![]() Mercer produced many of the top hits from the 1930s to the 1960s. He went on to Hollywood where he wrote songs for major motion pictures and became one of America’s most notable songwriters. Mercer made his way to New York where he joined Paul Whiteman’s orchestra and wrote lyrics for Broadway musicals. He was born in Savannah in 1909 but was destined for bigger things. Johnny Mercer is one of Savannah’s, and Bonaventure’s, most famous residents. The co-founder of Capitol Records is buried here His talent did not go unnoticed and he soon became in high demand for sculpting gravesite monuments.Ħ. He fell in love with Savannah after his employer was commissioned to create the statues that stand in front of Telfair Academy. Walz studied sculpting in Paris and Vienna before returning to the United States where he embarked on a successful career in sculpting. He worked as a stone cutter for eight years until he was able to save enough money to return to Europe and pursue his education. John Walz was born in Germany and immigrated to the US when he was 14 years old. A famous sculptor created over 100 monuments in Bonaventure It is rumored that once the sun goes down, you can hear the faint cry of babies and whispers of laughter. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, it is evident that the memory of Gracie Watkins still lives on.įor an added thrill, book an after-hours cemetery tour. It is also said that if you take any of the gifts left at her grave then her statue will cry tears of blood. Some have even seen the apparition of a young girl in 1880s attire wandering around the bank and other locations around Savannah. Rumor has it that she plays pranks on unsuspecting people, like pulling makeup out of women’s purses. The cafe has since been converted to the Regions Bank on Johnson Square where patrons and workers claim to still hear her laughter. The Pulaski Hotel was eventually demolished with a cafe being built in its place. In 1907, Evergreen Cemetery was purchased by the city of Savannah where they changed the name to Bonaventure and made it a public cemetery.Īfter Gracie’s passing, her mother and other hotel staff claimed to have heard her laughter and singing echoing throughout the halls of the hotel and under the back stairs where she loved to play. Peter’s son converted Bonaventure to a private cemetery called Evergreen Cemetery in 1868. In 1846, the plantation and family cemetery were sold to Peter Wiltberger where he was also buried a few years later. The first burial plot on the land belongs to Josiah’s wife, Harriet, in 1802. With Bonaventure Plantation back in the family, it became the final resting place for the Tattnall family. ![]() John Habersham purchased a 750-acre tract which he sold back to Tattanall’s son Josiah Jr. Their plantation was sold at auction in 1782 while Tattnall fled to England and Mullryne escaped to the Bahamas where he died a few years later. They even helped Royal Governor, James Wright, escape back to England by hiding him at Bonaventure until he could board a ship home.Īs was the case with all Loyalists in Georgia, they were seen as traitors and stripped of all their land. However, once the American Revolutionary War broke out, Mullryne and Tattnall both pledged their loyalties to Great Britain. ![]() ![]() If you see an aerial shot of the cemetery, you’ll even notice that many of the oak trees on the plantation were planted in the shape of the letters M and T.īy 1771, Mullryne and Tattnall saw good fortune indeed as their plantation expanded to over 9,000 acres, comprising most of the Savannah Region. Mullryne’s daughter, Mary, married Josiah Tattnall Sr. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates.This plantation was owned by Colonel John Mullryne who named it Bonaventure Plantation, meaning Good Fortune, which is a little ironic after it was turned into a cemetery. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Year should not be greater than current year Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Sorry! There are no volunteers for this cemetery. GREAT NEWS! There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos You may not upload any more photos to this memorial
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