Little Gracie Watson was born in 1883, the only child of her parents. Her father was manager of the Pulaski House, one of Savannah's leading hotels, where the beautiful and charming little girl was a favorite with the guests. Two days before Easter, in April 1889, Gracie died of pneumonia at the age of six. In 1890, when the rising sculptor, John Walz, moved to Savannah, he carved from a photograph this life-sized, delicately detailed marble statue, which for almost a century has captured the interest of all passersby.
Because the sculpture has attracted the attention of so many visitors to Bonaventure Cemetery, an iron fence encloses the gravesite for safekeeping. (See another photo on Page 1.)
Location: The Gracie Watson Burial Site is located at Lot 99 in Section E, off of Mullryne Way.
Sculptor John Walz (1844-1922): Savannah sculptor, John Walz, created many other beautiful funerary monuments found in Bonaventure Cemetery, many of which are located along the Cemetery Street, Walz Way, named in his honor. He also created stone architectural sculptures and relief ornaments for many of Savannah's public buildings. Sadly, he is buried in Bonaventure Cemetery in a grave without a headstone.
Next Page: Johnny Mercer Gravesite
