This is where the bodies are buried...

Well, at least some of them. As you meander through the quaint streets of Southport you’ll find the Old Smithville Burying Ground at the corner of Nash and Rhett streets. Shaded by giant oak trees, this peaceful well-kept cemetery has been the resting place for 1,093 souls for over 200 years. Occupants include ship captains, river pilots, and many well-known characters that left their indelible mark on Southport. According to historians, some graves may date back to the mid-1700s. Some old wooden markers have been lost.

After the Southport Historical Society was formed in 1976, their first charter was to catalog the information to be found on the stones still standing in the cemeteries in town and the surrounding area. Dorcus (Dot) Schmidt, a society volunteer, conducted surveys of the gravesites in the early 1980s. The documentation of these surveys became the first book published by the society in 1983 called “The Cemeteries of Southport” written by Dot Schmidt.

In 2006, the Southport Historical Society again saw the need to protect, restore and maintain the Old Smithville Burying Ground as its most urgent task.

Charles Christianson completed the first survey map of the burying ground with location coordinates for each gravesite. Corresponding numbers and letters have been placed on the inside of the surrounding fence. A copy of the survey may be seen at the Old Jail Museum, the Maritime Museum, Harper Library, the Southport Visitor Center. You may also download the REPORT, which includes a legend and map with an alphabetic listing of all graves in the Old Smithville Burying Ground. 

One of the things that you’ll see while visiting the Old Smithville Burying Ground is the marble obelisk which was dedicated as a monument to river pilots who were lost at sea. The winds and the sea, sing their requiem and shall, forever more.

Living Voices of the Past

The Old Smithville Burying Ground is always interesting to explore, but it’s even more fascinating if you can catch one of the special Living Voices of the Past events. During these events, you’ll meet several historic Southport characters who have “come to life” to tell you their stories. Hear about the real history of Southport through the eyes of local icons such as Kate Stuart, Mayor Leonard T. Yaskell, Sarah Curtis, Jessie Stevens Taylor, and many others. 

Living Voices events are typically held on the weekend prior to Halloween. Contact SHS at info@southporthistoricalsociety.org for more information or if you would like to portray a historical character (training provided!)