PICKENS COUNTY, S.C. (QUEEN CITY HOMETOWN) -- Once upon a highway so small, there sits a pumpkin quite tall.

The sights point this way and that, though weary travelers quickly scat before they can hear the tap… tap… tap.

Pause for a moment and come with me; what a tale this shall be! We begin now with David Gillespie.

“For whatever reason, I’m big with numbers, so dates—I love dates.” He does not worry with what awaits—lest he test those pesky fates.

Stroke after stroke, the headstone is his palette. He carves each letter with a chisel and mallet.

“Stones all have their own little nuance to them—but slate—ah, I love slate.” Curved. Carved. Slanted. And straight. Numbers, letters—he shall create.

Twenty years, and then some more, he’s worked to master what was done before.

“The stone

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