Of all the historic cemeteries in Mississippi, Rose Hill Cemetery is one of the oldest. And like many cemeteries that date back centuries, it’s home to some interesting gravesites, including those of the King and Queen of the Gypsies. Almost as intriguing as the graves is the story on how the royal couple came to be buried in Mississippi. Take a look:

Located in Meridian, Rose Hill Cemetery is full of history. The oldest grave marker dates back to 1853; however, burials were likely taking place long before that.

The cemetery is the final resting place of city founders, prominent citizens, veterans of various wars, and…

…the King and Queen of the Gypsies. Easily identifiable, the royal couples’ graves are adorned in trinkets, jewelry, Mardi Gras beads, and other items.

Initially, you might think the gifts are tokens of affection, but that’s not the case. The items are actually bribes, which are left behind to entice the King and Queen to "enter your dreams and solve your problems."

So, why are the King and Queen buried in Meridian? It all began with Queen Kelly's death in 1915.

Just 47-years-old at the time, Kelly passed away while trying, and failing, to deliver her 15th child.

Kelly, and her husband Emil, lived in Alabama at the time of her death. However, according to legend, Emil chose Meridian as the Queen's burial place since it was "The Queen City."

Although, others speculate he chose Meridian for another reason - it was the nearest place with a refrigerated morgue. This was an important requirement since it took 12 days for all of America's gypsies to make their way to the South for the funeral.

20,000 gypsies attended the Queen's funeral!

In the years following the funeral, rumors spread that the casket was made of gold and that mourners filled the grave with $20 gold pieces. Though false, these tales led to vandals smashing the capstone, trying to access the alleged treasure.

Nearly 30 years after Kelly’s death, Emil passed away. Buried next to his queen, Emil’s funeral was much more modest since he died during the throes of WWII.

Unlike his wife, there were no rumors regarding the contents of Emil's grave, so it remains unplundered.

The story of the King and Queen continues to pique people’s interests to this day. One great way to learn about the royal couple, along with the cemetery's other occupants, is by attending the cemetery’s annual costumed tour.

This year’s event is Saturday, September 28, 2019, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Rose Hill Cemetery is open to the public daily. Guided tours are available by request. For more information, call (601) 693-1361. To learn more about the annual costumed tour, click here.

Address: 701 40th Avenue, Meridian, MS, 39307

These aren't the state's only famous graves. Read about another here.