Episode 151 The Mystery of the Witch of Yazoo City

Southern Mysteries Podcast

Shannon Ballard

True Crime, Society & Culture, History

4.8 • 918 Ratings

🗓️ 9 September 2024

⏱️ 30 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In May 1904, the residents of Yazoo City, Mississippi witnessed a devastating fire that destroyed half of their town. This fire was believed to be the result of a curse spoken by a woman known as the Witch of Yazoo, just before her death two decades earlier. Willie Morris, a writer and native of Mississippi, shared the legend in his book, "Good Old Boy." Following his passing in 1999, he was buried in Glenwood Cemetery in Yazoo City, 13 paces due south of the Witch of Yazoo's grave. Many mysteries surround this tale: Was the witch a historical figure, a character inspired by a resident, or a legend passed down through generations? Who rests beneath the marker commemorating one of the South's most famous witches? Want more Southern Mysteries? Hear the Southern Mysteries show archive of 60+ episodes along with Patron exclusive podcast, Audacious: Tales of American Crime and more when you become a patron of the show. You can immediately access exclusive content now at patreon.com/southernmysteries Connect Website: southernmysteries.com Facebook: Southern Mysteries PodcastInstagram: @southernmysteriesEmail: [email protected] Episode Sources The Times-Democrat: Mississippi Matters, Yazoo City Fire. May 27, 1904 Jackson Daily-News: Committees are active today for the Yazoo City Fire Sufferers. May 27, 1904. The Yazoo Herald: Chained Grave Holds Jealous Wife, Says Longtime Yazoo City Resident. July 5, 1978. Yazoo Herald: Letters to The Editor, Vay McGraw. November 23, 1991. Yazoo Herald: It’s Time To Bury The Witch of Yazoo for Good. April 4, 1998 Yazoo Herald: Letters to the Editor, Willie Morris, April 11, 1998. The Clarion-Ledger: Willie Morris to be buried near witches grave. August 5, 1999. The Delta Statement: Into the Fire, March 2, 2022. Yazoo County Convention and Visitors Bureau: Witch of Yazoo Clarion Ledger: The Witch of Yazoo still haunts the town she burned. October 28, 2014. National Park Service: Nehemiah “Skip” James, October 2017. McElreath, Leisa & Lindsley, Ashley. (2018). 1904 DESTRUCTION OF YAZOO CITY: A CASE STUDY OF COMMUNITY RESILANCE. 10.13140/RG.2.2.13079.68002. City of Yazoo: The History of Yazoo City, Visit Yazoo: 10 Can’t Miss Spots Independent Order of Oddfellows: History of American Odd Fellows Yazoo Herald: Vay Gregory McGraw. May 9, 2023. The ParaInvestigator YouTube: According to Local Legend: The Mystery of the Yazoo Witch. January 5, 2024 Episode Music Out of the Mines, courtesy of Ross Gentry, Asheville, North Carolina.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey there, I'm Shannon Ballard, creator and host of Southern Mysteries.
0:04.4	This show exists because of the core support from patrons who love stories like the one you'll hear today.
0:11.6	I want to say thanks to our new patrons of this independent
0:14.8	podcast, Latasha Babb from Coldwater Mississippi, Sue Rickman from Displains
0:20.7	Illinois, and new patrons who are listening and supporting from
0:24.0	mysterious locations, Holly Duncan, Marcino, and Suzanne Hansen.
0:30.3	If you would like to join them and hear the first three seasons of Southern Mysteries or you're interested in the monthly podcast for patrons, Audacious, which focuses on some of the most shocking and scandalous crimes in American history
0:44.0	support Southern Mysteries on Patreon.
0:47.0	Your support helps me cover the expense of producing this podcast,
0:51.0	which includes research materials, web hosting and podcast hosting expenses, and more.
0:58.0	As a thanks for your support, you get to hear ad-free episodes and lots of content you can't hear anywhere else.
1:05.7	There are two levels to join in and support the show and you can check those out now on
1:10.1	Patreon and access episodes that are only available to patrons at Patreon.com
1:16.6	slash Southern Mysteries. Fire in folklore fire is often described as a protective force or method of divination.
1:35.0	Centuries ago, fire evoked comfort in folklore from Germany and Britain,
1:40.0	where candles and fires were lit around newborns to protect them from evil.
1:45.0	In ancient Greece, the behavior of logs in a fire was a method of divination.
1:51.0	If the logs crackled, good news was on the horizon, likely to be
1:56.6	delivered by a friend. But if the fire hissed or spewed ashes, trouble was
2:02.3	imminent. Fire can be a source of
2:05.2	regeneration or destruction. In May 1904, residents of Yazoo City
2:11.0	Mississippi watched in horror as half their town was destroyed by fire, believed
	...

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