Bonaventure Cemetery is one of the most beautiful, historical sites in Savannah, GA. Visited by many tourists every year, Bonaventure was made ever more popular by John Berendt's book and the subsequent movie entitled, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil."
In 1771, 9,920 acres of Georgia property was owned by John Mullryne and his son-in-law, Josiah Tattnall. 600 acres of that property was named Bonaventure meaning "Good Fortune" and this was the family home. Ironically, good fortune did not always befall the family who owned it.
Twice in the span of 30 years, the plantation house on this site burned to the ground. It is said that on one such occasion the dinner party was moved to the lawn insuring that a fire not ruin the perfect evening. During the course to these 30 years, the plantation was everything from a family home to a hospital for French troops who were attempting to capture Savannah from the British.
Josiah Tattnall, Jr.'s wife Harriet, was the first adult to be buried in 1802 at what was to become Bonaventure. She was buried next to her four children. The Tattnall Family sold 600 acres Peter Wiltberger in 1846. Seventy acres of this property was designated as a cemetery in 1868 and called Evergreen Cemetery.
In 1907, Evergreen Cemetery was purchased by the City of Savannah and became Bonaventure Cemetery. Today, 160 acres of this property are maintained by the Savannah Department of Cemeteries.
Bonaventure is the resting ground of fallen soldiers as well as many others, including Pulitzer Prize winning poet, Conrad Aikin and song writer, Johnny Mercer who wrote many timeless classics including "Moon River", "Jeepers Creepers" and "Fools Rush In".
Bonaventure is famous for their many monuments and stone statues. Included in these is "Bird Girl" (also known as "Little Wendy") statue shown on the cover of the book and in the movie, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil". This statue was sculpted in 1938 by Sylvia Shaw Judson and was purchased by Lucy Boyd Trosdal of Savannah who placed it atop a family gravesite in Bonaventure Cemetery.
It stood in the Bonaventure Cemetery for 50 years before Jack Leigh photographed it for the cover of the book. Made so popular by the book and movie, the city of Savannah has since moved this statue to the Telfair Museum of Art in Savannah to keep nearby graves from being disturbed.
Another statue made famous by the people who have visited the cemetery, is of a small girl. Gracie Watson is a girl who is buried in the cemetery. This life size statue is a supposed depiction of her. Many people who have visited the cemetery will 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 yet to be discovered.
A second more frightening legend of the Bonaventure Cemetery is a pack of ghost dogs who roam the cemetery grounds. Allegedly, this pack of ghost dogs will actually chase people out of the cemetery. Although no one has ever seen the ghost dogs, it has been said that people can hear them breathing and barking as they are being chased. However, if one is lucky enough to avoid the dogs you may be rewarded with the sounds of that diner party on the lawn, still going strong, warmed by the light of a home in flames.
Whether you are a fan of ghosts or just a fan of historical sites, Bonaventure Cemetery is a beautiful and interesting place to visit.
- Christi Long, 2004
back to top
