I’m trying to find an unmarked grave in a massive cemetery. How am I going to do this? But, this is a very special grave. I have an idea of where it is. And yet, here I am…wandering aimlessly through Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia. But…this grave means the world to me. It means so much to me. My previous attempt during a visit to Atlanta over 10 years ago left me unsuccessful.

But on this day, this day was the day I was going to find the grave of Lucille Frank, the wife of Leo Frank. I couldn’t fail again. I pulled out my phone and brought up Google. In my search, I read that Lucille used mediums to try to contact Leo on the other side. Wait, what?

In my attempts of finding Lucille’s unmarked grave, I fell down a rabbit hole.

A Decades-Long Obsession

I remember it like it was yesterday. It was a Saturday and I was channel surfing, looking for something to watch. Something made me stop the rapid channel surfing; it was Peter Gallagher in a courtroom. I stopped and watched for the rest of the day. I was riveted, intrigued, and horrified. But I couldn’t get enough. I wanted to know more.

The movie was the miniseries, “The Murder of Mary Phagan”, which originally aired in 1988. One of the networks was clearly doing a rerun since I was in middle school in the mid-to-late 90s. Since it was the 90s, I had to find the miniseries at my local library to watch it again.

Since then, I’ve had this fascination with the Mary Phagan murder and the lynching of Leo Frank. I read as many books as I could about the subject. Being from California, I was fairly sheltered from the idea of Southern Heritage, the Invasion of the North post-Civil War, and finally, the rampant anti-Semitism that was very prominent in the South that sparked around Leo Frank’s trial.

Horrified

My focus is on Lucille Frank. I don’t want to go into a long history lesson, as there is lots of information on the case. While there are tons of websites about the case (many alarmingly anti-Semitic), here is a good place to start. While you’re at it, check out this link too.

I was horrified when I learned of Leo Frank’s lynching on August 17, 1915. I was also horrified that not only was there a large group, but there were photographers. Postcards with photos of Frank’s dead body on the noose sold like hotcakes for 25 cents. I know it was a different time and a different culture…but…geez.

By His Side

As you can imagine, between the politcal and racial tensions overlaying the case, plus the horrifying nature of the crime; the people wanted justice. But did they really get it? As you can imagine, it was a circus. It was chaos.

The person who never left his side was Frank’s wife, Lucille. She never remarried. Even though the KKK had resurfaced, and anti-Semitism was stronger than ever, she resolved to not leave Atlanta or the South. Let’s read it in her own words.

I am a Georgia girl, born and reared in this state, and educated in her schools. I am a Jewess; some will throw that in my face, I know, but I have no apologies to make for my religion. I am also a Georgian, and American, and I do not apologize for that, either…I only pray that those who destroyed Leo’s life will realize the truth before they meet their God–they perhaps are not entirely to blame, fed as they were on lies unspeakable, their passion aroused by designing persons. Some of them, I am sure, did not realize the horror of their act. But those who inspired these men to do this unlawful act, what of them? Will not their consciences make for them a hell on Earth, and will not their associates, in their hearts, despise them?
Lucille Frank
“The Historic Oakland Cemetery of Atlanta” by Cathy Kaemmerlen, The History Press, 2007. p. 83

Lucille made this statement six weeks after Frank’s lynching. She was only 27 years old at the time of his death. That’s young. Especially in the early 1900s. The fact she never remarried is also remarkable. Lucille had to see a doctor regularly for chest pains and headaches. Her doctor believed she suffered from depression. Lucille stayed in Atlanta for the rest of her life. Her friends believe that she never stopped mourning her husband. “Leo might have been killed, but she served a life sentence…

Mourning for Her Husband

I have always felt a very strong connection to Lucille. During Frank’s trial, sentencing, and all the work she did to prove his innocence, Lucille comforted herself by eating. So often, she wrote letters to Leo about being worried about the cameras getting photos of her because of her weight. This resonates with me so deeply as a woman. I also lost someone I was planning to marry, also due to unexpected and premature death by someone else’s hand. While I wasn’t a wife, I grieved as a wife. I don’t know the depths of Lucille’s pain, but I feel like I can relate to her in those ways.

To lose someone you love so deeply, and to not have a chance to say goodbye and receive closure, it’s no surprise that Lucille turned to spiritual means to contact her husband.

I sent Mr. Murray a message, and he directed me to two books, “And the Dead Shall Rise: The Murder of Mary Phagan and the Lynching of Leo Frank” by Steven Oney, and “An Unspeakable Crime: The Prosecution and Persecution of Leo Frank” by Elaine Marie Alphin. Luckily, I had the former already on my bookshelf. How did I miss this when I was younger?!

