We recently received a letter from Kimberly Ann Poe, who is lucky enough to claim old Edgar as a distant relative. She took notice of our recent burst of coverage of him, and expressed her gratitude:

 Dear Baltimore Sun, 

My name is Kimberly Poe. Yes, I am fortunate enough to bear the last name of my distant relative. I just wanted to send a truly heartfelt thank you to the amazing people of Baltimore for honoring the man, who in my opinion, has so greatly influenced my love of writing. I just now read of the funeral, via AP News, and it brought tears to my eyes. I wish I could be there to thank Jeff Jerome personally for all the work he has put in to this, and for his continuing effort to ensure the legacy of Edgar [Allan] Poe. I just hope that, by some small chance, you will find it in your hearts to pass on this message to all involved. This will be a moment I [will] never forget. I, by some twist of fate, am getting to participate in my own way in the funeral for the man who makes me proud to bear the last name Poe. Thank you Baltimore, once again, for allowing me this opportunity.

Yours Truly, Kimberly Ann Poe

It's nice to know that something that's seen as perhaps only an intellectual exercise for some -- what would Poe's contemporaries have said if he had received a proper burial? -- was a meaningful ceremony for others.