***************************************

on the basis of fair use in education.
***************************************


Subject:
        Robert Johnson Gravesites
   From:
        "tim shipp" <timshipp@hotmail.com>



Hello,

Several folks have emailed to ask about the THREE Robert Johnson
gravesites....let me TRY to explain. Robert is as much a mystery in death as
he was apparently in his lifetime.

Thanks for the kind words.

When Robert was buried, it's been claimed he was buried in what was commonly
known as a "potters field" with very little fanfare. His sister came and had
him dug up and re-interred because she wanted him to have a proper casket.
Well, for years, the exact location has been subject of debate. In fact, the
actual location of the Three Forks store where Robert is believed to have
been poisoned is also the subject of great debate. After Columbia released
the box set, it placed a marker at Mount Zion Baptist Church outside of
Quito, Mississippi near Morgan City on Highway 7. It's the most often cited
marker, but most experts agree it's also probably not the right location. A
little further north on Highway 7 in Quito, you'll find Payne Chapel and a
smaller marker which was placed there by some anonymous musicians a few
years later after the early '90s Columbia effort. A woman claiming to be one
of Robert's former girlfriends claims this is the proper location. It's also
believed by most researchers to be incorrect. Very near this site rested for
years, what was believed by many to be the actual Three Forks Store where
Robert was alleged to have been poisoned. Sadly, it was torn down in mid
March of this year. (I've actually got some pieces of wood from this
structure!!) But, it's actually being the Three Forks Store where Robert was
the night he became ill is still in doubt. Honeyboy Edwards, who was with
Robert on that night, says it's not the right location. Now, where the heck
IS he, anyway???
What most researchers believe today is this. Out near US 49 and US 82, the
northwest end of Greenwood was a store/area called Three Forks. This is
where Honeyboy says he was with Robert on that night. A woman who is 83+
years old has come forward with information which coroborates many of the
details and fills in many of the pieces of the puzzle. I've gotten a few of
them from some of the folks in Greenwood, but Steve LaVere, the Robert
Johnson authority, is compiling them all. Anyway, it is believed that Robert
is actually buried in LITTLE Zion Church outside of town on what is known as
Grand street. There is no marker yet, but the elderly lady in question has
pointed out the exact location she says Robert was buried at. The deacon of
the church there has filed papers for funding for markers from the state,
and the state of Mississippi is to declare it a historic site. It's probably
a year away from becoming reality, but that will be what experts to date
consider to be Robert Johnsons actual final resting place. Still, some parts
of the puzzle....where he was taken and ill for a few days, was he poisoned
or was it other reasons, still remain shrouded in mystery.

Take Care,

Tim