard it.
As with Duane's marker, you can see a guitar carved in the top of Berry's grave.  Berry Oakley was born April 4, 1948, died November 11, 1972.  He was also 24.  Both of these guys were deceased before I was out of Junior High but I had a lot of their music to listen to.
 
A view from a higher vantage point.  Does the worn path give any indication of how frequent Greg's grave has been visited since his burial?
The hilly terrain does offer excellent viewpoints to shoot from.  This is a shaded, peaceful resting place.
 
And now...
 
 
 
After looking for Elizabeth in all the wrong places, I finally found her in a glaringly obvious place.  And yes, she is very close to the Allman brothers and Berry Oakley.
Elizabeth Reed is the only one inside the plot with a headstone.
 
Elizabeth Reed flanked on both sides by other graves.  She married Briggs H. Napier.
The significance of Elizabeth Reed is that the Allman Brothers wrote a song titled, In Memory of Elizabeth Reed, and this is that Elizabeth Reed.  Alas, another adventure must come to a close for now.  As more information becomes available and time permits, I will add it to this interesting section of my website.
 
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