A Snowbird in Paradise

One of the gorgeous historic streets in the center of Savannah

In 1963, we (my children's father and I) visited Savannah where he had a lot of relatives.  I became enchanted with the city...the wrought iron balconies, Live Oaks, Spanish Moss, square parks marching through the center of the city, the old mansions and the simpler newer ones.  Years later I loved finding my children's father had ancestors buried in Bonaventure Cemetery, the very one made famous in the movie, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil in 1994 by James Brendt. 

We visited the cemetery in the early 2000s on the way to Florida, but it was huge, and I didn't know much about who was buried there.  This year, 2012, I have more genealogical information and knew for whom and what I was searching.

A memorial arch among the family monuments

The Bonaventure Historical Society says this about the cemetery:

"Though not Savannah’s oldest cemetery, Bonaventure is certainly its most famous and hauntingly beautiful. Quintessentially Southern Gothic, it has captured the imaginations of writers, poets, naturalists, photographers and filmmakers for more than 150 years. Part natural cathedral, part sculptural garden, Bonaventure transcends time."

James and Mary Bashlor - Great-Grandparents to my children

I met Mary in 1963.  She was in a nursing home, but on her genealogy she was crystal clear.  I wrote what she said on the back of a post card.  I am looking for that postcard just in case there is some information NOT in this cemetery.

James and Dweese Bashlor

I am assuming this would be James (Senior), father to James above, but the terms Junior and Senior were not used.  I still have to fit these into the family tree with more documentation.

The Savannah River

The cemetery was created from a large plantation on the Savannah River.  There are benches and other rest places throughout the cemetery.  We saw people of all ages walking through the cemetery and enjoying it as a beautiful park, which it is.

Shade, curved roads and walks, bordered family plots create the park-look.

Lichen

Spanish Moss

...hung with Spanish moss