The Haunting Bonaventure Cemetery
The most haunted cemetery in one of America’s most haunted cities? For some, that might be too much. But if that description got your heart pumping, we encourage you to keep reading to learn more about Bonaventure Cemetery in the heart of Savannah, Georgia.
WHAT IS THE STORY BEHIND THE BONAVENTURE CEMETERY?
Some haunted locations have just one ghostly resident who delights in terrifying visitors. This isn’t the case with Bonaventure Cemetery.
Bonaventure Cemetery, located in Savannah, Georgia, has not one but two different ghostly residents, and both are known to be quite friendly to visitors.
With over 100 acres of land, beautifully unique natural fauna, and these two friendly ghosts, it’s no wonder Bonaventure Cemetery continues to draw crowds and paranormal investigators year after year.
Keep reading to learn all about this haunted cemetery and even more spooky Savannah tales when you book your ghost tour with Savannah Terrors today.
History of Bonaventure Cemetery
So, what exactly is the story behind Bonaventure Cemetery?
From the beginning, it has always been a startlingly beautiful place. Oscar Wilde once visited Bonaventure and was captivated by its lush expanse. Wilde, known for always having a witty saying, could only say “incomparable” when asked to describe the cemetery.
Bonaventure was originally called Evergreen Cemetery and was privately owned by the Bonaventure Plantation. Standard in the South at the time, plantations would often house numerous people, both free and enslaved and, thus, would usually need a cemetery to keep up with them all.
In the 19th century, the early cemeteries of Savannah were quickly nearing capacity when Evergreen Cemetery was established. However, Evergreen, while filling a vital need, was also used for more than just “grave” matters. It was so beautiful that local families would often picnic here for lunch or walk around and enjoy their surroundings.
Evergreen Cemetery was well-kept, and, acknowledging their need for more graveyards, the city of Savannah purchased it from the Bonaventure plantation in 1907. Renamed after the original owners, the state-owned cemetery grew from 60 acres to over 100. It now houses many famous residents, including actresses, artists, and renowned singer Johnny Mercer.
Hollywood Fame
Its dearly departed residents aren’t the only reason Bonaventure Cemetery is nationally famous. Have you read “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” by John Berendt? Even if you haven’t heard of this book, you might know its famous 1999 film adaptation directed by Clint Eastwood. Both the book and the film heavily feature Bonaventure Cemetery as the story’s setting, the eponymous garden.
However, if you haven’t seen the movie or read the book, you may still recognize the cover of “Midnight.” The cover features a photograph of a statue named “Bird Girl.” It had gone unnoticed for years until it was featured on the book cover and, since then, has become a minor pop culture icon. However, her name has changed from Bird Girl to Little Wendy, and she sometimes tours various museums and galleries nationwide.
Why has this statue captured the imagination of so many people? The answer may lay beyond the grave. Legend has it that the statue is haunted by Lorraine Greenman, the very same girl who first posed for it when it was sculpted. Little Lorraine so enjoyed her fame that she decided to stick around and give visitors a good scare.
But that’s not the only famous statue that stands in Bonaventure Cemetery. It’s not even the only haunted one!
Little Gracie
The other statue in the graveyard is that of Gracie Watson—a sad story: Gracie was just six years old when she died of pneumonia.
Her parents, W.J. and France, were devastated. The two managed the local Savannah tavern, the Pulaski Hotel, and Gracie was a beloved presence there. She had charmed the guests with her adorable games and playful nature. She was even known to sing and dance for the guests as they entered or left the hotel.
Sadly, after she passed, her parents were forced to leave her grave as their work moved them back to their home in New England. Her father, still reeling at the loss of his little girl, decided to commission a sculptor, John Walz, to immortalize his daughter in stone. If he couldn’t watch over the grave, the statue would. More importantly, it would memorialize Gracie for all time.
Walz, astonishingly, perfectly captured Gracie’s likeness using only a single photograph of her. “Little Gracie,” as the statue came to be called, still stands there today.
The stone guardian isn’t the only one watching over Gracie after death. Visitors to the grave are known to leave gifts and trinkets at her headstone. Unfortunately, not all the visitors left such lovely gifts. Local legend spread amongst Georgia students that rubbing the tip of the statue’s nose would provide good grades on future tests, but the nose broke off and had to be repaired.
People have spotted her ghost, dressed in a white dress, skipping through the gravestones only to vanish into thin air. It’s also said that if one of her toys or trinkets is removed, the statue will cry tears of blood.
Haunted Savannah
If the beautiful landscape, storied history, and friendly ghosts of Bonaventure Cemetery strike your fancy, then be sure to book an in-person ghost tour. Savannah is known as one of America’s most haunted cities, and booking a ghost tour with Savannah Terrors is the perfect way to learn more about southern haunts. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, and keep reading our blog for more real Georgia hauntings.
Sources:
https://www.bonaventurehistorical.org/history-bonaventure-cemetery/
https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/the-haunted-pseudo-history-of-bonaventure-cemetery/
https://www.bonaventurehistorical.org/little-gracie-watson/
https://www.savannahga.gov/864/Bonaventure-Cemetery
https://www.georgiahistory.com/ghmi_marker_updated/johnny-mercer/
https://the-line-up.com/gracie-watson-bonaventure-cemetery
