Allene Clark Kaiser stands outside of Sunnyside Thursday, welcoming visitors before a tour of the home and reenactment of a wake that occurred in the home in the 1800's. Kaiser said during the reenactment that it was common for black ribbon to be hung outside the front door to alert the community that the family was grieving. Family members were also the only ones to dress in full mourning attire, the longer someone's veil the wider the ribbon or shawl was to communicate the deeper the grief. The reenactment will be presented again Sunday at 4 p.m. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)
Colleen Wilkins and Allene Clark Kaiser reenact a wake that occurred in the same room in 1882 when Annie Laws Stewart died of "The White Plague" but is now known as Tuberculosis. Thursday was the first day for the historic house Sunnyside to perform the reenactment. The reenactment will be presented again Sunday at 4 p.m. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)
Black veils cover the mirrors inside Sunnyside while Colleen Wilkins and Allene Clark Kasier reenact a wake that occurred in the same room in 1882. Kasier explained during the reenactment that mirrors were covered with crepe or veiling to prevent the deceased's spirits from getting trapped in the looking glass. The reenactment will be presented again Sunday at 4 p.m. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)
Allene Clark Kaiser reads a passage from the bible during a reenactment of a wake that occurred in the same room in 1882. The reenactment will be presented again Sunday at 4 p.m. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)
A photograph of William Claude Stewart, Annie Laws Stewart’s fiancé and first cousin sits on the table during the reenactment of Annie Laws Stewart’s wake that occurred in 1882. The reenactment will be presented again Sunday at 4 p.m. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)
Allene Clark Kaiser begins to weep during a reenactment of a wake that occurred in the same room in 1882. The reenactment will be presented again Sunday at 4 p.m. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)
A doll sits on the bed holding silk flowers portraying the body of Annie Laws Stewart during a reenactment for Stewart's wake that occurred in 1882. Colleen Wilkins owner of Sunnyside did research on different funeral rituals from the 1800's, one of them was the use of candles and flowers were used to help mask the unpleasant odors before embalming became common. The reenactment will be presented again Sunday at 4 p.m. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)
Visitors listen during a reenactment of a a wake that occurred in the same room in 1882 when Annie Laws Stewart died of "The White Plague" but is now known as Tuberculosis. Thursday was the first day for the historic house Sunnyside to perform the reenactment. Visitors were given badges or ribbons to wear, the mirrors were covered with black veiling. The reenactment will be presented again Sunday at 4 p.m. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)
Tourists listen as Colleen Wilkins and Allene Clark Kaiser read sing during the reenactment of a wake for Annie Laws Stewart, that occurred in the same room in 1882. The reenactment will be presented again Sunday at 4 p.m. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)
A chair with sits next to the bed during a reenactment of a wake for Annie Laws Stewart, that occurred in the same room in 1882 at Sunnyside. The reenactment will be presented again Sunday at 4 p.m. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)
Allene Clark Kaiser puts out the candles after the reenactment of a wake that occurred in the same room in 1882 when Annie Laws Stewart died of "The White Plague" but is now known as Tuberculosis. Thursday was the first day for the historic house Sunnyside to perform the reenactment. The reenactment will be presented again Sunday at 4 p.m. (Nicole Hester | The Natchez Democrat)