The search for lost Bayboro
Sign at the cemetery entrance.
The search for lost Bayboro
By Charles Shiver
Bayboro, a historic African-American cemetery near Ellenton, dates back to the 1840s and doubtlessly contains the graves of slaves or former slaves.
I went looking for it after I recently wrote a story mentioning the lost town or village of Bayboro. Boisy Bryant, 17 years old, fled to that community from Adel after shooting and mortally wounding Town Marshal William A. Hyers on May 22, 1902. Authorities arrested Bryant in the town of Bayboro the following day. A jury convicted Bryant of murder, and he was hanged on Sept. 12, 1902, in the old Berrien County Jail (uncompleted at the time). I am uncertain whether Bryant is buried in Bayboro Cemetery. The graves I saw during my recent visit there dated from 1918 to 2022, I believe.
I also don’t know if anything of the Bayboro community is left except for the cemetery. I have seen proof I will share that there might be some crumbling structures still standing on neighboring land. I want to visit the old ghost town, the source of myths and legends for this area.
According to the Find A Grave website, “the location of African-American graves was identified in a field audio recording by Thomas A. Adler in the Collection ‘South-Central Georgia Folklife Project’ on July 27, 1977. Later the burial ground was cleared and reclaimed, designated as ‘Bayboro Cemetery.’
“A lumber mill and turpentine operation spawned the town of Bayboro. The city died after the lumber mill closed after depleting the timber.
“Bayboro no longer exists …”
To me, the graveyard is in bad shape with several missing or broken headstones. The woods are encroaching upon the grounds. During the warmer months, a visitor could face bad flora and fauna ranging from poison ivy to red bugs and rattlesnakes while trying to clear thick mats of pine straw, heavy limbs, and tangles of vines off the grave slabs and fading markers. There are several depressions where old graves have collapsed into the earth over the years. Small trees are growing up through some of the slabs, cracking them apart, and from the unmarked hollows. You wonder if the increasingly rare gopher tortoises of that area have burrowed their tunnels deep into the sandy cemetery grounds.
A gate at the entrance path has been knocked down. A small creek runs in the woods beyond the northern border of the cemetery.
The sign at the Bayboro entrance was down in a patch of thorns during a previous visit, so I missed it a few times while driving by trying to locate the old cemetery. The banged-up sign has now been nailed up on a utility pole.
I believe this sacred land should be preserved and placed on the National Historic Register. It predates Sunset Hill Cemetery in Valdosta, listed years ago on the Historic Register, by two or more decades, an entire generation of folks.
I don’t know what you believe about the after life. Every religion has its own take on the Great Beyond. But I couldn’t help but feel that the warm breeze that flowed through the tossing oak branches and swept along the granite stones carried aloft the soft voices of those who rest in Bayboro, to thank anyone who shows an interest and visits them so they won’t be forgotten in our own swiftly passing fragment of history.
To Be Continued
Charles – I visited the Bayboro cemetery several years ago when you first mentioned it. It’s an interesting place. I know Colquitt County has a museum. Is there an organized historical society ?
To whom is the land titled ? Seems someone would have had to get permission to place the modern burials there.
I’m not sure if Colquitt County has a Historical Society. I have been to the Colquitt County Museum and gotten some story ideas to pursue. I’m not sure who owns the land. Hope I don’t get charged with trespassing, but there are not any “no trespassing” signs and the entrance sign and lane are visible from a public road. Some of the graves have signs from Luke Strong and Son Mortuary, a Black funeral home in Moultrie. I have been trying to find the actual village of Bayboro. I know there were buildings including a post office still standing in the 1970s, creating the local legend of a “ghost town.” However, someone on Facebook claimed that it was all gone now. Not sure if true.
In my opinion, these and all other lost cemeteries should be revived and their stories told. I am sure there are several residents whom are still alive who could share their stories about that era! Can’t wait for the follow up here!
Thank you! We will follow up as soon as we can get more information.
What a very interesting find! I am a native of Cook County ( just moved back from the Atlanta area). I would be interested in learning more about more about Bayboro. My father Charlie 88 years old tells some very fascinating memories of his childhood growing up in Cook County. I’ll ask him if he remembers Bayboro. Thank you for your time. I would
Thank you! Your dad will know some interesting stories. We plan to follow up on Bayboro with more information as soon as we can.
Thank you raising awareness to this matter. Hopefully it will generate interest in restoring the area.
Mr. Shiver, I’ve never heard of the Boisy Bryant ‘story. Nevertheless, it’s quite interesting and so is your entire article.
I’m unfamiliar with Berrien county. Was Bayboro located in Berrien County?
I hope the residents of the associated County will preserve this precious piece of American history.
Thank you! Actually, Bayboro was in Colquitt County. Adel at the time of Boisy Bryant was in Berrien County.
I can locate graves with my divining rods.
All God’s people should be found and recognized.
What a historic project.
Clint Chafin
Moultrie
There are obviously some graves out there without markers. We have heard of ground-penetrating radar being used to locate old, unmarked grave sites.
Thank you for sharing your research on this forgotten part of American history. Often these stories and facts are all we have left to connect with our ancestors. Please continue your valuable work. Thanks again!
Thank you, we have now done an article on faith healing, and will follow up on Bayboro as soon as we can get more information.
That is very interesting history. I would love to hear the old stories if you would be so kind to point me in the direction of that information.
Thank You,
Lynn
Thank you, we were going to follow up with some more stories from area history.
Interesting and spiritually felt I haven’t visited there but I have been to two different plantations in South Carolina
Yes, this is in Georgia. There is a Bayboro in S.C., too. Not sure if the Ga. founders got the name from the S.C. town.