Bonaventure Cemetery: A Visit To Danny Hansford's Grave (1960-1981)
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- Опубліковано 19 сер 2024
- For fans of "Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil," Danny Hansford was known as "Billy Hanson" in the film version, but essentially was killed during a struggle with Jim Williams of Savannah. Ultimately, Williams cited self defense and due to a rather questionable crime scene, found himself being tried 4 times for the crime, the only man in the history of the state to ever endure this. Ultimately acquitted on the grounds of double jeopardy, and dying 6 months or so after acquittal. Williams and Hansford had been lovers & Hansford worked for Jim in some capacities within his antique shop. Because Hansford is portrayed as kind of a sexy street hustler and "rebel without a cause," dead at 21, his grave has seen the kind of "James Dean" effect with many fans day and night, leaving signs of their visit. Not that this video gets deeply into the whole subject of the greater story or the greater life & times of Danny Hansford, for curious seekers, provides a glimpse and some other story details for thought. Enjoy.
Greenwich Cemetery is only administratively considered part of Bonaventure Cemetery. All records for Greenwich are kept at Bonaventure, but some Savannah natives will get offended if you call the two the same. Since 1996, Savannah has been my favorite “haunt” so to speak. I’ve done quite a bit of research there-just because I love the historic district. One sweet lady that gave me a personal tour years ago pointed out that the two Cemeteries were only technically considered on unit-and she was adamant about not mistaking one for the other. It’s like my hometown, Decatur, AL-Old Decatur and Albany are two separate historical areas that are only across the road from each other. Albany was once a separate city that was wiped out by a yellow fever outbreak. In the Reconstruction Era after the Civil War, people from the North settled in Albany, and Decatur has never forgotten that. My husband and I bought and restored a historic home (which was also very much haunted) in the Albany district and I made the “mistake” of calling it “Old Decatur.” You can tell where old Decatur and Albany begins by the street names-the Albany area has streets named after Union Generals, and Old Decatur has streets named after Confederate generals. It’s a very colorful area with loads of colorful history.
Thank you Crystal for commenting and all of the details! Interesting! You're correct, The Greenwich Addition of 1933 is how its known but is factually an extension of Bonaventure and has never operated seperately from the overseers of Bonaventure. The only variable is that up until 1947 everything was still The Evergreen Cemetery at Bonaventure on record and verbally in the local vernacular, it all fell under the same umbrella while being two different sections of the same. I think in the official transition of powers from private to city it then became Bonaventure Cemetery & The Greenwich Addition and the founding title of "The Evergreen Cemetery at Bonaventure" was no more.
I'm from Iuka Ms. A tourist town. I'm not to far from you Mrs.Crystal. I use to live in Florence and would go to Decatur Al, every week. Now I work for dollar tree and my DM has me traveling ALOT so I go to Madison Al, Athena Al, and Moulton Al and the many place surrounding them. I love it in Decatur such a beautiful town
Thanks Mary.....took us a year to pick out....thanks again
the first headstone you see...the weeping angel..is ours..kind of shocked to see it ....in this video..lee family
George Lee ...the weeping angel is beautiful. Very moving tribute.
+george lee Wow cool! Quite a head stone!
thank you...
It is beautiful. Do you mind if I ask who is buried there? Not necessarily a name, just wondered how you are related.
nobody yet...............our final resting place
In hoodoo, we leave money, alcohol and gifts that the spirit of the deceased would like to gain favor before we request a deed to be done. The coins are to pay the dead before you remove any graveyard dirt to do a magical working.
You don't really believe in this, do you?
Tanya Leigh
i'm pretty sure with a Creole last name & extensive explanation, that she believes as much as you believe-if you believe at all. Xenaphobia in 2019? Stay classy. 😂😂
I think my wife and I went on one of your haunted tours about 20 years ago. It was really fun. I remember a black cat followed us around on the whole tour. My wife is still freaked out about a big scary rabbit head on a wall during some part of the tour. I think u used to write for television programs?
Mark - you have a most excellent memory and that was some time ago when I owned Sixth Sense Savannah. I moved out of that house in 2006! That was a paper mache rabbit head inspired in part by Donnie Darko, made by my artist roommate, Gerome Temple, and was one of 2 wearable costumes he made in that manner. Ironic I saw a black cat walk in front of my car earlier today in downtown Savannah! Next time you're back, check out my private ghost tours on my website www.shannonscotttours.com Much has changed! Happy Easter! #gerometemple
@@GraveTalkswithShannonScott Will do and I hope u are doing well. Happy Easter to everyone! We will definitely seek out your tour on our next visit.
We found it in the Greenwich cemetery section 8, G-6. We had to do some work to find it initially and thought that we should share. This is the "other" part of the Cemetery. Take the left-most road on the left of the Jewish entrance, keep going until you enter the gates of the Greenwich Cemetery.
Thanks for the directions here!
Jim Williams gave it away himself when he said Danny came into the study that night with a gun and said, supposedly, "If I'm leaving this house tomorrow then you're leaving it tonight!" and then pulled the trigger... Somebody broke up with somebody that night. If Jim broke up with Danny, he probably wouldn't have also shot the unarmed Danny (which is what the coroner and prosecutor believed -- that Danny didn't have a gun). But if an unarmed Danny broke up with Jim, Jim just might have shot Danny regardless.
