The explosion and loss of these young women gravely devastated the city of Natchez. It also took a large emotional toll on the company’s owner, Chambliss, who felt it was his duty to step up and offer condolences to the families of the victims.
So, he decided to purchase a lot at the Natchez Cemetery before paying for each of the young women’s funerals.
Their tombstones simply read their last names, though, which Chambliss did not think was appropriate enough given the circumstances.
In turn, he went on to commission an additional statue meant to stand in honor of the women– a stone angel.
Then, the angel was placed and positioned on the cemetery lot to appear as though it was watching over the five women’s tombstones.
Since its creation, the stone angel has become an increasingly popular attraction at the Natchez Cemetery.
The statue also spurred folklore and was dubbed “The Turning Angel” because visitors claim that while driving by the cemetery, the statue will actually turn to look at travelers.
This phenomenon is said to be the most visible during the evening when vehicle headlights pass around a bend in the road.
On June 23, 2020, though, the 112-year-old monument was actually found torn down and vandalized in the cemetery.
The Natchez City Police did find the perpetrator four days later and arrested 20-year-old Austin Petty– who was charged with felony malicious mischief.
Petty reportedly rocked the monument until it fell to the ground, which was supported by video evidence.