KYLE MURPHYStaff Writer

In the confines of Coffee County just off Highway 55 lies Concord Cemetery. What would appear to be a standard generation-old church and cemetery lies the supposed finally resting place of an alleged witch. The witch’s headstone lies not far from the church, and tends to be covered with offerings of coin, crystals and other items left as offerings to not be cursed. Other than the offerings that surround it, the headstone lays bare a name: Sadie Baker.

The story of Sadie Baker is a tale told by locals in the area where they believe that the grave with Sadie Baker’s headstone is gravesite of a witch. For Tullahoma City Forrester and host of the Tennessee Ghost & Legends podcast Lyle Russell, he didn’t know of the story of Sadie Baker until he moved into the area in 2007.

“I haven’t found any publications or where the story originated,” Russell said. “I had never heard of it until shortly after I moved here but apparently it has been going around locally for quite a while.”

Russell said the first time he heard about the story was from a scavenger hunt from one of the high school teams at the time. The scavenger hunt consisted of teams going around taking pictures and getting information, and one of the things on the list was the question “Who is buried next to Sadie Baker?” which Russell asked how that was important and who she was.

“That person explained the legend to me and I was ‘Oh, it’s a famous grave here so it’s part of that,’ and I think it has been imbedded in local lore for so long that when people around here who have lived here for all their lives when that’s mentioned they know exactly what you’re talking about.”

Russell said he loves local stories, so after broaching the idea of doing his podcast he made the inaugural episode about the legend of Sadie Baker, as it was only a short drive from his home and it was an easy place to visit without taking a tour or be in people’s way.

“I liked that one too because it was one that I could actually go there and spend a little time there,” he said, “walk around, get a feel  for the area and see if it’s really creepy as everyone claims it is.”

Russell said his coworkers told stories of back in high school that they would go to the site with people they knew they could scare easily and they would dress up, hide in the woods and make noise.

Russell said he was surprised how close the grave was to the road next to the church. He said it wasn’t hard to find the headstone as it stood out, thanks to the offerings left by other visitors.

“There were the plastic flowers, there was coins, a horse shoe and candles,” Russell said. “Her (headstone) stood out a little bit.” 

Despite the legend being known more locally, Baker’s story has grown among the paranormal community and the site gets regular visits. Russell said when he talked to someone who used to help take care of the cemetery, they would clear off the things off the headstone every couple of weeks, and when they return they would find the same about as last time.

“I say she gets a pretty high amount of foot traffic if they have to go clean it off every two to three weeks or so,” Russell said.

An aspect of the story that not only fascinated Russell is the involvement of Olivia’s mother and the very jealous, protective nature of wanting to place her daughters on a pedestal that her actions led to the death of Baker, regardless if she was a witch or not. He added this aspect is what makes him believe that the legend is more of a cautionary tale about how not to be envious.

“It almost felt to me like it was a made up story to caution about the evils of envy and that sort of thing,” he said.

Based on what he could find, Russell said he found a Sarah Baker, with “Sadie” being a nickname for Sarah, who owned land during and after the Civil War, and was a widow with children who passed in her mid-60s. Russell added he was also told, noting that he doesn’t if it was true, that the headstone is not the original grave marker, and it was possible that the original marker may have had more information than just a name now.

“I was originally told that’s not even her original site,” he said. “It would be really interesting to see where was the original site, was she reinterred, what happened to her original stone and was there more information on it.”

While he views the legend as more of a cautionary tale, Russell said he can’t completely debunk it as there have recorded instances of situations similar to the story, as well as the historical facts of the event taking place in the sixth civil district near Coffee County, there are records showing that Sheltons and Bakers lived in the area and the headstone itself.

“There is always a little bit of truth of fiction,” he said.

Regardless if the story was true or not, Russell said he thinks the legacy of the story is about the dangers of envy, as well as putting a spotlight to Coffee County.

“I think her legacy would be for us is that it’s a great story, it keeps a local legend alive and gives a little bit of interest to our rural area, but be cautious about how you look at other people. Don’t be envious, be happy for them.”

Those who decide to visit Concord Cemetery to see Sadie Baker’s grave are asked to be respectful to the property and be cautious of the environment.

“Be respectful of the property,” Russell said. “It’s a great story, it’s a neat landmark for us to have people come and visit. Protect it for future generations to come visit and maybe the legend will grow a little bit more.”

For more about Russell’s Tennessee Ghosts and Legends podcast, visit lylerussell.net/tennessee-ghosts-and-legends-podcast or stream episodes on your favorite podcast platforms. 

The Legend of Sadie Baker

The legend of Sadie Baker takes readers back to Sixth Civil District near Manchester, around the 19^th century to the Shelton family. The family was well-known amongst the community. The daughters were sought after by many potential suitors but none more than the youngest daughter Olivia, who was described as both the most beautiful and the most kind-hearted of them all.

One day while in town Olivia came across a beggar girl covered in a dirty cloak and tangled dark hair. Olivia asked the girl’s name and was met with silence and a hand asking for change. In an act of sympathy and curiosity, Olivia took the strange girl by her hand and brought her home to be cleaned up. After being cleaned and received new clothes, the family was taken aback by the stranger’s beauty, which caused jealously among the sisters and Olivia’s mother. It wasn’t long before the men in town, including Olivia’s brothers, took a fancy to the stranger. It wasn’t until Olivia’s sweetheart asked for the maiden’s company that her mother decided to finally act towards the threat of her child’s status in Manchester.

The mother went to the minister and, with little convincing, stated that the reason for the strange girl was that she was witch. The minister soon sent word to the town council, where they held a trial, without allowing the girl any chance to defend herself, and after the crowd was sent into a frenzy by both the mother and minister, the girl was found guilty and sentenced to be buried alive and covered with large rocks, to make sure she couldn’t escape. A mob was sent to the Shelton residence to retrieve the girl where she was taken from her bed and taken to her grave, all the while not resisting and saying a word.

Seeing the cruelty of the girl caused Olivia to have a change of heart and tried to stop the procession but she was unsuccessful. Just before she was pushed to her grave, she turned to the mob and locked on Olivia and spoke the only words anyone ever heard her say:

“I am Sadie Baker!”

She was pushed into the grave and was buried under by the stone thrown at her. Time passed after the incident and Olivia eventually married her sweetheart, but not all was bliss. Her husband found her staring into her reflection one night, clutching at her hair. When he asked if she was alright she accused him of wanting with Sadie than her. The strange paranoia continued on to where the husband went to anyone who could aid Olivia with no success. He turned to the minister who declared that Sadie bewitched Olivia and conducted an exorcism and other religiously rituals, but to no avail.

Then one night, the husband came home to once again find Olivia at the mirror, but this time to find she had cut her hair. She turned to him and asked if he liked it. His attempts to calm her were met with Olivia attacking him, screaming in his face “I am Sadie Baker!” before running out into the woods, where she was never seen again.

Those who decided the grave may hear the laughter or screams from the woods, based on reports over the years, from either Olivia suffering from her guilt or Sadie’s spirit in search of her body. The legend says until her body is found, Sadie will curse anyone who came to grave and not leave a coin, which is what Olivia should have done when she first met Sadie Baker.