Today is a very exciting day: Henrietta Lacks (aka HeLa) has been lying in an unmarked grave since her death in 1951. Today, thanks to Dr. Roland Pattillo at Morehouse School of Medicine, who donated a headstone after reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, her grave is finally marked. Below, a snapshot of some members of the Lacks family beside the new marker for Henrietta, and the marker for her daughter, Elsie, which was also unveiled today. Dr. Roland Pattillo is pictured at the far left:
Her stone, in case you can't tell from the picture, is shaped like a book. The text was written by members of the Lacks family. It reads:
Henrietta Lacks, August 01, 1920-October 04, 1951.
In loving memory of a phenomenal woman, wife and mother who touched the lives of many.
Here lies Henrietta Lacks (HeLa). Her immortal cells will continue to help mankind forever.
Eternal Love and Admiration, From Your Family
Many thanks to Melissa Bell for the photo.
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That's really great, Rebecca.
Nice work and thanks to everyone involved in correcting this deficit for Henrietta, Elsie, Deborah, and the rest of the Lacks family.
Beautiful tombstones and a lovely picture. I've just started reading the book and am already enthralled.
Sklooty, that is so awesome! And you should be really proud for writing such a fucking great book!
I feel like I bonded with the family after reading the book. I am thrilled that Henrietta Lacks has a memorial to her life.
Got a bit choked up on seeing Henrietta's headstone and the family. Nice to see that recognition is finally coming to that poor woman and her long suffering family.
Congratulations to you, Rebecca, for seeing this through. Restores my faith in humanity :)
Ms. Skloot, if you're not already, you should be proud for the part you've done in giving Lacks and her surviving family the recognition they deserve.
Good.
I'm weeping as I write this comment. Truly a historic occasion! The sentiment on Henrietta's marker is so fitting and beautiful. Thank you, Rebecca, for helping the Lacks family honour the memories of Henrietta and Elsie at long last -- and for helping the rest of us appreciate the woman behind HeLa. Now, if only Johns Hopkins would give the surviving family members free or low-cost health care...
Sklooty, that is so awesome! And you should be really proud for writing such a fucking great book!
Rebecca...you've written a great book! I've just finished and I'm so pleased to see the above pictures. It's criminal that it wasn't done sooner.
Congratulations on a job well done.
An amazing story so well told - thank you for the telling. Its just right and fitting that this story be told to the world as haven't we all had the benefit from Henrietta cells. So pleased that this lady and her family now have the recognition that is deserved
I am thrilled that Henrietta Lacks has a memorial to her life.
Learned about this incredible book thru my Book Club "Brothers and Sisters BC". Her living was not in vain. What a wonderful tribute for her families for generations to come.
very nices article.An amazing story so well told - thank you for the telling. Its just right and fitting that this story be told to the world as haven't we all had the benefit from Henrietta cells. So pleased that this lady and her family now have the recognition that is deserved