1958 at the age of 46. Initially, Elvis
had her buried in a public cemetery in
Memphis. Her headstone was marked
with a cross.
NEW HEADSTONE
But Marchese says that six years later,
Elvis replaced the headstone with one
designed to his specifications. The
new marker featured a Star of David
on one side and a cross on the other
along with the words “Sunshine of Our
Home” engraved between.
What prompted Elvis to include
the Star of David on his mother’s
headstone? Marchese isn’t exactly
sure, or even when Elvis learned of his
mother’s Jewish heritage. But she says
“the Jewish faith gave him comfort
when he was seeking answers” to help
him deal with her passing.
Following an attempt to steal Elvis’
body from a Memphis cemetery,
Vernon Presley had the remains of his
son and wife moved to Graceland for
security reasons. Gladys’ grave marker
with the Star of David went into
storage. And there it remained until
Marchese suggested it be put on public
display.
“We thought it would be a great way
of honoring her Jewish heritage as well
as honoring her,” said Marchese, who
has worked at Graceland for 32 years
and is one of the world’s preeminent
experts on the Presley family. “We
think it’s what Elvis would have
wanted.”
JEWISH CHARITIES
There is evidence that Elvis’ Jewish
lineage meant more to him than just
a symbol on a headstone. He gave
generously over the years to a variety
of Jewish organizations, including the
Memphis Jewish Community Center,
a donation honored with a plaque
that hangs in Graceland today. Elvis’
personal library included several
books on Judaism and Jewish history.
During the final years of his life,
Elvis was frequently photographed
wearing necklaces with the Star of
David and the Hebrew word “chai,”
which means life. The chai necklace
is kept in a cabinet at Graceland
next to the keys to the singer’s famed
1955 pink Cadillac. Never one to be
accused of subtlety, Elvis had the
necklace designed with 17 diamonds.
He purchased the jewelry in 1976, one
year before he died.
“He would often make a joke, ‘I
don’t want to get left out of heaven on
a technicality,’” Marchese said. “So, he
would wear a Star of David, a chai and
he would also wear a cross. He wanted
to keep all his bases covered.”
Gladys’ heritage notwithstanding,
Presley was raised in the Assembly of
God Church, but he explored other
religions as he got older and began
to struggle with physical and mental
issues.
“He was always searching for
answers as to why he was chosen to
be who he was,” Marchese said. “I
think he found some of those answers
through different religions.”
There have been suggestions that
Elvis’ handlers didn’t want his Jewish
heritage known to the public, fearing
it might prompt some of his Southern
fans to abandon him. But Marchese
says there is no evidence of that.
“It was not something he was shying
away from,” she said. “He would be
photographed in these [necklaces] and
he would make donations to Jewish
community centers throughout his
entire life.”
DAN FELLNER/JTA
DAN FELLNER/JTA
TOP TO BOTTOM: Gladys Presley’s grave
marker, now on display at Graceland. It
was designed by her famous son to honor
the family’s Jewish heritage. This portrait
of Gladys Presley hangs on the wall inside
the Graceland mansion in Memphis. Elvis
Presley wore this diamond-studded chai gold
necklace during the final year of his life.
JULY 15 • 2021 | 43