Ghostly lessons in history are offered Thursday at the annual Voices from the Past Cemetery Tour.

The event features eight portrayals of figures from Covington’s past relating their life stories during a walking tour of the city cemetery. These are intimate vignettes of personal history, stories drawn from everyday life.

"To me it’s part of everybody’s heritage," said Sheryl Christian, an event organizer.

One of the characters sharing a story is Junior Odom, a larger-than-life sheriff of Newton County whose funeral procession stretched around the square. He’ll be portrayed by Ernie Smith.

Avis Williams will portray educator Alberta Williams. They were not related but were neighbors.

Mary Louise Fowler, best known for teaching tennis to Newton County children in the previous century, will be portrayed by Dawn Atha.

Entrepreneur Richard Mills Everitt will be portrayed by Tony Wilson. Everitt was orphaned when he was 4 and indentured to James Spears until he came of age in the early 1800s. He did everything from crafting and selling caskets to vending fruits and vegetables.

An entrepreneur of a different sort, Frances Marion Cheney, will be played by Jeff Meadors. Cheney was a 19th century pastor and concoctor of a cough medicine, Cheney’s Expectorant. A bottle will be in hand, but not for sale.

Bea Jackson will portray Dinah Pace, who ran an orphanage, and Jonathan Paschal will portray Olan Bohanan Sr.

Bohanan’s family lost much of its farmland to Lake Jackson when it was created. With the advent of the boll weevil in the early 20th century he moved to Detroit, part of a great migration of locals to the Motor City at the time.

The vignettes stretch to the early years of America, with Revolutionary War re-enactor Bruce Maney portraying Robert Pullen.

The event will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tours start at the Davis Street entrance at the old Conyers Street gym, with tours beginning every 15 minutes.

Advance tickets are required and are available through 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the Covington Visitor Information Center, 2101 Clark St.. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for ages 12 and younger.

Wear comfortable shoes and bring a flashlight. Golf carts will be available to provide rides for those who are unable to walk the route.