Ozark Magic and Folklore –Revisited

In the Ozarks, when folks die, friends still bring in food and neighbors do what they can to assist the family. These beautiful acts of compassion have not changed in our communities -however a 150 years ago you may have been a tad more involved. In today’s world, calling on your neighbors to prepare a dead body for burial, may sound as foreign as embalming did to the Ozark mountaineers of long ago. Modern undertaking didn’t really take off as an industry until after the Civil War, when better techniques and chemicals became produced on a large scale making it more affordable. The process gained wider acceptance when President Lincoln was embalmed and viewed by thousands after being transported halfway across the country. In remote areas where transportation was difficult and money scarce, folk customs and techniques carried on well into the twentieth century. Superstitions treated as absolute law told what must take place, the penalty resulting in another death within a year. 

Any person who wasn't expected to live was kept company by a “watch party” of friends and neighbors who helped with chores or simply allowed the family time to rest. These folks would swing into action once the last breath was drawn, the family taking no part in the proceedings. Once a member of the household dies several steps must be immediately taken, with no means of preservation, unless it was very cold, a short time lay between death and burial. First the clocks must all be stopped, and mirrors shrouded with white cloth, for a clock to run down or one to see their reflection in a house where a corpse lay is very bad indeed! In some households the chairs must be turned upside down until the preparation is completed. A family member must go inform the beehives of the death and affix a piece of black cloth to each lest they swarm and fly off with their honey to the woods. Several neighbor men upon taking the proper measurements would retrieve a cache of wide boards previously set aside and fashion the coffin. With limited joinery, these were quickly nailed together and lined inside and out with muslin, and tacked down. The body is immediately stripped and scrubbed with soap and water. Vance Randolph noted, “Ozarkers have a veritable mania about washing the bodies of the dead, a man may have been dirty his whole life…but he generally goes to the ground clean.” The deceased’s clothes, and bedding are hung on the line, -a sign to the neighborhood what has happened; prompting the old Ozark euphemism regarding an expected death, “I expect to see poor Jim’s britches hanging out any day now.” Once clean, yards and yards of cloth were ripped into “winding sheets” which were wrapped and tied around  the abdominal region to prevent bloating and other unsightly movements. Families in the poorest of circumstances had “burying money,” generally two old silver coins used for generations to close eyes. Families near the point of starvation or on relief never spent this money, nor would they lend it out to use on other corpses. Rags soaked in wahoo bark tea or a concoction of baking soda were placed on the face to keep it from turning color before burial.

Finally, the deceased was dressed and laid out in the new coffin, often between two kitchen chairs. Food was brought in to accommodate the swarms of visitors as it's typically bad luck to cook in a house where a corpse lay. In many families it's fine to cook in the lean-too kitchen in the rear, but to do so in the cabin proper invites disaster. It was considered bad luck for the dead to be left alone. Toward the heel of the evening as visitors departed, a group of younger couples would take the watch, often a jug was passed or spooky stories told in hushed voices. The more passionate of the young couples may be caught kissing in a dark corner. 

One task was left and it wasn’t for the skittish. According to custom the grave must be dug the day of, not before and the body must be buried before noon. This set out quite a timeline. In spots where the digging was easy, teams of men would set out early to be completed on time. Digging on an Ozarks hilltop can be quite a task, add drought or August temperatures to the equation and gravedigging becomes a nocturnal activity. Tradition was often bent a little with most of the grave being dug the day before and finished the morning of the burial. 

The next morning, the family was assembled for one last view and the coffin nailed shut and carried from the house feet first and placed in a wagon bed. Several men on horseback were sent ahead to make sure the road was clear, for the funeral procession, once started shouldnt be halted less more tragedy befall the family. To assure this, riders were sent ahead to clear the road. Once to the burying ground there is often no formal service, just a prayer perhaps a reading of scripture, maybe a hymn. As the coffin lowered and dust returned to dust, those in attendance waited patiently as it was disrespectful to leave until the grave was filled. Being near dinnertime picnic baskets were brought forth and food served in wagon beds. Many describe a picnic-like atmosphere for several hours before returning home. The formal funeral might be conducted as much as a year later when family from a distance can attend and the preacher of choice procured. It is usually held in a local church or school, often without ever visiting the grave.