DESCRIPTION:
My visit to all three of the graves/markers for
Robert Johnson near Greenwood, Ms.
Jan 2011
There may be controversy about it for others but I, for one, had no doubt where the true place of rest was....as soon as I got out of the vehicle at Little Zion church.
You could almost feel his soul.
The wind, the leaves, the bird's sounds, the shadows.
It all creates a strong feeling or presence...
It was almost haunting....

On Friday, August 12th, 1938, Robert and David 'Honeyboy' Edwards were booked to play at a dance in Three Forks, near Greenwood, Mississippi. Robert was apparently showing too much interest in somebody's wife or girlfriend. The next night, the jealous husband had his friends give Robert some poisoned whiskey. Another eyewitness, Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller), claims that Robert was openly displaying affection for some particular lady, who was, indeed, the wife of their employer. Sonny Boy claims that a pint of whiskey was sent to Robert. He drank it, while Sonny Boy stood by helplessly and watched. Honeyboy Edwards, who showed up after the poisoning, said that around 1.00am, Robert became sick while playing, but the audience wanted him to carry on. By 2.00am, he was so ill they had to take him into Greenwood, but there was no money for a doctor. Robert survived for several days, but finally died on Tuesday, August 16th, 1938.

The Certificate of Death contains several inconsistencies (e.g. age, date of birth), however the cause of death is recorded as 'No Doctor'. No one was ever brought to trial, although, researcher Robert Burton 'Mack' McCormick more recently located a black man who confessed to the crime. Mack refuses to reveal any more details of the man's identity, but suggested that he may do after the man's death.