Savannah Sugar Refinery Memorial - Port Wentworth, GA - Figurative Public Sculpture on Waymarking.com

On February 7, 2008 there was a sugar dust explosion at the Savannah Sugar Refinery, which is owned by the Imperial Sugar Co. The explosion and subsequent fire killed 14 employees and injured many more. The company built a memorial park, called Legacy Park, adjacent to the main entrance to the facility to honor these victims.

Legacy Park consists of a central monument that contains a bronze sculpture of an an over-sized pair of hands releasing 14 doves, one for each victim. The bronze monument was designed by the Imperial Sugar employees - human resources manager, Ginger Faulconer and senior human resources administrator, Pat House in conjunction with Richard McDowell, the manager of Depue Monument, which created the sculpture. Ginger Faulconer described the inspiration for the design: "The pair of hands (symbolizes) the hands of God. The doves - there are 14 doves, each symbolizing one of our employees that we lost. Obviously the symbolism is that they're being released to heaven." The memorial was dedicated on August 14, 2009.

A bronze plaque in front of the 4' high stone base of the sculpture is inscribed:

On the evening of February 7, 2008
an explosion and fire at the Savannah Sugar Refinery
claimed the lives of 14 associates and injured dozens more.
Legacy Park is dedicated
to the loving memory of the fallen.

"I thank God every time I remember you, constantly
praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you."

Philipians 1:3-4

Surrounding the monument are individual rectangular black stone monuments each with the name of one of the victims inscribed in gold lettering on the beveled top of the rectangle. They are:

Eric Barnes
John Butler
Truitt Byers
Alphonso Fields
Kelly Fields
Malcolm Frazier
McKinley Habersham
Shelathia Harvey
Earl Johnson
Patricia Proctor
Earl Quarterman
Byron Singleton
Tony Thomas
Michael B. Williams Sr.

Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Savannah Sugar Refinery Memorial Figure Type: Combination of two figure types Artist Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Ginger Faulconer, Pat House, Richard McDowell of Depue Monuments Date created or placed or use 'Unknown' if not known: August 14, 2009 Materials used: bronze sculpture; stone base Location: Savannah Sugar Refinery, Legacy Park

Visit Instructions:
Please upload at least one photo you have personally taken of the sculpture and tell us a little about your impressions of the piece. Additional photos are always appreciated.

Recent Visits/Logs:

There are no logs for this waymark yet.