By Paige Hood
MONROE, Ga. – History will take center stage — and perhaps step out from the shadows — this October when On Stage Walton and the Historical Society of Walton County team up for Rest Haven Spirits & Legends, a cemetery tour bringing the stories of some of Monroe and Walton County’s former residents to life.
The event will take place Thursday, Oct. 23, and Friday, Oct. 24, at Rest Haven Cemetery in Monroe, offering attendees an opportunity to walk among the historic graves while meeting costumed performers portraying people whose lives helped shape the community.
The expanded two-night event follows a successful inaugural tour last year, which sold out.
“One of the Society’s missions is to share the history of our county, and we’re always looking for ways to make that history relevant, accessible and fun,” said Jennifer Mata, treasurer and trustee of the Historical Society of Walton County.
Mata said the idea was inspired in part by the historic cemetery tours held at Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta. The goal was to create a similar experience in Monroe — one that would go beyond dates and names on a headstone and allow visitors to hear the stories behind them.
“We thought a cemetery tour, similar to the one held at Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, would be a great way to tell some of the really fascinating stories of the people buried at Rest Haven and bring their stories to life,” Mata said.
This year’s partnership with On Stage Walton has allowed the event to grow from a single evening into two nights, while bringing local actors into the cemetery to portray the historical figures.
For the performers, preparing for Spirits & Legends is different from taking the stage for a traditional play. Rather than creating a fictional character, they are portraying real people who lived in the community, making the research and performance both personal and meaningful.
Kerri Brooks, who will portray Myrtle Landers Bowen, said she was drawn to the opportunity because of Monroe’s rich history.“I felt like this would be a fun way to help bring that history to life so others can learn about our amazing town and the people who once lived here,” Brooks said.
Bowen owned a successful millinery shop near Broad and Spring streets in the early 1900s. Brooks said learning about Bowen’s business was one of the most fascinating discoveries she made while preparing for the role.
“It makes you look at downtown Monroe differently when you realize how many stories are connected to the streets and buildings we pass every day,” she said.
Brooks said portraying a real person also brings an added responsibility.
“There’s a little more pressure because Myrtle was a real person,” she said. “I want to have fun with the character while still honoring her and the life she actually lived.”
Other performers will bring their own pieces of Walton County history to the cemetery.
Jeffrey Dice will portray “Buddy” Conyers, whose story is one of perseverance in the face of difficult circumstances. Dice was particularly interested in participating because he wanted to learn more about Monroe himself.
Conyers’ story also offers a glimpse into the racial realities of the community during his lifetime, including the challenges faced by a Black man navigating accusations and circumstances that could have easily defined the course of his life. Yet his story, Dice said, is ultimately about more than the circumstances surrounding him.
“It’s a privilege to represent a Black man who made an impact here,” Dice said. “Buddy’s story is truth.”
Dice said one of the things that stood out during his research was discovering that people in the community stood by Conyers despite the accusations against him.
Angela Longenecker will portray Mary Creswell, who became the first woman to earn an undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia in 1919. Longenecker said she admires Creswell as a pioneer who helped open doors for women who followed.
For Longenecker, the opportunity also reflects a broader appreciation for the people who came before today’s residents.
“I wish for all those that have gone before to be remembered,” she said.
Michael Wheeler will portray Herschel Scott, a figure whose dedication to attending sporting events became one of the details that caught Wheeler’s attention during his preparation.Wheeler, who has lived in Walton County for more than 50 years and has performed in several On Stage productions, said portraying a historical figure creates a different kind of responsibility than performing in a traditional stage production.
“You are speaking to a live audience, which means you will see and hear their reactions,” Wheeler said. “It is also different portraying a real person that some of the audience might have actually known.”
That connection between live theater and local history is at the heart of the collaboration.
Paige Hood, chief marketing officer for the On Stage Walton board and a veteran English and History teacher, said the event provides an unusual opportunity to combine several things that make the community special.
“I’m always looking for ways to showcase the outstanding talent here in Walton County – imagine being able to do that AND teach a little history!” Hood said.
For the Historical Society, the hope is that the experience will extend beyond the cemetery gates. By introducing residents and visitors to the lives, accomplishments, challenges and personalities of people from Walton County’s past, organizers hope attendees will become curious about the history that surrounds them every day.
Mata said the response to last year’s event demonstrated that there is an appetite for local history presented in an engaging way.
“The response last year was incredible — we sold out — so this year we’re excited to make Spirits & Legends even bigger,” she said.
The event is part of a broader effort to make local history accessible to the community through experiences that are both educational and entertaining.
“Events like Spirits & Legends and Porchfest give people a chance to experience local history in a way that’s entertaining and engaging, while hopefully inspiring them to learn more about the people and stories that shaped our community,” Mata said.
This October, those stories will once again have a voice — this time among the historic stones and pathways of Rest Haven Cemetery.
Rest Haven Spirits & Legends will be held Oct. 23 and 24 at Rest Haven Cemetery in Monroe. Tickets are available online at this link.
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