A Southern Folk Tradition, Grave Houses Were Once A Common Sight In Mississippi    

The South is steeped in tradition. Some traditions, like filling up on cabbage and black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day, are well-known and still honored. Others have faded away throughout the years. Grave houses fall into the second category. Once a prominent part of Southern folk culture, grave houses are now a thing of the past; however, that doesn’t make them any less intriguing.

Susan C Allen, Contributed Photo

The first grave houses in the South appeared around 1840 and were small, tent-like structures. Grave shelters were common in European, African, and American Indian cultures long before becoming part of southern folk culture. Eventually, though, the tradition spread throughout various parts of the U.S., including portions of Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

Susan C Allen, Contributed Photo

Between 1870 and 1900, they morphed from tiny, low-to-the-ground houses to larger structures with windows, doors, and, most often, gable roofs. They became more decorative, too, and were typically adorned with shells and flowers.

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Susan C Allen, Contributed Photo

Typically, grave houses were used to shelter the graves of those who died young as well as those who died heroic or tragic deaths.

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Susan C Allen, Contributed Photo

The most obvious function was to protect the grave from the elements and animals. But that wasn’t the only purpose of the structures. Some link grave houses to an old superstition, which stated that if a gravesite wasn’t maintained, evil entities would enter it and disturb the deceased.

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In addition to the grave house pictured above, which is located in New Hope Cemetery in Yalobusha County, there’s another in Oak Grove Cemetery in Mantachie. Dubbed the Widow’s Gravehouse, it protects the grave of Letha Ann Ratliff Grissom, who was just 16 when she lost her life to Yellow Fever.

So, did you know about this Southern folk tradition? Have you seen a grave house in person? Know of another tradition that’s specific to the South?

Mississippi’s graveyards are no stranger to peculiar sights. Read about one of the state’s most unique burial sites here.