The legend of this haunted cemetery revolves around an African American man who was hanged in the tree in the back corner of the cemetery for crimes he was supposedly guilty of committing. After his death, he was found to be innocent of the crimes he was accused of. A paranormal investigative team has photographed something resembling the spirit of the hanged man standing in a spot that is notorious for having frequent “hot spots”. Temperature fluctuations have been repeatedly reported in this same area and small animals such as birds and squirrels have been found dead on the same spot. There have also been reports of strange mists being photographed in the same location.
Bonnaventure Cemetery is a haunted cemetery that is said to be home to several ghostly inhabitants including gracie, the weeping monument, and was formerly the home of the “Bird Girl” - from the movie Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The “Bird Girl” has now been moved to a museum because people wouldn’t leave it alone. This land was once a beautifully lanscaped, lavish plantation. One evening during a dinner party, the plantation burned to the ground. Since then, visitors have reported the lingering sound of spirit laughter and the clinking sound of dinnerware. It is reported that a statue of a small girl named Gracie Watkins cries at night in the cemetery. Legend says that people leave gifts in the statue’s hands, and when those gifts are removed, the statue’s tears turn to blood. There is also said to be a pack of ghost dogs that runs snarling and barking after cemetery visitors.
This cemetery is supposedly haunted by the spirit of Marilyn Monroe. Her apparition is said to have been sighted near her mausoleum. She is said to appear as a luminescent cloud that hovers near her tomb.
This cemetery is haunted by the ghost of Captain Norman Stles. His ghost has been seen hovering over the graves of his children: James, Berth, Mable, and an unamed baby. Legend says his ghost fled his burning James T. Staples Riverboat and took refuge in the cemetery. Stories say his ghost seems to be protecting the graves. Occasionally the apparition is seen with his hands pressed against his head, as if he is suffering from great anguish or regret.