In Steven Oney’s book, “And the Dead Shall Rise”, he writes extensively about Lucille’s life before, during, and after her husband’s trial. After her husband’s death, Lucille was in constant pain, plus nausea and headaches. Her friends did their best to counsel her, but Lucille needed something more.

Seeking Closure

Leo Frank, Leo Frank Memorial Plaque, Marietta Georgia — Credit: Alex Matsuo

It didn’t take long going through Oney’s book to find out what I needed. Lucille did indeed use psychic mediums to try to make contact with Leo. One medium from Oklahoma City, who spoke through a “spirit father”, gave Lucille a message from her husband saying, “Get all out of life that you can. I am sorry I had to leave you.”

It’s hard to say whether these messages gave her comfort. I hope they did. The case of Leo Frank spread around the country like wildfire. Keep in mind that when Leo died, this was around the decline of the popularity of Spiritualism. But the mediums were still there, which is how Lucille knew to contact them.

Leo and Lucille Frank…and the Future

It took a few decades, but in 1986, Frank was posthumously pardoned.

When Lucille Frank died on April 23rd, 1957 at the age of 69…42 years after Leo’s death. She was cremated, per her request. Her funeral occurred at Patterson’s Funeral Home in Atlanta. She had wanted her ashes scattered in a public park, but this was forbidden by the city. So, her ashes were stored in the funeral home. Her friends and family were concerned that any public ceremony or mention of her death would reignite the whole situation all over again.

Starting in 1958, anti-Semitic tensions were rampant. The local temple was badly damaged by a bombing. Pattersons contacted Lucille’s family and told them to deal with the matter. Alan Marcus, Lucille’s nephew, picked up the ashes, and placed them in the front trunk of his red Corvette and drove around with them for six months.

Lucille’s family, once again, was concerned that a public funeral and ceremony would reignite not only the case but this time, racial and anti-Semitic tensions. Her funeral and laying to rest were once again, delayed.

It was revealed in 2002 that Alan and his brother drove to Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta and buried Lucille’s ashes between her parents’ headstones in 1964. Her grave is unmarked, but she is no longer alone.

Meeting Lucille Face-to-Face

Lucille Frank's grave 2020, lucille frank, buried, unmarked grave — Credit: Alex Matsuo

Let’s return to Atlanta, and my frustrating search for Lucille’s unmarked grave.

As I wandered around Oakland Cemetery, I had to find Jewish Hill. From the front entrance, I went down the first hill, and up the second hill. I did this a few times, going back and forth. Eventually, I pulled out my phone to look at her parents’ grave to see what was around it.

I managed to look at the surroundings, and I walked. And then, there it was. I saw the headstones and started running. I ran in flip-flops and over uneven brick, and finally reached the headstones.

There it was. There she was. I saw the little stone angel marker between her parents’ grave. Before I knew it, I was standing before the remains of Lucille Frank, and start crying from happiness. This decades-long obsession I’ve had since middle school all brought me to this place.

After I did a quick video and took photos. I turned on the voice recorder on my phone and set it down. As I stood there, I talked to Lucille. I told her about how much she inspired me, and tearfully expressed condolences for her pain and suffering during Leo’s trial and his lynching. I acknowledged her strength and resilience during her life and said I’m sure Leo was proud of her and hoped they were reunited on the other side.

Then, I walked back to my car and cried. Even as I write this, I have tears in my eyes. I never realize how much this woman meant to me until that moment. This isn’t my only visit to her grave. I’m going to visit her again and will continue to do so until my time has come.

Paying Respects to Leo and Mary

Mary Phagan grave, Marietta City Cemetery — This was the closest I could get to Mary Phagan’s grave since Marietta City Cemetery was closed. Credit: Alex Matsuo

After finding Lucille’s grave, I drove to Marietta and visited the memorial plaque for Leo Frank. It sits nearby the spot of his lynching. If you want to find it, it’s next to the parking lot for El Huarache Veloz at 1157 Roswell Rd, Marietta, GA 30062. I parked in the restaurant’s parking lot and just walked a few feet over.

The next day, it was time to head home. But I wanted to check out Mary Phagan’s grave and pay my respects before leaving. As I arrived, I was disappointed to see that Marietta City Cemetery padlocked their gates. And I was there around 11am on a Tuesday. Sadly, I could only look through the gate off of Cemetery Street. Look for the black pole with the memorial plaque. From a distance, I paid my respects through the gates. When I finished, I got in my car and headed back to Raleigh.