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