Posted in South Carolina State Pride December 27, 2020 by

Few People Know Author Pat Conroy Is Buried In This Modest Location In South Carolina

Even though Pat Conroy was born in nearby Atlanta, Georgia, South Carolinians adopted the author as a son of our own after he moved to Beaufort in his teen years and finished high school there. Conroy’s writing career included many beloved titles that featured South Carolina locales, experiences, and story lines. He is probably one of the most cherished writers of recent generations and holds a special place in the hearts of many South Carolina residents.

The "Prince of Tides" author is known for his ties to the Citadel in Charleston and for his dedication to the Beaufort community in which he died at the age of 70.
Google Maps/Shonna Nelson
Conroy passed away in early 2016 from pancreatic cancer.
Wikipedia/Robert C. Clark Photo
His death occurred a mere three weeks after his Facebook page announced his was being treated for the cancer. Most symptoms of pancreatic cancer don't become noticeable until the disease has reached an advanced stage.
Most people, even diehard fans, don't realize Pat Conroy is buried in such a modest fashion and in an unassuming graveyard surrounded by a chain link fence on a lonely road.
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The St. Helena Memorial Gardens is located just off of Highway 21 and a short 8.3 miles east of Beaufort.
The graveyard belongs to a historic church located 1.3 miles away.
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The church, the Brick Baptist Church, is the oldest church on St. Helena Island and was built in 1855. Yet it's location places it far, far away from the cemetery.
The small and intimate cemetery is will kept.
Google Maps/Maureen Kilcoyne
But the remote location is the key. When you visit, you'll feel certain it's what drew Conroy to the location.
And there are many, many fans who still pay their respects to Conroy at his grave site.
Google Maps/Maureen Kilcoyne
March 4, 2021 will mark five years since Pat Conroy passed away. Friends, family, and fans pass through the St. Helena Memorial Gardens on the regular and leave Conroy gifts.
They range from coins, to shells, poems, crosses, flowers, and notes.
Google Maps/Maureen Kilcoyne
Just 15 days after Conroy's death, the Pat Conroy Literacy Center was established in Beaufort. It showcases Pat Conroy memorabilia.
Any trek to visit Conroy's grave should be paired with a visit to the Pat Conroy Literacy Center.
Google Maps/Maureen Kilcoyne
(Learn more about the center from its official website right over here.)
Then head over to one of Conroy's favorite restaurants, the Griffin Market.
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Featuring Northern Italian cuisine and an extensive wine list, the Griffin Market is one of Beaufort's most sought after dinner tickets. Reservations aren't required, but we highly recommend you make one.
Did you know Pat Conroy lived and died in South Carolina or that he's buried in such a modest location outside of Beaufort?
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Are you a devoted Conroy fan? Now that you know where he’s buried will you be making a pilgrimage to Beaufort to visit his grave, and the Pat Conroy Literacy Center and then dine at the Griffin Market?

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Address: Ernest Dr, St Helena Island, SC 29920, USA