- Bonaventure Cemetery
Infobox Cemetery
name = Bonaventure Cemetery
imagesize = 200px
caption =
established = 1846
country =
location = 330 Bonaventure Road
Savannah, Georgia,United States
coordinates = coord|32|2|38|N|81|2|49|W|display=title,inlinecite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&GScid=32916&CRid=32916&pt=Bonaventure%20Cemetery&|title=Bonaventure Cemetery|accessdate=2008-08-15]
type = Public municipal
owner = City of Savannah
size = convert|160|acre|m2|1|sing=on
graves =
website =
findagrave = [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=32916&CScn=Bon&CScntry=4&CSst=12& Bonaventure Cemetery]
political =Bonaventure Cemetery is a public cemetery located on a scenic bluff of the Wilmington River, east of
Savannah, Georgia . The cemetery became famous when it was featured in the 1994 novel "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil " byJohn Berendt , and in the movie, directed byClint Eastwood , based on the book. It is the largest of the city's municipal cemeteries, containing nearly 160 acres.The entrance to the cemetery is located at 330 Bonaventure Road.
History
The cemetery is located on the site of a plantation originally owned by John Mullryne. On March 10, 1846, Commodore Josiah Tattnall III, sold the 600-acre Bonaventure Plantation and its private cemetery to Peter Wiltberger. Major William H. Wiltberger, the son of Peter, formed the Evergreen Cemetery Company on June 12, 1868. Evergreen Cemetery Company was purchased by the City of Savannah on July 7, 1907, making the cemetery public and changing the name to Bonaventure Cemetery.cite web|url=http://www.savannahga.gov/cityweb/cemeteriesweb.nsf/f88b2a9460d8675b8525704c006921d4/e3d89c83dac0d9e585257035006681c3?OpenDocument|title=Bonaventure Cemetery|accessdate=2008-08-15|publisher=City of Savannah|work=City of Savannah Department of Cemeteries]
Operations
Citizens of Savannah and others may purchase interment rights in Bonaventure.
The cemetery is open to the public daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There is no admission fee.
Department of Cemeteries
The main office of the City of Savannah's Department of Cemeteries is located on the Bonaventure Cemetery grounds in the Bonaventure Administrative Building at the entrance. [cite web|url=http://www.savannahga.gov/cityweb/cemeteriesweb.nsf|title=Cemeteries Department Home Page]
Bonaventure Historical Society
The cemetery became the subject of a non-profit group, the Bonaventure Historical Society, in May 1997. [cite web|url=http://www.bonaventurehistorical.org|title=Bonaventure Historical Society] .
Bonaventure Historical Society, formerly known as "Friends of Bonaventure", began with an idea and little more. There seemed to be within Savannah’s fourth community cemetery something which needed attention. Historically, little was known of the site, and no one had given attention to validating the historic personalities which were represented by the memorials. On October 9, 1994, "Friends of Bonaventure", under the leadership and research talents of [http://www.bonaventurehistorical.org/Documents/announce_01.htm Mr. Terry Shaw] , dedicated itself to the evolution and preservation of Bonaventure Cemetery as a historical, educational site.
It was at this initial meeting that [http://www.bonaventurehistorical.org/Documents/Hugh_Golson.htm Hugh Golson] , Chairman of the Society for the Preservation of [http://www.bonaventurehistorical.org/Documents/Laurel.html Laurel Grove Cemetery] , gave the group its most valuable directional information. He shared ideas from his own experience with the Laurel Grove Society’s evolution and suggested precise activities which the Bonaventure group might consider. Bonaventure Historical Society had begun, and Hugh Golson has continued to be one of the Society’s most valuable mentors.
Recently, someone remarked that the development of "Friends of Bonaventure" into "Bonaventure Historical Society" could serve as a workable pattern for other groups who wished to accomplish similar goals. For that reason and because it is best to look at what has been achieved during the past three years and use that information for formulating precise goals for the future, this anniversary month Newsletter highlights the Society’s first three years.
Because the exact goal of the group was hazy, activities during the first year centered on learning the physical site and gaining insight into the rules and regulations governing the operation of city cemeteries. Hours and hours were expended walking the cemetery, spotting the historical graves, and noting problem areas which Friends might assist in eliminating. Mary Nelson Adams began correspondence with Kevin Kuharic at Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta and used the Adopt-a-Plot plan he had devised to design a similar plan for Bonaventure. Daniel Elsberry, Director of City Cemeteries, and Tom Hiers, Supervisor at Bonaventure, assisted the group in establishing what could and could not be done by Friends. The group felt it had achieved official status when the cemetery personnel responded to Friend’s request to erect appropriate identifying signs at a few historically significant gravesites. In December of this first year, Friends began the tradition of using that month’s meeting to prepare Christmas wreaths from natural greenery and place them on some of the oldest graves at Bonaventure.
