The passing of Lisa Marie Presley on January 12, 2023, brought renewed attention to a poignant location for fans of the King of Rock and Roll: Graceland’s Meditation Garden. Like her father, Elvis Presley, and her son, Benjamin Keough, Lisa Marie was laid to rest at the iconic Memphis estate. This article delves into the details of where Elvis is buried and the significance of Graceland as the final resting place for several members of the Presley family.
Following Lisa Marie’s untimely death, a statement confirmed, “Lisa Marie’s final resting place will be at Graceland, next to her beloved son Ben.” This cemented Graceland’s Meditation Garden as a place of profound family history and remembrance. Her son, Benjamin Keough, tragically passed away in 2020 and was buried at Graceland, marking the first burial on the grounds in forty years.
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Originally created in 1964-1965 as a serene retreat for Elvis to find peace and contemplation, the Meditation Garden, located behind the Graceland mansion, has since become a place of pilgrimage for millions of fans wanting to pay their respects. While it is now widely known as Elvis’s final resting place, his burial journey began elsewhere.
From Forest Hill to Graceland: The Journey to His Final Resting Place
Elvis Presley died on August 16, 1977, in Memphis. Initially, two days after his death, he was buried beside his mother, Gladys Presley, at Forest Hill Cemetery in Memphis. However, this was not to be his permanent resting place. A shocking event led to the relocation of Elvis and his mother to Graceland.
A disturbing attempt to steal Elvis’s coffin, a heavy, steel-lined, copper-plated casket, and hold his remains for ransom, prompted the Presley family to move their beloved icon to a more secure location. Although the perpetrators were apprehended and charged with trespassing, the incident highlighted the vulnerability of the initial burial site and the potential for future copycat crimes. Out of concern for security and to ensure Elvis’s eternal peace, both Elvis and Gladys Presley were moved to Graceland’s Meditation Garden.
Since this relocation, Graceland has become the designated burial site for several members of the Presley family, transforming the Meditation Garden into a family memorial.
The Presley Family Members Resting at Graceland
Graceland’s Meditation Garden is not only where Elvis is buried but also the final resting place for his parents, grandmother, grandson, and daughter.
Elvis Presley: The King of Rock and Roll
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Elvis Presley’s death at the young age of 42 sent shockwaves across the world. His move to Graceland ensured his fans could always have a place to visit and remember him. Graceland itself faced financial challenges after Elvis’s passing, costing a significant amount annually for upkeep. Priscilla Presley and estate executors made the pivotal decision to open Graceland to the public in 1982. This decision not only preserved Elvis’s legacy but also created a lasting monument for his admirers. Today, millions of visitors tour Graceland annually, with the Meditation Garden being the most poignant stop for many.
Gladys Presley: Elvis’s Beloved Mother
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Gladys Presley, Elvis’s mother, passed away on August 14, 1958. Like Elvis, she was initially buried at Forest Hill Cemetery and later moved to Graceland after the coffin incident. She rests in the Meditation Garden alongside her husband, Vernon, and a memorial for her stillborn son, Jessie, Elvis’s twin brother, is also present. In 2018, Gladys’s original headstone, featuring the Star of David to honor her Jewish heritage, was added to the Meditation Garden, marking the 60th anniversary of her death and further enriching the garden’s historical significance.
Vernon Presley: Elvis’s Father and Estate Executor
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Vernon Presley, Elvis’s father, died on June 26, 1979, and is buried between his wife, Gladys, and his son, Elvis, placing Elvis centrally within the family plot. After Elvis’s death, Vernon was named executor and trustee of Elvis’s estate, playing a crucial role in managing his son’s affairs. The beneficiaries of Elvis’s will included Vernon himself, Elvis’s grandmother Minnie Mae Presley, and Lisa Marie Presley.
Minnie Mae Presley: Elvis’s Grandmother
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Elvis’s paternal grandmother, Minnie Mae Presley, passed away on May 8, 1980. She too is buried in the Meditation Garden at Graceland, her headstone placed to the left of Elvis’s, further solidifying Graceland as the Presley family’s sacred ground.
Benjamin Keough and Lisa Marie Presley: Continuing the Legacy
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Benjamin Keough’s burial at Graceland in 2020, followed by Lisa Marie Presley’s interment in 2023, underscores Graceland’s ongoing role as the Presley family’s chosen memorial park. Lisa Marie herself had alluded to her future resting place in her 2003 song “Lights Out,” hinting at a “space left” next to her family in Memphis, in the “back lawn,” a poignant reference to the Meditation Garden.
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Graceland’s Meditation Garden: A Place of Remembrance
In conclusion, Elvis Presley is buried in the Meditation Garden at Graceland, alongside his mother Gladys, father Vernon, grandmother Minnie Mae, grandson Benjamin, and daughter Lisa Marie. This tranquil garden, initially designed for Elvis’s personal reflection, has evolved into a deeply meaningful site for fans and a lasting tribute to the Presley family legacy. For those asking “Where Is Elvis Buried?”, Graceland’s Meditation Garden stands as the definitive answer, inviting visitors to remember the King and his family in a place of peace and history.
