An unmarked grave.
The hot, blazing sun beats down upon the cracked red clay.
Grass and weeds indiscriminately appear but do not cover the parched earth.
Sadness overtakes me.
Just a little over a year ago Chris and I had the privilege of taking Dancin’ Dave out to lunch at the Blue Plate Diner in Dothan, Alabama. I did a blog post, of course, because it was such a memorable event. You can read that here if you missed it.
Dave Whatley was an icon in the Wiregrass area of Alabama. He walked or hitched a ride from passers by wherever he went. He worked various labor jobs over the years. He smiled and waved and loved children.
But he was known for his dancing. He loved to dance and did a Dancin’ Dave shuffle whenever asked.
On my recent trip to Dothan I decided to go pay my respects since it has been a year since his death.
What I found ripped my heart apart.
A grave with absolutely no marking at all to set it apart from the hundreds of other graves in Memory Hill Cemetery is what I found.
What happens to people like Dave who have limited family and limited means?
This. This is what happens.
An unmarked grave that is forgotten by the side of the road in a cemetery.
It makes me weep.
Dave’s legacy was more than an unmarked grave. 
My friend Debbie Yurevich was the one who introduced me to Dave and she grieves along with me on the lack of a marker. I suspect the lack of a marker of some sort will change if we have anything to do about it.
Dave was one of a kind. I was blessed to meet him and spend some time with him just a month before he passed. One of the best videos that Debbie ever got of him was the one that follows. (You will have to click on the link as I could not embed it.)
RIP Dancin’ Dave. You are missed more than an unmarked grave can show.
20 Comments
Leave a commentAt least he is remembered fondly and is demoralized in your lovely post.
I bet you meant memorialized, right? 🙂 Yes. And hopefully we will be able to get something started and done.
It Happens in Alabama is asking, with all our heart, for your help in raising money for a headstone for an Alabama celebrity, Icon and regional legend, “Dancing” Dave Whatley. He passed on September 19, 2015, buried on September 25, 2015 and has no headstone. Let’s give him a headstone fitting for the “King of the Wiregrass.” His sister is 90 years old and only has a small amount of nieces and family left. Times are hard for all. Please would you donate what you did when he danced for you? A couple dollars or a quarter? Instead of a smile, we ask you to please, please like this page and share with your facebook and twitter friends and family and include your story in the comments of your memory of Dave. We need your help.
That seems wrong. Where are all the people of Dothan? Can you put together a fundraising effort?
I hope we can rectify it and get something started. It just makes me so sad.
That is sad. Perhaps comments for a cause could help. He was remarkable and needs to be honoured.
I like your idea and I think something is going to happen to change things. It is just not right.
I love your heart!
🙂
Yes, so sad. And I agree with Darlene – Comments for a Cause!
It is going to happen one way or the other. I can’t stand him not having a marker.
It’s terrible!
I think you can do something about this with the written words, Beth Ann. That is how you hold so much power.
Get on it, because I am with you. No one should have an unmarked grave.
Things are in the works –we will get this done. But yes. No one should have an unmarked grave. Ever.
This is a grave? This is a tragedy and I understand your sadness. Bless you for caring and for now taking action to correct this. Please keep us posted.
Yes— it is a grave. The only way I knew was from Debbie’s directions. It is truly an injustice and we hope to change that. Thanks for caring.
So sad when someone who had such an impact on so many, in such a simple, joyful manner, is forgotten. I hope someone gave find a way to mark his passing – it sounds like he left quite a legacy of happiness for those who think of him.
Gosh, that makes me so sad. I know his legacy lives on in folks’ memories but still…. It would be so nice if a simple marker with his name and his ‘claim to fame’ (his dancing) that gave so many such joy would be placed there so he won’t be forgotten.
This is sad, because of you I’ll always remember this dude I’ve never met. RIP Dancin’ Dave. I think she meant memorialize too.
Thanks, Josh. Yea, I think that something will be placed there but it may take a little bit of time.