July 3 – Thunderbolt, GA

Day 107 – Bonaventure Cemetery

Bahia Bleu Marina

We visited the Bonaventure Cemetery today; it was developed on the historically-significant site of Bonaventure (Good Fortune) Plantation. The peaceful setting rests on a scenic bluff of the Wilmington River, east of Savannah. The site was purchased for a private cemetery in 1846 and became a public cemetery in 1907. This beautiful site has been a famous tourist destination for more than 150 years due to the tree-lined roadways, the many notable persons interred, the unique cemetery sculpture and architecture, and the folklore associated with the site and the people. Bonaventure is the resting ground of fallen soldiers as well as many others, including Pulitzer Prize winning poet, Conrad Aikin and songwriter, Johnny Mercer who wrote many timeless classics including “Moon River”, “Jeepers Creepers” and “Fools Rush In”.

Along with old oak trees draped with Spanish moss the cemetery is lined with hundreds of azalea bushes… it must be beautiful in the spring when they are blooming. A big part of the cemetery was laid out in family plots. In some of these plots we saw new headstones next to family members who died over a hundred years ago. I know it seems like a strange place to visit, but it was very interesting.

We spent the evening grilling hamburgers, visiting with people on the dock and watching fireworks.

Entrance to Bonaventure Cemetery 

This statue of Gracie Watson is a favorite of visitors. She died in 1883 and this life size statue is a depiction of her. Many people who have visited the cemetery leave presents or trinkets in her lap. Legend has it if the present is taken away, the statue of the girl will actually cry tears of blood and she will cry out into the night. Whether or not anyone has actually seen or heard this is unknown.

Other interesting sculptures we found