On highways and backroads across the Southwest, white crosses and small markers remind us of lives cut short. Until now, many of the descansos we’ve shared have been anonymous, silent symbols without names. In this new post, we begin telling the stories of individual memorials, connecting names to the crosses and honoring the people behind them.

Rooted in tradition and remembrance, this post explores the origins of descansos—roadside memorials born from Southwest history and cultural ritual. From colonial funeral processions to modern acts of mourning and protest, these sacred markers tell stories of loss, love, and the places where life left the road.

“Descanso: Roadside Memorials of the Southwest” is a photographic exploration of lives lost and remembered along Arizona’s roads. Inspired by childhood road trips and Greek memorials, this series honors personal grief, cultural ritual, and the stories behind the markers we often pass without pause.