Memorialized as two cherubs are Pearce (1892-1895) and Julia (1904-1906) Wheless. This was carved by John Walz and is located in Bonaventure Cemetery.
Wheless Children Monument at Bonaventure Cemetery-Savannah, Georgia
Tag Archives: Chatham county
Julia Denise Backus Smith Monument-Savannah, Georgia
Known as the “Cemetery Jogger,” Julia Denise Backus Smith (1946-2003) was a city commissioner and philanthropist in Savannah, Georgia. She was an avid runner who completed several marathons. Her mother commissioned this bronze grave marker that celebrates her love of running.
Davis Monument at Laurel Grove South, Georgia
There’s only one Victorian sculpture in Laurel Grove South Cemetery, the historic Black cemetery in Savannah. It happens to be a John Walz, of Gracie fame. I am unable to confirm much about John and Clara Davis. At one point, I read they were shopkeepers, but I cannot recall the source.
John Walz was a German-American sculptor who moved to Savannah after visiting to help install monuments his company made for the Telfair Museum. My understanding is that no one is certain how many monuments he made for cemeteries, but it’s well-above 80.
McDonald Angel at Catholic Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia
This is one of the John Walz monuments in Catholic Cemetery. Notice the hallmark cherubs and lettering at the base of the coping.
Louisa Porter monument at Laurel Grove Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia
Louisa Alexander Porter (1807-1888) was from a prominent family in Georgia. A generous philanthropist, she helped fund the beginning of the “Refuge for the Homeless” which provided housing for homeless women and children. The Louisa Porter Foundation honors her legacy.
Her monument, designed by Antonio Caniparoli, is made of Carrara marble and is listed on the Smithsonian Saving Outdoor Sculpture database. It is in Laurel Grove North Cemetery.
Evergreen Cemetery-Savannah, Georgia
Chatham County
I visited the cemetery in Savannah for the first time in 2014. It’s a historic African American cemetery that has faced hardship due to poor management. While the lack of care for the cemetery is problematic, the vernacular headstones remind us how much these people were loved.
As of 2021, the owner of the cemetery has passed away, and families are still struggling to get the cemetery cleaned.