Every five years, at the Taylorsville Cemetery, communities gather to listen to the stories of those beyond the grave as part of a unique event that brings the history of those buried at the cemetery to life.
The city’s Tombstone Tales will take place Friday and Saturday night, featuring a set of narratives performed live by local actors. The free event is organized as a “way to convey history and memories from the area,” according to the Taylorsville city website.
“I love cemeteries. I was raised behind a cemetery. I live behind a cemetery. And our family’s here. I love my ancestors,” said Sheryl Steadman.
This is Steadman’s third time attending Tombstone Tales. Her fascination with her family’s history, buried throughout the cemetery, is a powerful reminder that lives are built on the legacy of ancestors.
Celebrating its 27th anniversary, this weekend’s event was the brainchild of Mavis Steadman, a member of the Taylorsville Arts Council. In 1998, along with her fellow council members, JoAnne Buck and Helen Smith, the first production of Tombstone Tales was launched.
The stories featured in Tombstone Tales are all based on historical facts, information from local historians, family history, newspapers and journals.
When it was first launched in 1998, the event only told stories of pioneers, which later evolved into a more diverse set of backgrounds, from Indians to recent veterans.
Susan Holman, a writer and director for "Tombstone Tales‚" uses newspaper archives to research and write scripts for the actors. Holman recalled one instance where her research revealed a startling detail about a man who had been in a concentration camp. The man’s children, who were in the audience, had no prior knowledge of this part of their father’s life. “They came through, and they said, ‘Our dad never told us this,’” Holman said.
The tour, which started on Thursday, is given every 20 minutes from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. It continues Friday and Saturday evenings, Sept. 19-20. A path at the cemetery, at 4575 S. Redwood Road, is lit up with lights, and attendees begin the tour with the sexton, who is played by Jess Hansen. The sexton starts the tour with a brief history of the cemetery.
Among the many poignant tales told is that of Mavis Steadman, the founder of Tombstone Tales. She is played by her daughter, Taylorsville City Mayor Kristie Steadman Overson, in her portrayal of her mother.
“As you enjoy Tombstone Tales 2025, I hope that you pause and reflect on the many people that have carried this cherished tradition forward, the many volunteers, the actors, the storytellers, but above all, this beautiful place where we can pause and reflect and give thanks to those who are gone,” Overson said. “Taylorsville is my privilege, my heritage and my heart.”
Harold Reid, a Vietnam veteran, and his mother Ann Matern were portrayed Thursday by Gideon Lemon and Lisa Caldwell. The story recounts his enlistment in the Marines. Reid was tragically killed in action, and his body was left out in the open for days before courageous villagers risked their own lives to bury him. His mother spent many years praying for his body to be found and sent back home. The story is told from his mother’s perspective and the struggle she faced waiting for her son’s remains to be returned to her.
Attendees are encouraged to park at Eisenhower Jr. High and walk to the cemetery. The city will provide a van with limited mobility for transportation from the junior high school to the cemetery.