ABOUT THE CASKET

The casket into which the urn containing the remains of LaSalle Corbell Picket was placed was built especially for the reinterment by Pickett family member Alan Pickett of Greensburg, Kentucky. Crafted from redwood and lined with red velvet, the casket has thirteen sides representing the thirteen States of the Confederacy that Mrs. Pickett's husband served during the War Between the States. Brass plates bearing the names of the States are set into recessed niches carved into each side. The casket is fitted with brass handles and is topped by a bronze replica of the Great Seal of the Confederacy.

The casket was a labor of love for Pickett, who says he felt very close to his great-great aunt during its construction. "I talked to her the whole time I was making it," explains Pickett, "and I told her I hoped she'd like it."

Alan Pickett and Mrs. Mark R. Allen, ex-President of Virginia UDC, place Mrs. Pickett;'s urn in the casket
Family member Alan Pickett of Greensburg, Ky., and Mrs. Mark R. Allen, ex-President of Virginia Division, UDC, place Mrs. Pickett's urn in the casket that Mr. Pickett crafted for the reburial.
Alan Pickett watches as dirt is thrown into Mrs. Pickett's grave
Alan Pickett (right), dressed in a replica of General Pickett's uniform, looks on as mourners drop handfuls of dirt onto the casket

Mr. Pickett admitted to experiencing some sadness as he watched his handiwork disappear under handfuls of dirt (brought from Mrs. Pickett's hometown of Chuckatuck) thrown into the grave after the conclusion of the burial rite. He plans to make a replica of the casket to keep as a memento of the occasion.

Return to LaSalle Corbell Pickett Laid to Rest Beside "Her Soldier" in Richmond's Hollywood Cemetery