One of Savannah’s legends is Florence Martus. She is probably known more by her knickname, The Waving Girl, memorialized by sculptor Felix de Weldon. Her monument faces the Savannah River from Morrell Park on the riverfront. Martus was born in 1868 on Cockspur Island and was the daughter of one of Fort Pulaski’s sergeants. From the age of 19 until age 63, Florence served as the unofficial greeter for all ships that entered or left the port of Savannah. For those 44 years, she waved her handkerchief by day or lantern by night to greet passing sailors and never missed a ship.
No one is sure why she decided to be the Waving Girl. She lived were her brother on Elba Island, where he was the light keeper. Life in her remote island cottage was lonely and Florence had a collie as her companion, who stood watch with her. She died in February of 1943 and shortly thereafter, a 1943 Liberty ship SS Florence Martus was named in her honor.
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