The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

SALLY CARTER---GHOST

SALLY DIED OVER A HUNDRED YEARS AGO FROM PNEUMONIA. HER GRAVE
IS IN THE FAMILY GRAVEYARD LOCATED BEHIND HER HOME, THE
THORNTON HOUSE. ABOUT TWENTY YEARS AGO, A FAMILY REUNION WAS
HELD THERE. ONE COUSIN, A SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD BASKETBALL PLAYER,
HAD TO SLEEP UPSTAIRS ON A COT.THE NEXT MORNING, HE WAS
FOUND SLEEPING IN HIS PARENT'S ROOM, HAVING MOVED THE COT.
HE WOULD SPEAK TO NO ONE UNTIL HIS UNCLE FINALLY ASKED WHAT
WAS WRONG. HE MOTIONED FOR HIS UNCLE TO FOLLOW HIM. THE
COUSIN WENT TO THE GRAVEYARD AND THEY FOUND SALLY'S
TOMBSTONE TIPPED OVER. HE THEN EXPLAINED, "DURING THE NIGHT,
A WOMAN CAME TO MY COT AND WOKE ME BY RUBBING MY FOREHEAD.
I WAS TERRIFIED AS SHE WAS A STRANGER AND APPEARED TRANSLUCENT.
SHE TOLD ME TO PLEASE GO TO THE GRAVEYARD. HER TOMBSTONE HAD
FALLEN AND WOULD I PLEASE REPLACE IT." ACCO RDING TO THE
WOMAN LIVING THERE NOW, THEY HAVE OFTEN HEARD SALLY WALKING
DOWN THE STAIRS AND SLAMMING THE BACK DOOR BEHIND HER. SHE
NEVER WALKS UP THEM, ONLY DOWN.

Where learned: ALABAMA ; HUNTSVILLE

Date learned: 00-00-1967