The Simmons Collection at Old Independence Regional Museum is home to a burial shroud handmade by Mrs. Joe Elizabeth Wilkinson when she was a teenager.
Elizabeth was born in Tennessee on July 11, 1851, as a teen she was diagnosed with “white swelling” (now known as erysipelas) on her leg and since it was often fatal she expected to die. She spent the next few months making the shroud for her burial. The shroud is made of off-white cotton percale/muslin and is hand decorated with crochet trim, white embroidery and cut work. Large, flat shell buttons run down the front of the shroud. White satin ribbons tie in the back.
Her leg was amputated and she survived. She married J.R. Wilkinson of Plant’s Chapel on January 10, 1883, and they raised four children. She passed away on June 7, 1928. Her granddaughter donated the shroud to the Museum.