You make a great point although am not sure if that is what was said outside of fiction? The subtext of their relationship which was pedophilic from the start underscores much.
@@GraveTalkswithShannonScottThe rumours were that Williams met Hansford and other young males while traveling for the antique business, regaling with stories of wealthy patrons. Most young men arrived at the bus station for pickup. The historical underbelly on the bell Savannah might be human trafficking.
But wasn't Danny Hansford of age of consent when he showed up in Savannah? Would mean the pedo label is an unnecessary grave accusation. Hansford was a boyfriend to Williams. Had Hansford been a female the terminology used might have been gold digger. The side hustles seemed Hansford's own arrangements.
Williams spent 7 years behind bars in Savannah...which was the typical time served if an abusive white man killed his woman back in the day. The $1 million he spent legally related was for being gay. In reality, although not repentant, Williams paid for the crime.
Savannah has its history, but it loves its gossip more. Such a shame, really. The truth works well enough.
You speak well
Thank you the internet is a mean place! One commentor spoke of my smacking or something ridiculous. Guess I should've prefaced the video with, "hey everyone I've got a cold today so apologies for any less than perfect speech." lol
Savannah has the largest Irish St Patricks Day celebration in the US outside of NY.
"The good time not yet had by all."
I wish I'd seen the areas where the movie was shot. The area that we were in was pretty much falling to pieces, except for the spice market ( I think it was called that ). If you wanted to see neglected old houses, the areas we were in were full of them, unfortunately. Don't want to diss Savannah, we were in a hurry & just never made it to the more upscale neighborhoods.
Just be careful if you return! Savannah has gotten very rough in some areas & some "natives" seek out tourists as easy marks for crimes. Last year, I had returned after 7 years & was taken aback at how dangerous some areas have gotten & was absolutely disgusted at how a lot of attacks are kept mum by the media. I'd try to hook up with a local who knows where it is safe before returning. Even parking in an area that borders the more "touristy" sections is dangerous! I learned to enjoy the city in daylight hours & to hole up in the hotel the minute the sun sets. Even the Riverwalk isn't a safe bet to enjoy an evening stroll with a large group anymore.
Dusk Hollow
"natives". How..quaint. Another person used the word "negroes". 😨
i'd be more scared of the racists than the "natives", lol. Wow. 😳
@@alysiamerdavid-wasser9165 Well they has been 3 people killed in a stones throw of city Market this year. One in city market, one in the alley of the Indigo. All were "native" of Savannah.
Sounds like you did a rush job! Savannah's neighborhoods keep getting more and more beautiful you'd not believe it!
Did Danny come back as a ghost 👻 and kill Jimmy by scaring him to death
I wouldn't go to that extreme no but makes for good fodder I suppose. There are other theories about Jim's death that came to me from one of the detectives who was there the day Jim was found deceased. If you're ever back this way come grab a private tour with me and can delve into them for you.
I wonder if you'd know why there was Irish flags there? A large one in the cemetery and one on Danny's grave.
Easy answer. Savannah is about 47% Irish Catholic! Danny also Irish! "Danny Boy" anyone?
Shannon Scott ah, that's interesting! I didn't realise there was such a large Irish ancestry there. Thanks very much for answering :)
@@RockDesk Them potato famines sent them scattering although the first 100 of them shipwrecked nearby when a hurricane crash landed them around 1734 and they walked to town to become the first real Irish among us!
he is even in this cemetery. his is down the street
Not sure what you're saying but feel free to clarify.
@@GraveTalkswithShannonScott 5 years later 😆
Poor violent drunken stoner street hustler. A "good time not yet had by all." Rest in peace.
It's too bad his mother's book was never published to tell a different or broader story. The manuscript sits complete in a vault somewhere.
Yes--it should be published. There are many ways to get it done. Even self-publishing. I hope someone steps up and does it. Thank you. (I guess I did sound a tad harsh.....)@@GraveTalkswithShannonScott
@user-bu7jl6zy5d I respect our 1st Amendment so anytime and it's not an unfair claim. Danny was 15 when Jim was 44? It was Lion and Lamb and that's me being nice to Mr. Williams. Danny's neighbor, Jeannie Wilkinson, told me that only The Book made a kid without a father anything more than an unbridled youth and that he was an incredibly sweet kid with his own share of distress and problems like any teenager.
Have u talked to Danny's sprit his he still upset about the way he was killed. Did Danny kill Jim Williams the day he had the heart attack? can try to talk to the sprit world?
+Lizzy Bucalo I have not but try to bring some peace to it as I talk about him with guests. No he did not kill him the same day. I'm not sure what you're asking on the latter.
Not judging anyone's psychical connection. Vibration or wavelength does not mean ghost persey but I have never no.
isn't the cemetery Danny is buried in Called Greenwich Cemetery?
Ronald Wallace yes sir.
I regret not visiting the area where " Midnight " was filmed. The area of Savannah that my family & I saw was falling apart, basically.
Yes, do come back & visit more visually pleasant areas.