Illinois Magic Soccer is a youth soccer club based in Illinois, United States. The club was founded in 2005 and has since developed a reputation for its excellence in training and development of young soccer players. The Illinois Magic Soccer club is a member of the Illinois Youth Soccer Association (IYSA) and competes in various leagues and tournaments at the local, regional, and national levels. The club focuses on providing a positive and nurturing environment for young athletes to learn and excel in the sport of soccer. Their mission is to develop well-rounded individuals who not only become skilled soccer players but also grow into responsible and respectful individuals. The Illinois Magic Soccer club believes in teaching important life values such as discipline, teamwork, sportsmanship, and dedication through the game of soccer.
Fully convinced that I had discovered the grave of the infamous Blue Ridge Witch, I found Fran and we began to discuss the legend. I pulled up other photos of the grave and saw clearly that people had taken photos of the headstone and it was indeed facing West. What we were seeing was a headstone that has purposefully been turned around. We began to discuss Elizabeth’s sister-in-law but couldn’t remember her name. I searched the internet and found her name. Mary.
The footstone was right up against the tree trunk, therefore; I began to imagine the length of a casket or even the length of the average woman and found that it was not physically possible for a body to be buried in that direction so close to the root system of the massive tree. The clans buried their dead and life went on as usual but with one exception; during the following year, every single child born in either settlement was either still-born or died within the first year.
The Illinois Magic Soccer club believes in teaching important life values such as discipline, teamwork, sportsmanship, and dedication through the game of soccer. The club offers programs for boys and girls of all ages and skill levels. They have teams ranging from U8 to U19, which allows young athletes to progress and develop their skills within the club.
Is This Graveyard and Church Haunted? The Tale of Tilley Bend
The tale of the American Witch has enchanted storytellers since the mid-1600’s. Alse (Alice) Young was the first recorded colonist to be hung for witchcraft in what is now Hartford, Connecticut in 1647. The infamous Salem witch trials began during the spring of 1692, after a group of young girls in Salem Village, Massachusetts, claimed to be possessed by the devil and accused several local women of witchcraft. As a wave of hysteria spread throughout colonial Massachusetts, a special court convened in Salem to hear the cases; the first convicted witch, Bridget Bishop, was hanged that June. Eighteen others followed Bishop to Salem’s Gallows Hill, while some 150 more men, women and children were accused over the next several months.
Here is Where Our Story Begins:
More than two hundred years later and one thousand miles to the south, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia; the legend of the American Witch continues with the story of Elizabeth Jane Tilley Bradley. As the story goes, Elizabeth was of Creek Indian descent and served the Tilley Bend Community as a healer in the late 1800s. Elizabeth and her husband, Jason Bradley, had eight children; six daughters and two sons. During the early 1900s, the Tilley clan became embroiled in a bitter feud with their closest neighbors, the Stanley’s. Elizabeth’s family was caught in the middle as one daughter was married to a Stanley and the other to a Tilley. The feud escalated and one Sunday morning, while the Tilley Bend Community was attending church services, the Stanley’s came. Stanley men shot into the church and killed several of the Tilley’s, including Elizabeth’s eldest daughter. In retribution, the Tilley’s gathered up a posse and raided the Stanley Settlement while they slept.
The settlements were only a few miles apart.
During this raid, Elizabeth pregnant daughter, who was married to a Stanley watched as her husband was slain. She and the baby died in childbirth. Heartbroken and enraged, Elizabeth cursed both settlements and proclaimed that no child would live to either family. The clans buried their dead and life went on as usual but with one exception; during the following year, every single child born in either settlement was either still-born or died within the first year.
Our Visit on Sept 19, 2017
With the above story fueling our curiosity, Fran and I made the trip to Tilley Bend. As with most legends, I suspected that it was more fiction than reality. The church had been refurbished some time ago, but allegedly, Tilley family descendants have pictures of the original whitewashed church with bullet holes and all, as evidence of the Stanley Massacre.
The first thing you notice is the large tree, just left of the center of the graveyard. It’s the only tree within the confines of the graves. Naturally, I made my way to the tree and a strange sensation came over me as I saw with my own eyes, the weathered headstone of Elizabeth Jane Tilley Bradley. Right there under the tree, just as the legend says. The headstone, however, was facing toward the west just like all the other graves. Admittedly, I was disappointed. But the more I looked around the area, I noticed other strange things. Behind the headstone (where the body of Elizabeth would be buried if the stories were true) was a pile of blackened ash. Someone had recently burned something on the grave. I also noticed that there isn’t another grave in the same area. She lies alone.
I noticed there was a footstone, but it was much more modern than the old weathered headstone. It had been placed rather recently. Much to our daughter, Julia’s delight a spider had taken up residence in the “E”
The footstone was right up against the tree trunk, therefore; I began to imagine the length of a casket (or even the length of the average woman) and found that it was not physically possible for a body to be buried in that direction so close to the root system of the massive tree. Indeed, the grave would have had to be dug all the way to the base of the tree. The last thing I noticed was that the dirt around the headstone was piled fresh as if someone had dug it up and turned it around the other way. I was convinced, Elizabeth was buried facing the west, just as the legend stated. The church (or someone) recently turned the headstone around with the intent of concealing this fact.
Could they have dug into this root system in 1906 without killing the tree? How is this enough space for a casket or even a body? The Georgia Red clay does look freshly dug around the headstone.
