Today I’m welcoming paranormal investigator, Paula Westbrook. Thank you, Paula for stopping by!
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I’m from Shreveport Louisiana. I now live in Picayune, MS with my husband David, and my son Joseph. I have a paranormal team named SPARS. And I am the Event Coordinator of the Gulf Coast ParaCon. I have a love of history, and the paranormal.
Why the paranormal?
As with many people, it started at a young age. As a child we lived in many active locations. And it seemed these spirits would seek me out, or I was the only one that seemed aware of them. This terrified me, especially would seem to seek me out to torment me. It became normal for me to experience it. Slowly I became used to it. I quit
letting them get to me. And by the time I was about 10 I was searching for them on my terms. This was a way to gain power over my fears.
How did your team, Southern Paranormal and Anomaly Research Society (SPARS) get started and what kind of places do you investigate?
I am the original founder of this group. I founded SPARS in 2006. I had groups before. But I was newly divorced and new to the area, and I felt this was a way to meet like minded people. We investigate residential, businesses, and historic locations. We are here to help anyone who needs our help. I also do cleansings. And of course, we never charge.
You’re the Event Coordinator who’s preparing the upcoming paranormal event, The Gulf Coast ParaCon in Biloxi, Mississippi. Share with us all the exciting details: dates of the event, who the guest speakers will be, where everyone can purchase tickets, and even about the paranormal investigation that will take place at the Beauvoir House.
One of my favorite places on the Gulf Coast is Beauvoir, (The Last Home of Jefferson Davis). We came together with Beauvoir and created a fundraiser for the restoration and preservation of this beautiful property. My team and I are bringing in Speakers ,
Paranormal Investigators from all over the country . And from different areas of the field so that we can bring education of the paranormal to the public. We have Keith Age from Louisville, Kentucky. He has been in the field for 30 plus years and has been seen on SYFY, “Children of the Grave”, and “Death Tunnel” just to mention a few documentaries of the paranormal. He is also the founder of the largest Paranormal Group in the country, The Louisville Ghost Hunting Society. James Annito, the founder of Dominion Ministries will be here to talk about Demonology. Kevin Betzer, and Randy Hardy as seen on the t.v. show, “Deep South Paranormal” on SYFY. Ayne Pustanio, Author of Haunted New Orleans and a specialist in the Occult. Mary Milam, better known as “Bloody Mary”, a Voodoo Priestess from New Orleans. Seasoned Paranormal Investigators, Gavin Kelly, Sasha Klanott, and Bernadine LaBlanc.
We’ll start off Friday night with the Meet and Greet. We’ll have the speakers and the team members of SPARS there so you can meet us all and get to know us. We’ll have Food and Cash Bar, and I forgot to mention it’s a Costume party. We will also have a D.J. there. It’s always my favorite part of the weekend. Then, on Sat, the 23rd from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 P.M., we will have the speaker lectures at the Presidential Library along with Vendors and people will also be there to do Psychic readings. Then at 8:00 p.m. Sat. night, we will be doing a Paranormal Investigation of the entire 52 acre property of Beauvoir. This also includes the Museum, the house, and the cottages.
Tell us about the history of the Beauvoir House and why is it haunted?
Beauvoir was the last home of Confederate President, Jefferson Davis, and after the death of President Davis, it was handed down to his daughter then to his Widow. Varena Davis, his widow, left it to the current owners of Beauvoir, The Mississippi Division of Confederate Veterans. They in turn turned it into a retirement home for Confederate Veterans and their wives, and widows. Many people lived and died on this property. To many of these people, this was their last home. And their spirits still roam this property today, as with any hospital or retirement home.
What kind of ghostly experiences have people had at this historical location?
We have seen soldiers, and shadow people, and even a ghost dog. We hear voices, lights come on by themselves. People have experienced someone coming up
and whispering in their ear. Doors open and close. Strange balls of light have been seen on the property. Apparitions, as solid as you and I, of Jefferson Davis have been seen. Many have thought he was a reenactor only to find out that there were no
reenactors there. Many brides have captured a picture of Winnie Davis standing in the window of her room. She usually shows up right before a wedding. She was the only child of the Davis’ to live on the property. She never married and died in her 30’s.
Where can paranormal enthusiasts find updates about The Gulf Coast ParaCon?
Our Facebook page, SPARS paranormal. That’s where we have our discussions and answer questions.
*** Here’s some more exciting news I’d like to add for all of my special readers.***
I, Sheila Renee Parker, will also be at the Gulf Coast Paracon as a vendor! I am extremely happy to be a part of this awesome event! And we hope to see you all there!
Paula Westbrook has extended a very gracious opportunity for you all. Every week until the time of the Paracon, Paula will be giving away 2 General Admission tickets!
Each week I will conduct a drawing for the two lucky winners. All anyone has to do is send in your name to Contact Sheila Renee Parker. Entries for the first drawing must be submitted before the deadline date and time of Wednesday, August 30th at 11 p.m. Eastern time. The winners will be notified the following day.
Anything else you’d like to share, Paula?
Starting in Jan. – August, once a month we do an event called Meet the Spirits
where we allow the public to come in and be a ghost hunter. Go to our F.B. Page for these dates or to our website www.sparsparanormal.com.
SHEILA RENEE BROADWAY 