On a pleasant September morning, Mrs. G, my aunt, and I visited the Wichahpi Commemorative Stone Wall just outside Florence, Alabama. Tom Hendrix spent over 30 years building the wall to honor his great-great-grandmother, Te-lah-nay, who survived the Trail of Tears and made an extraordinary journey back to her home. Each twist and turn of the wall reflects the challenges she faced. As we walked along its path, we couldn’t help but feel the power of her story and the deep connection to the land she called home.
Standing before the wall, it’s impossible not to reflect on the broader history behind Te-lah-nay’s journey. Te-lah-nay was a member of the Yuchi tribe from North Alabama. In the early 1800s, she and her tribe were forcibly relocated from their ancestral lands to Indian Territory in Oklahoma. This was a result of the Indian Removal Act of 1830, signed by President Andrew Jackson, which mandated the removal of Native American tribes to make way for American expansion. This policy led to the Trail of Tears — a harrowing ordeal marked by suffering and death. While many resigned themselves to this fate, Te-lah-nay was driven by an enduring connection to her homeland. She longed to return to Nuñnuhsae, the “river that sings,” a sacred and spiritually significant place for her people. Today, this river is known as the Tennessee River. Living in exile, she felt a deep sense of loss and disconnection and yearned to return to the river’s familiar song.
Te-lah-nay’s longing for her homeland became impossible to ignore. Despite the dangers and uncertainties, she was compelled to return. Her journey was fraught with challenges, including starvation, harsh elements, and the constant threat of recapture. Driven by a deep connection to the land and her people’s spirit, Te-lah-nay’s determination remained steadfast. In a world that sought to erase her people, her journey was not just about survival but a quest to reclaim her identity and heritage. Over several years, she navigated treacherous terrain to return to her home at Nuñnuhsae, where the river’s song awaited her.
Generations later, Tom Hendrix, Te-lah-nay’s great-great-grandson, was inspired by her remarkable journey and sought a meaningful way to honor her. He traveled to Kellyville, Oklahoma, to connect with the Yuchi people and learn about their culture and traditions. He initially faced skepticism from tribal elders, but his genuine respect and understanding of the Yuchi eventually earned their trust. The elders shared the significance of stones in honoring ancestors, saying, “Each in our own time shall pass this earth; only the stones will remain. We honor our ancestors with stones.” This wisdom inspired Hendrix to build the Wichahpi Stone Wall.
During our visit, we had the opportunity to hear these stories and many more from Trace Hendrix, Tom’s son. Trace shared personal insights and detailed anecdotes about the wall’s creation and significance, greatly enhancing our appreciation of its deeper meaning.
With this background, as you approach the structure, you’ll notice two distinct sections that reflect the symbolism inspired by the Yuchi elders’ guidance. Straight and unyielding, the left section symbolizes Te-lah-nay’s journey to the Indian Nation in Oklahoma. In contrast, the right section, with its twists and turns, represents her challenging journey home. Spanning a mile, the wall is constructed entirely of solid stone. Hendrix allowed the stones to shape the wall’s form, adjusting height, width, and direction as he worked. Larger stones denote significant hardships, while smaller ones mark periods of relief. For Hendrix, this was more than just a construction project; it was a heartfelt tribute to his great-great-grandmother’s legacy.
Hendrix’s efforts gained recognition far beyond his local community. A Lakota Sioux medicine man from South Dakota heard about the wall. He called Hendrix, expressing surprise that someone not of full Native descent was undertaking such a project. After explaining the story of his great-great-grandmother and his reasons for building the wall, Hendrix invited him to visit. A van arrived two weeks later with two young Lakota Sioux men and the medicine man. They toured the wall and told Hendrix that while he had built it, it belonged to the people; he was merely its keeper. Hendrix laughed, saying he was just the builder, and emphasized that the wall was dedicated to honoring Te-lah-nay’s legacy.
The medicine man asked for permission to add to the wall. Hendrix agreed, provided the additions weren’t too extravagant. The group made some changes while Hendrix stayed inside the house, respecting certain aspects as sacred and not meant to be seen by those not of full Native descent. They reconstructed a wall section, replacing some stones with ones resembling faces. This part of the wall became known as the Wall of Faces. They also added sacred medicine bundles to infuse the wall with spiritual and healing properties. The faces represented ancestors, particularly grandmothers who passed down stories and traditions, while the bundles enhanced the wall’s spiritual significance. Since then, other medicine men and women have added their sacred items. Visitors sometimes experience cooler spots, euphoric sensations, or a chill as they walk along the wall, reflecting their openness to its spiritual energy.
The medicine man gave Hendrix one final request: to build a prayer circle with four levels — birth, life, death, and rebirth. He provided a sketch and detailed instructions and asked Hendrix to call him once the circle was completed. Hendrix completed the circle and called the medicine man to report. In response, the medicine man’s nephew arrived, inspected the work, and instructed Hendrix to dismantle and rebuild it. This process of dismantling and rebuilding was repeated five more times over a year and a half. Finally, the original medicine man returned, inspected the seventh version, and declared it spiritually and physically complete. He explained that each build represented one of the seven generations from Te-lah-nay’s time to Hendrix’s grandchildren, integrating the spiritual essence of each. This painstaking process underscored Hendrix’s dedication to honoring Te-lah-nay and ensuring the circle’s precise alignment with her legacy.
Walking along the completed wall, I felt a profound connection to the history and spirit it embodied. The careful construction of the prayer circle is reflected in the wall’s winding structure. This design represents not only Te-lah-nay’s journey but also the broader human experience of navigating life’s challenges and moments of calm. Each stone invites reflection on the resilience required for such a journey. The wall’s presence had a profound, almost meditative effect, encouraging visitors to consider Te-lah-nay’s legacy and the enduring strength of the human spirit.
This deep connection made visiting the Wichahpi Stone Wall an unforgettable experience. It’s more than a tribute to Te-lah-nay — it’s a place where history, memory, and spirit converge. Each step along its path reinforces the idea that resilience connects us all, offering not just a view into the past but a meaningful way to engage with the present and future.
Bonus Insight:
Tom Hendrix’s dedication to preserving Te-lah-nay’s legacy extends beyond the Wichahpi Stone Wall. In his book “If the Legends Fade”, Hendrix delves deeply into the remarkable journey of his great-great-grandmother. The book combines historical research with personal reflections, offering a detailed account of Te-lah-nay’s experiences during the Trail of Tears and her subsequent return home. Through vivid storytelling and historical context, Hendrix keeps Te-lah-nay’s story alive for future generations.
The Wichahpi Stone Wall is located just outside Florence, Alabama, along the Natchez Trace. It’s open daily for visitors to explore and reflect. For more information on visiting hours and directions, check out this website.