Death messengers, in former times, were those who were dispatched to spread the news that an inhabitant of their city or village had died. They were to wear unadorned black and go door to door with the message, "You are asked to attend the funeral of the departed __ at (time, date, and place)."
Death messengers, in past times, were those who conveyed the news of a person's demise within their city or village. They wore plain black attire and went door-to-door with the message: "You are requested to attend the funeral of the deceased __ at (time, date, and location)."