Angels among us: Cemetery spirits come to life for sold-out crowd
Published 1:00 am Friday, November 9, 2018
LLJuna Weir, soloist, performed singing “Summertime” one of the most popular songs of the era performed by Billie Holiday. Weir was portraying the only female singer in the Walter Barnes Orchestra who died in the Rhythm Night Club Fire, Thursday during Angles on the Bluff at the Natchez City Cemetery. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)
Chanda Solano portrays "Marjorie “Princess” Alexander", who died in the Rhythm Night Club Fire Thursday during Angles on the Bluff at the Natchez City Cemetery. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)
Ruthie Coy portrays "Ruth Audley Britton Wheeler Beltzhoover" Thursday during Angles on the Bluff at the Natchez City Cemetery. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)
Ruthie Coy portrays "Ruth Audley Britton Wheeler Beltzhoover" Thursday during Angles on the Bluff at the Natchez City Cemetery. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)
Rev. Ken Ritter, Trinity Church, waits for a crowd of around 40 people approach him before portraying "Rev. Alexander Marks" Thursday during Angles on the Bluff at the Natchez City Cemetery. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)
Robert Pernell portrays "Russell "Russ" Harris," Thursday during Angles on the Bluff at the Natchez City Cemetery. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)
Rev. Ken Ritter, Trinity Church, portrays "Rev. Alexander Marks," Thursday during Angles on the Bluff at the Natchez City Cemetery. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)
NATCHEZ — The annual Angels on the Bluff kicked off Thursday evening at the Natchez City Cemetery. Tickets for the event sold out weeks ago, even before the full line up was announced.
Angels on The Bluff is the Natchez Cemetery Association’s most important fundraiser to help maintain the cemetery.
The Rev. Ken Ritter of Trinity Episcopal Church acted in Angels on the Bluff for the first time Thursday, portraying the Rev. Alexander Marks, who served the same congregation until his death in 1886.
“I thought it would be fun to portray one of my predecessors,” Ritter said. “I just think the whole concept is wonderful, and I certainly wanted to support the cemetery in any way I could.”
LLJuna Weir, solo vocalist, performed, singing “Summertime.” Weir was portraying the only female singer in the Walter Barnes Orchestra, who was killed in the Rhythm Night Club Fire, following Chanda Solano’s portrayal of Marjorie “Princess Alexander, who also died in the Rhythm Night Club Fire.
“I love the history that’s in the cemetery and over the years I followed Angels on the Bluff so when they asked me to do this I was more than appreciative,” Weir said.
The event includes 10 presentations throughout the cemetery and tours will continue throughout the weekend Friday and Saturday beginning at 5: 15 p.m.
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