During the second year, a new city director, [http://www.savannahga.gov/cityweb/services.nsf/c513672410d492e785256ae1004fe9c7/40d9071a8cca819185256ae100537153?OpenDocument Jerry Flemming] , came to Bonaventure. Increased tourism dictated the need to revise, update, and expand the cemetery’s rules and regulations. Friends was given an opportunity to input in the development of these new ordinances. The group was becoming more physically involved in Bonaventure. Adopt-A-Plot became a working device whereby lots needing attention could be attended by the group. Advice had been gleamed from several sources, and several members became expert in the care and maintenance for aging monuments. Work days were established whereby members of the group could go into the cemetery and help in the maintenance of Bonaventure as one of Savannah’s most unique sites.
The Society's newsletter itself is perhaps the best example of achievement. From October 1994 until June 1996, the monthly publication was produced on a [http://www.bonaventurehistorical.org/Documents/BHS_01_02.pdf typewriter] with only slight attempts to reproduce pictures. The sophistication came from George Tassey, Jr., a local school teacher and friend of Mr. Shaw. He suggested that he might be able to improve the look of the [http://www.bonaventurehistorical.org/Documents/Sample_BHS_Publication.pdf newsletter] so that it might gain more attention and attract more people to the Society. In addition to producing the Society's newsleter, Mr. Tassey also designed and maintains the [http://www.bonaventurehistorical.org/index.shtml Society's web site] .
As with any organization, finances were necessary, and income for "Friends of Bonaventure" was limited to the fifteen dollar membership fee. At the end of the first year, the group showed a balance of $282.74. Its income for that year had been $582.96. Forty-two people had shown faith by donating membership fees. Undaunted at the small treasury and encouraged that two of these members were outside Savannah, the group trudged forward. Membership for the second year increased to sixty-five, and the year ended with an excessive $692.32 in the bank. It was in this second year that members outside Georgia were contributors.
It was not until the third year that "Friends of Bonaventure" seemed to finally take firm root. By October 1996, the biographical information on people in residence at Bonaventure was gaining the attention of more people. Newspaper and magazine articles had given the group status and created interest among local groups. The Executive Committee decided in September 1996 that the group seemed to be beyond simply being "Friends" and changed the name to "Bonaventure Historical Society". A Constitution and By-laws was written and adopted. A Board of Directors with four officers and five directors was elected. This new Board began investigating tax-exempt status, and Edward (Toby) Buttimer, Jr., volunteered his legal services to assist in attaining this goal. In May 1997, Bonaventure Historical Society added "Incorporated" to its name, and in August received notification that [http://www.bonaventurehistorical.org/Documents/tax_exempt.html tax exempt] status had been granted.
The Society received its first boost for restoration when Mrs. Keith Williams of Kirkwood, Missouri, a descendant of William Gaston, suggested that she would finance restoration of the Gaston Mausoleum if the Society would supervise the work. Mrs. Clermont Lee of Savannah volunteered her time and offered a plan of restoration and landscaping. In July, Jerry Flemming, encouraged the group’s efforts by giving space for the Society’s Visitors Center.
It was also during that same summer that John Berendt announced that one-third of his share of revenue from the new Byrd Cookie Company "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" product would be given to Bonaventure Historical Society. Membership at the year’s end had soared to one hundred twenty-one with twenty-nine contributors outside Georgia. This third year indeed had been the firming foundation for which the group had been striving.
Perhaps the greatest contribution the Society has made to the community thus far has been the historical data compiled and published concerning the site at Bonaventure. In addition to researching the original owners of the plantation and their contributions to the early life of Georgia, many figures who helped form the state have been rescued from obscurity and given a place in history. Although many of these earliest pioneers were originally buried in other places, they are now at Bonaventure, and because Bonaventure Historical Society’s goal is to evolve and preserve their contributions for the future, their names are now recognized by people who did not know they existed.
September 24, 2003 - [http://www.bonaventurehistorical.org/Documents/announce_01.htm Mr. Terry Shaw] , founder and Chairman of Bonaventure Historical Society, Inc., passed away.
October 1, 2003 - Mr. Paul Muller, a board member and long time friend of Mr. Shaw, served as the Society's Chairman until 2006.
August 27, 2004 - [http://www.bonaventurehistorical.org/Documents/Deceased_Dyess.htm Mrs. Faye Lynn Booth Dyess] , Society Treasurer died at age 59.
January 1, 2007 - Mrs. Mildred Hill now serves as the Society's newly elected Chairperson.
The Bird Girl
The cover photograph of "
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil ", taken byJack Leigh , featured an evocative sculpture of a young girl that had been in the cemetery, essentially unnoticed for over 50 years. The sculpture, which has come to be known as the "Bird Girl ", stood on the family plot of Lucy Boyd Trosdal. After the publication of the book, the sculpture was donated to Savannah'sTelfair Museum of Art to avoid disturbances by visitors to the cemetery.Notable burials
*
Conrad Aiken
*Edythe Chapman
*Hugh W. Mercer
*Johnny Mercer
*Edward Telfair
*Jack Leigh External links
* [http://www.geckotales.com/bonaventure_cemetery.htm Pictures from Bonaventure Cemetery]
* [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~langolier/bonaventure.html Pictures from Bonaventure Cemetery]References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
