Kelly Mitchell’s tombstone in Meridian, MS, immortalizes her as “The Gypsy Queen.” Mitchell was buried in Rose Hill Cemetery in February of 1915. More than 100 years later, people come from near and far to visit the Victorian-style cemetery and leave gifts on her grave. The items on the grave, a reflection of the unique and fascinating burial traditions of the Romani people, as well as the local superstitions, add a layer of intrigue and respect to the death and burial of the woman called “The Gypsy Queen” by her family and the community alike.
Kelly Mitchell, the Queen of a Romani gypsy clan, tragically passed away in 1915. She was giving birth to her 15th child in the gypsy camp in Coatopa near the Mississippi line. Emil, her devoted husband, also known as the “King of the Gypsies,” made the decision to lay her to rest in Meridian. The local newspaper reported that over 20,000 gypsies journeyed to Meridian to pay their respects. Later, Emil and other family members would also be laid to rest in Meridian.
Kelly Mitchell was given a funeral procession and burial fit for royalty, which Meridian had never seen and hasn’t seen since then. The gypsy queen was forty-seven years old when she died in Alabama on January 31, 1915.
Thousands of mourners arrived in Meridian to mourn this mysterious woman they followed as their Queen. However, according to Romani experts, royalty is not part of their culture. This mystery adds to the intrigue, inviting readers to ponder: who are the Romani? How did they get to Mississippi, and who was this woman they called a queen?
Emil Mitchell, the husband of Queen Kelly, was born in Brazil and buried at Rose Hill Cemetery. Emil became head, or “King” of the Mitchell clan at twenty-seven years old in Cleveland, Ohio, as per his 1942 obituary in the New York Times. Kelly, buried as “the Queen of the Gypsies”, was likely born in Brazil and was given the title for her marriage to Emil, with no specific duties associated.
According to newspaper reports, King Emil buried his wife in Meridian, as it was the nearest city to Coatopa with the required ice to preserve her body until the Romani clan could gather. The funeral took place fourteen days later to allow Romani people from all over the country to travel to Meridian. The funeral was described as “one of the most peculiar” by a Louisiana newspaper.
The rich culture and traditions of the Romani people are distinctive. They have maintained traditions and a unique way of life for centuries, even in Mississippi. Their culture is deeply rooted in family, music, and a nomadic lifestyle, often leading to misconceptions about their identity and customs.
Legend has it that leaving a trinket on Queen Kelly Mitchell’s grave can invoke her spirit in dreams and offer solutions to troubles. The Rose Hill Cemetery in Meridian attracts visitors and locals alike who are fascinated with the gypsy history that lies within its gates.
