The Mystery Behind This Mississippi Graveyard Has Baffled Historians For Decades
By Daniella DiRienzo|Published January 10, 2018
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Daniella DiRienzo
Author
Though Daniella was born in New York and has lived in a couple of other states, Mississippi has been her home for more than 30 years. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships. In the years since, she’s had the privilege of having her articles appear in several publications, such as the Mississippi-based Parents & Kids Magazine. She’s also had the honor of interviewing actress Sela Ward for The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience.
Of all the historic cemeteries in Mississippi, one of the most interesting is the Natchez City Cemetery. In addition to its immense beauty, the graveyard has long been known for the variety of strange tombstones and graves that fill its grounds. From unusual memorials to a statue that appears to move on its own, it’s easy to see why the Natchez City Cemetery has intrigued so many over the years.
Established in 1822, the Natchez City Cemetery is one of the oldest burial grounds in the state.
As beautiful as it is historic, the 100-acre cemetery sits high on the bluffs above the Mississippi River, providing gorgeous views, especially at sunset.
In existence for well over a century, it’s the final resting place of numerous historic figures, builders of the city’s famous antebellum homes, and everyday people.
Aside from a rich history, it’s the slew of unique monuments that grab visitors’ attention. The most famous statue in the cemetery is The Turning Angel, which is said to watch people as they pass by the cemetery at night.
The statue was erected after an explosion at the Natchez Drug Company on March 14, 1908. A total of 12 employees died in the tragic incident. As a way to honor their lives, the owner purchased the statue and a lot in the historic cemetery.
According to legend, when cars drive by the cemetery’s gates at night and the headlights shine on the angel, she seems to turn to watch the passerby.
The grave of Florence Irene Ford is another intriguing site in the cemetery. At the time of her death in 1871, Florence was just 10 years old. Since the young girl was always scared by storms, her mother had this unusual grave built.
In addition to a specially made coffin that had a pane of clear glass at Florence’s head, the mother had stairs installed at the gravesite. The grieving mother could descend the stairs and sit with her daughter during scary storms.
The grave of Louise the Unfortunate is also known to pique interest. According to local lore, Louise came to Natchez searching for her fiancee but never found him.
She stayed in Natchez, working as a prostitute. When she passed away, an anonymous person paid for her burial and tombstone, which doesn’t include any dates.
Another noteworthy gravesite is that of Mr. LH Lawrence. After the death of his wife, Mr. Lawrence would visit her grave every day.
And each day, he brought along a toolbox of items he used to clean her headstone and take care of her plot. The grieving husband spent so much time at the gravesite, the cemetery bought a bench for him. After Mr. Lawrence's death, an encased toolbox was placed underneath the bench in his memory.
The Natchez City Cemetery is located at 2 Cemetery Road in Natchez. Several tour options are available. For more information, click here.
So, did you know the Natchez City Cemetery was home to so many unusual graves? Ever visited the cemetery? Tell us in the comments section.
