Bonaventure Cemetery
One of America’s most beautiful and beloved cemeteries is just 3 miles from Savannah
No trip to Savannah, Georgia, is complete without a visit to the sacred grounds of Bonaventure Cemetery. We made sure to include it as one of the stops in our Fall 2024 There and Back Again feature.
Located at 330 Bonaventure Road in Thunderbolt, Georgia, just 3 miles from downtown Savannah, Bonaventure Cemetery covers 103 acres of what was once a 600-acre plantation originally settled by English Colonel John Mullryne in 1760. Mullryne built his home atop a bluff overlooking the Wilmington River and named it “Bonaventure”—the Italian word for “good fortune.”
The historic site gained additional fame when author John Berendt released his 1994 novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, which was made into a movie in 1997. The story weaves together a rich tapestry of Southern culture, eccentric characters, and a real-life murder trial in Savannah. It unfolds through the eyes of the author, who becomes captivated by Savannah’s charm and residents. Berendt blends true crime with southern elements to create a compelling narrative.
Bonaventure Cemetery Jewish Section
Savannah’s Jewish community is closely intertwined with the city itself. The first Jewish settlers arrived in 1733, just after Lieutenant-General James Edward Oglethorpe, and within two years they had formed the third Jewish congregation in the U.S. It became known as Mickve Israel, which means “Hope of Israel.” Their congregation formed in July 1735, just a few months after the founding of Savannah.
The Jewish section of Bonaventure Cemetery was added in 1909, when Mickve Israel bought adjoining land to become the first of three synagogues to purchase interment rights for the purpose of reselling them to congregants. The congregation added a burial chapel in 1917.
Here are some photos of that section, taking by Backroad Portfolio co-founder, Erica de Flamand.
Experience a Bonaventure Haunting
Live oaks drip with Spanish moss, setting the scene for a peaceful kind of paranormal activity at Bonaventure Cemetery. Stories of haunted sculptures and statues adorning gravesites circulate throughout Savannah. One of the more famous hauntings involves the daughter of a hotel manager, Gracie Watson, who died of pneumonia at the young age of 6.
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The Story of Gracie Watson
Gracie Watson (July 10, 1882–April 22, 1889) was the daughter of W.J. and Frances
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