The Waving Girl

On a sultry moonlit night, the passing shadows of a young girl and her loyal collie companion create a silhouette on the antiquated doors of the River Street Marketplace. One of many ghostly occurrences thought to be created by the Waving Girl of Savannah.

The Waving Girl of Savannah, Florence Martus, and her dog, for forty-four years, faithfully waved at incoming and outgoing ships at the harbor of Savannah, Georgia. Florence would wave a white cloth or handkerchief in the daylight, and a lantern by night to all the ships entering and leaving Savannah. She would also pray for their safe voyage. The ship captains would blow their ship's horn as an acknowledgment in kind. Some of the sailors would bring her gifts from abroad.

By all accounts, Florence led a lonely life. She was born on Cockspur Island in 1887, where her father was an ordnance sergeant. Later, her father moved the family to the island of Elba where he became the lighthouse keeper. After her father died, her brother took over the lighthouse keeper's duties. She lived on Elba Island with her brother George until he retired. They then moved to Bona Bella in Savannah.

Was her forlorn life the true reason she chose to wave at the passing ships? Or is the story of a lost love the real reason?

The story of Florence falling in love with a visiting naval officer from the north has persisted since she began to greet the ships. The story is that when she was a young girl, Florence fell in love with the visiting officer who promised to return for her after his next voyage. So she began to wave a white cloth or handkerchief to greet him. He never returned. The abandonment left her alone. However, Florence was still hopeful that one day he would return for her. And so she waved until 1931.

Her statue, located on the historic riverfront, is said to be seen waving a white handkerchief to her long-lost love in the darkness and intrigued visitors to Savannah approach Florence's statue expecting to see a live person waving in the moonlight only to find the static bronze statue of Florence and her dog.

It is possible that Florence may also feel embittered by a recent proposal to move her statue from its present site in Morrell Park, where it has stood for over fifty years, to near the Plant Riverside Hotel. In 2019 city council members voted unanimously to relocate the statue; however, it is still in its original location as of 2023. During the 1996 Olympic Games, her statue was temporarily moved and replaced by the Olympic torch. The ghostly activity in the area was purportedly more active.

Still, employees and tourists have heard mournful moaning perceptible from the businesses near Florence's statue. Employees have also had their souvenirs, all related to the Waving Girl rearranged or misplaced. Shadows are often sighted in the storage areas of some local businesses. And on certain quiet nights, a woman’s voice is audible repeatedly crying, “Come back. Come back, Come back".

Not everyone thinks that all the paranormal activity is the Waving Girls doing. A sadistic specter-boy is said to haunt the riverfront near Florence's statue. He enjoyed breaking the necks of other children and small animals. Locals believe he is hunting for more victims along the Savannah River as he did while he was alive long ago. Of course, some phantoms heard and seen could be one of many pirates that frequented the area hundreds of years ago. Or the activities could be the moaning of soldiers from early American wars. But most locals believe it is Florence and her loyal dog making their way to the river to wave at the sailors.

Although Florence died in February 1943, some captains still trumpet their ship's horn while passing The Waving Girl statue to honor the lonely girl and her dog that wished them well for thirty-three years. ∞

Florence Martus is interred with her family at the Laurel Grove North Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia. In 1943, a Liberty ship built in Savannah was christened the SS Florence Martus. Her statue, created by artist Felix De Weldon, is located in Morrell Park at 508 E River St, Savannah, GA.

For more information, Florence Martus Monument: Savannah GA Waving Girl Statue (gosouthsavannah.com) and Waving Girl Statue | Official Georgia Tourism & Travel Website | Explore Georgia.org.