Gathering at Graceland Marks Presley’s Death

Elvis Presley died in 1977, but his fans live on, among them the thousands who came to his grave on Sunday--the 15th anniversary of the death of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.

“It just makes me feel good. I just kind of meditate and get all my sadness out,” said Charolete Davis of Muskogee, Okla.

She and about 4,000 other Elvis fans toured Graceland, Presley’s mansion, during the day, stopping at one point at Presley’s grave in a small garden beside Graceland’s swimming pool.

He died at the white-columned house on Aug. 16, 1977, at age 42. A medical examiner listed the cause of death as heart disease, but court testimony later revealed that Presley was addicted to prescription drugs.

Some 10,000 fans filed past the grave Saturday night during a candlelight vigil. The annual procession was the highlight of weeklong festivities that included dances, concerts and fan club gatherings.

The grave was covered with flowers, teddy bears and other offerings left by fans. Flower arrangements, some in the shape of guitars or hearts, lined a tree-shaded walkway to the grave.

Teresa Green and Janie Smalley of Tuscaloosa, Ala., stopped to read a poem attached to an arrangement. It was titled “Don’t Criticize Elvis to Me.”

So if you know that I’m an Elvis fan ,

Then keep your mouth shut if you can ,

And if you can’t, perhaps you’ll learn ,

Cause when I’m through, your ears will burn.

“So many people put him down,” Smalley said. “He was a great entertainer, and he always will be.”

“He was only human,” Green said. “People make mistakes, and he made his. The type of life he had to live--it was hard.”

Trevor Andrews and Darren Vaughn came from England to pay tribute to Presley.

“He was the King,” said Andrews, who was 7 years old when Presley died. “My mom’s a big Elvis fan, and his music was always playing when I was a baby. I grew up with it.”

Presley bought Graceland for $100,000 in 1957. Opened to the public 10 years ago, it now draws more than 600,000 visitors a year and takes in $15 million annually.

It is managed on behalf of Presley’s only child, 24-year-old Lisa Marie.