Gillespie, J. David

James David Gillespie has been carving slate gravestones since 2002. Learning the craft from a grant from the South Carolina Arts Commission in Rhode Island and later in his native South Carolina from accomplished artists, he feels very blessed by the Lord to be carving the slate stones by hand. He uses only chisels and mallet, true to the 18th century approach. He and his wife, Renee, attend re-enactments all across the Eastern United States, demonstrating " ...the old paths, where is the good way." David has given slate stone cutting demonstrations, frequently at French and Indian War sites:...