Woman in Black (supernatural)

The "Woman in Black" is a supernatural figure that was occasionally seen in western Virginia and Tennessee through the 1900-1930s, and at other times. Periodically described as an Appalachian folk tale, other times as a moral figure, and sometimes a voodoo spirit of malevolence, the Woman in Black was reported in different cities and regions throughout the south and west. At the same time, one appearance was reported by reputable people in Alma, Nebraska.

There is an account of a Woman in Black that was seen in Kingsport, Tennessee in November 1927. She appeared to Lena Mitchell, an African-American woman, was visited several times by this mysterious woman, who left her hypnotized or "in fits" afterwards. "Her woman in black was also African-American, and only appeared to torment her." Earlier visits had happened, and voodoo objects had been found under Lena Mitchells' bed, and when removed, the mysterious figure departed. "Relatives noted that, when it happened before, they found a strange hoodoo object beneath Mitchell’s bed. Once they got rid of it, her symptoms subsided and she returned to normal." Although the police searched the town, no one matching the description was ever found, and the Woman in Black remains a mystery.

A woman in black was encountered by several people in Roanoke, Virginia in 1902. "She was beautiful, stately and terrifying." Here the woman in black would appear suddenly and unexpectedly to men who had stayed to long at the club and insist they go home as quickly as possible. Sometimes the woman in black would knock the man down to the ground or "slap him to the earth with a swish of her phantom garments". The woman was always described as beautiful, about 5'10" in height, with large eyes and heavy lashes. She wore a black dress that almost touched the ground, and a raglan coat that covered a slender frame. On her head she wore a turban, but worn so it would obscure the lower part of her face. Although unknown to them, she would appear next to married men and address them by name. Some other towns in the region were also visited by the woman in black, including Bristol, Virginia, Tazewell, Virginia, Lynchburg, Virginia and Richmond, Virginia. One account claims she appeared suddenly to four men of the Disciples of Christ church in Tazewell, Virginia, and scared them so badly they all ran home. "They took to the middle of the street and burnt the wind" trying to get away. The moral upshot of her appearance in Roanoke in 1902 had the salutary effect of keeping married men home with their wives and families rather than going out each night.

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