Author Archives: hollyoddly

The Sengstacke/Abbot legacy is about family, resiliency, using your power for good. John H.H. Sengstacke’s (1848-1904) story is really a collective one because his life centered around his family and community. His parents were a married interracial couple during the era of slavery, something extremely uncommon in the deep South. And his wife, Flora AbbottContinue reading “John H.H. Sengstacke”

This is the largest headstone in Laurel Grove South Cemetery, so you might think it is it is owned by one of the doctors buried here or maybe one of the land tycoons or big business owners.  This gorgeous marble headstone was carved by a famed German sculptor who moved to Savannah, John Walz. He’sContinue reading “Old Fashioned Love Story”

There are so many notable people in Laurel Grove South Cemetery that there will often already be articles and stories written about that person. When someone has written it better than we ever could, we will give you a short summary and then link to the original history for you to read in full. ThereContinue reading “John H. DeVeaux”

There are so many notable people in Laurel Grove South Cemetery that there will often already be articles and stories written about that person. When someone has written it better than we ever could, we will give you a short summary and then link to the original history for you to read in full. ThereContinue reading “Rachel Brownfield”

What’s in a name? A lot, if it’s on the front of a popular preforming arts school here in Savannah. I’d known about Esther F. Garrison School for the Arts for many years, but I was confused when I visited what I thought was her grave in Laurel Grove South Cemetery and found, instead, ClydeContinue reading “A Woman Named Clyde”

This post meshes together information from the City of Savannah, as well as LGS’s historic marker. It also speaks to the effort by W.W. Law to preserve the cemetery to have LGS placed on the National Register of Historic Places. An Overview Laurel Grove South Cemetery is located on the west side of Savannah onContinue reading “The History of Laurel Grove South”

Frank Callen made a huge community contribution to Savannah when he realized the need for Savannah’s Black youth to have a place to go after school. From the Frank Callen Boys and Girls Club page: Our Club was organized in 1917 as the Savannah Boys’ Club by Mr. Frank Callen, a local probation officer. InContinue reading “Frank Callen”

I stumbled upon Essie Monroe’s name while looking for another resident interred at Laurel Grove South. She immediately piqued my interest. Who was this woman amongst the sea of men at the National Negro Business League Convention in 1915 in Boston? She was there with the likes of L.M. Pollard and G.H. Bowen, who hadContinue reading “Essie Monroe, Modern Woman”