Here is a video showing that the headstone was facing West until recently when someone turned it around. The stone is shown at 48 seconds. It also appears it was shifted slightly to the right of the tree
More shivers. I looked around the graveyard for Fran, we had split up and she was walking around taking pictures and I noticed that the clear majority of the graves had flowers laid on them. Someone was taking care to tend to the dead. I absently looked back at Elizabeth’s resting place and noticed she had no flowers. Shivers. Furthermore, the area around the headstone was quite barren. A stark contrast to the thick, green grass that carpeted the rest of the graveyard.
Fully convinced that I had discovered the grave of the infamous Blue Ridge Witch, I found Fran and we began to discuss the legend. I pulled up other photos of the grave and saw clearly that people had taken photos of the headstone and it was indeed facing West. What we were seeing was a headstone that has purposefully been turned around. We began to discuss Elizabeth’s sister-in-law but couldn’t remember her name. I searched the internet and found her name. Mary.
Mary’s headstone, covered in moss, is eerily creepy
We remembered that Mary was hung and buried one year to the day and we quickly began to search for her grave. We found it only to discover only to discover that when we entered the graveyard and Fran and I split up, that was the very first picture Fran took without even knowing who it was. She was drawn to this headstone first as it was a small stone cross with moss growing on it, she didn’t pay attention to the name, only the beauty of the cross. Knowing that she was drawn first to this particular headstone spooked her a little.
Tiny headstones of infants
In the very back of the graveyard were maybe a dozen or more graves marked only by large rocks. Some with very crude and undiscernible carvings on them. We later discovered that these were the graves of still-born children. Shivers.
We left Tilley Bend Church that day, fully convinced that we had seen the grave of a bonafide witch. Maybe, maybe not. I have never been in a situation where there was so much physical evidence to support a legend. Of course, there could have been any number of reasons for so many children to be still-born, but the idea of a curse is so much more interesting.
P.S. One last creepy note: Oddly, we noticed that both Elizabeth and Mary headstones state they shared the same birthdate 2-28-1846 as well as death date 10-26-1906. That’s odd. But Legend states they died 1 year apart to the day. Mary’s headstone is also rather new looking doncha think? Were the years changed to reflect the same birthdates as well as death dates or is this a fact, did they enter the world on the same day and both perish on 10-26-1906?
P.P.S. We recently met a few awesome Stanley folk and while talking to them, they said they never heard of this story, but as children, they were not allowed to play up at Tilley Bend because “it was haunted“.
They also stated, “We don’t talk much about the Tilley’s…“
Keep the Lust for Wandering Y’all!
Shane
Click for more photos of Tilley Baptist Church
At this point because of these two feuding families, Elizabeth Bradley lost both of her daughters and a grandchild. (Some versions of this story claim that Elizabeth was just angry about the family feud.) She cursed both the Tilley and Stanley families. All babies born thereafter for each family was stillborn. (Some say that it was all children that were impacted, through illness and death). Tilley family members decided that a year of death to their newborn babes was enough and that it needed to stop. Elizabeth was forced to the graveyard to be hung from the tree in its center. Before they dropped her to her death by hanging, she vowed to come back. She was buried facing west, right where her body fell. When the infant mortality continued, some believed that Elizabeth had indeed returned, that she inhabited her sister-in-law, Mary Tilley Bradley. She was also hanged, same tree a year to the day that Elizabeth was hanged, but she was not given a witch’s burial since she was only a receptacle for Elizabeth’s evil spirit (plus she was a Tilley).
The training sessions are conducted by experienced and licensed coaches who focus on individual player development as well as team tactics. Illinois Magic Soccer emphasizes the importance of player development and provides opportunities for players to showcase their skills and abilities at higher levels. The club has a track record of producing talented players who have gone on to play at collegiate and professional levels. They also provide guidance and support for players who aspire to play soccer at the college level through college recruiting programs and showcases. In addition to their emphasis on player development, Illinois Magic Soccer also places importance on developing a strong sense of community. The club works closely with parents, coaches, and players to foster a supportive and inclusive atmosphere. They organize various community events and initiatives to promote a sense of belonging and unity among the members. Overall, Illinois Magic Soccer is known for its dedication to player development, fostering a positive environment, and producing talented soccer players. The club's commitment to the growth and success of young athletes sets them apart and makes them a respected presence in the soccer community in Illinois..
Reviews for "The Role of Parental Support in Illinois Magic Soccer's Success"
1. John - 1 star
Illinois magic soccer was a complete disappointment. The coaches seemed uninterested in teaching the kids and hardly paid any attention to them during practices and games. The drills were repetitive and lacked creativity. The whole experience felt disorganized and unprofessional. I would not recommend this soccer program to any parent looking to develop their child's skills or foster a love for the sport.
2. Sarah - 2 stars
I enrolled my son in Illinois magic soccer with high hopes, but unfortunately, it fell short of expectations. The facilities were poorly maintained, and the equipment was old and worn out. The coaching staff showed little enthusiasm and seemed more interested in socializing with each other than actually coaching the kids. There was a lack of structure in the training sessions, and my son didn't feel like he was improving. Overall, Illinois magic soccer did not provide the quality experience we were hoping for.
3. David - 2 stars
Illinois magic soccer was a letdown for my daughter. The communication from the coaches and staff was inconsistent and often late. There were frequent cancellations of practices and games without prior notice or proper rescheduling. The team lacked organization and seemed disunited during matches. My daughter lost interest in soccer because of this poorly managed program. I would advise parents to look for a more reputable and reliable soccer program for their children.
4. Melissa - 1 star
Illinois magic soccer was a waste of time and money for my son. The coaching staff showed favoritism towards certain players, neglecting the rest of the team. They lacked proper knowledge of the game and failed to provide constructive feedback to help the players improve. The team's performance suffered as a result, and my son's enthusiasm for soccer dwindled. I regret enrolling him in this program and would not recommend it to anyone.