The Grave Site of Samuel Elbert and Elizabeth Rae:
Much of the credit for awakening interest in Georgia's great Revolutionary heroes is due to the efforts of William Harden, Librarian of the Georgia Historical Society at Savannah. His interest inspired the Sons of The American Revolution to appoint a committee to locate Samuel Elbert's grave. After many efforts the grave-site was found on an Indian King's mound, overlooking the Savannah River, so Elbert's beautiful, poetic request became a reality for him during the years when he could "hear the Savannah River sounding in his dreams" as expressed in one of his Journals. (The Sons of the American Revolution requested permission from Elbert descendants, including Weetie, to move Elbert and Elizabeth Rae to a Savannah grave site. Weetie protested but to no avail.)
According to John L. Sutlive, former editor of the Savannah Evening Press, discovery of Elbert's grave was somewhat accidental. Working on the Rae plantation many years ago, workmen uncovered some bones thought to be those of an Indian (Elbert was apparently buried in an Indian mound, known as the Irene Mound, but the fact that there were some military buttons with the skeleton came to the attention of General Robert J. Travis who rescued them realizing that they were the remains of Governor Elbert. On March 24, 1924, Samuel Elbert and his wife Elizabeth Rae Elbert were re-interred in the Colonial Park Cemetery in Savannah. Many honors were paid this great leader in this impressive Military funeral. Units from the Army, Navy and National Guard united in honoring the memory of one of Georgia’s greatest heros.
(The above information contributed by Mr. R. E. W., a descendant of Elbert, Rae, and 'Weetie' [Stella Muse-Whitehead]; November, 2002; Mr. W. cites, "[w]ith acknowledgment and thanks to Charles E. Bennett, Clarice E. Purcell, Charles C. Jones. and Stella Muse Whitehead whose writings and research inspired and contributed. . ." ).