Listen

Description

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 Podcast
Instagram: @southernmysteries
Email: southernmysteriespodcast@gmail.com 

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.