The Natchez City Cemetery is the resting place of the dead. But no place in the city can boast more life stories &045;&045; inspiring, joyful, sad, tragic, highly engaging stories.

Once again, The Friends of the Natchez City Cemetery have chosen from among the famous and not-so-famous to bring stories of long ago alive again for the annual Angels on the Bluff, Oct. 24 and 25 at the cemetery and Oct. 26 atthe

City Auditorium.

Stroll among the stones and statuary at the cemetery, as renowned for its natural beauty as for the fascinating people buried there. Follow paths beside the lacy iron fences. Read the names aloud:

&uot;Christian Schwartz. Oh, yes, he is the one who built that beautiful house on South Commerce Street where Randy and Ann Tillman live. It’s called Glen Auburn, but I don’t think he named it that.

&uot;Rufus Learned. There’s a name to remember. And his magnificent mausoleum is a landmark among the rolling hills beside the Mississippi River bluff. His wealth and power became legendary, too, as did his ventures into lumbering, banking and gold mining.

&uot;Jennie Merrill. Most everyone knows her sad story.

&uot;Kate Schwartz. Hers is a sad one, too, as she died so very young in a boating accident. She and Charles West would have had a wonderful life as husband and wife.&uot;

Those are some of the characters chosen for portrayal by Natchez actors for the candlelight tours beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and for the presentation at 2 p.m. Sunday at the City Auditorium.

In case of rain, organizers have arranged to have all three performances take place at the auditorium, with the evening performances at 7 p.m.

&uot;Saturday already is nearing sell-out, and Friday is approaching the same numbers,&uot; said Bee Byrnes, one of the organizers of the event.

Tickets are available at Natchez Visitor Reception Center, 640 Canal St. or by calling the center at (601) 446-6345.

Tickets purchased in advance are $10 donation per person; on the day of performance, tickets are $15 per person.

No public parking is available at the cemetery. Those attending Angels on the Bluff should park at the Visitor Reception Center and take the free shuttle to the cemetery. &uot;We’re asking everyone to plan to board the shuttle to the cemetery at least 30 minutes before the scheduled time for touring,&uot; Byrnes said.

&uot;Marshall Gurney. Well, I’ve heard of Henry Gurney. He took photographs around Natchez during the Civil War. And he is the one who hired the famous photographer Henry C. Norman. Who is Marshall?

&uot;Percy Quin. Isn’t that the name of a park not far from Natchez? I think he was in the Legislature or something.

&uot;Sidney Stratton. I know the last name. If you know any Natchez history, you know about Dr. Joseph B. Stratton. How was Sidney related? Someone said he participated in many battles in World War II. Was he some kind of hero?&uot;

The cast of characters and the actors playing them are: John Ballard as Christian Schwartz; Page Ogden as Rufus Learned; Robert Green as Simon Mayer; Tammi Mullins as Kate Schwartz; David Gardner as Charles West; Doris Ann Benoist as Jennie Merrill; Rusty Jenkins as Duncan Minor; David Preziosi as Marshall Gurney; Aylett Dickman as Aylett Quin, telling the story of her husband, Percy; Craig Bradford as Capt. Sidney V. Stratton; Terry Trovato as the master of ceremonies at the auditorium presentation; Mery Rose Worthington as the bagpipe player at the cemetery; and musicians Mickey Davis, Tim McGivaren, Charles Powers and Terry Trovato as the Irish string band.