We the People: Dotson family graves remain in Savannah airport runway

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - The Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is gearing up to welcome tens of thousands of visitors for Saint Patrick’s Day; a season that can be busier than Thanksgiving and Christmas. But when visitors land in the Hostess City, they may not realize they are likely landing on a unique runway.

“One Halloween about 10 years ago, they named us the weirdest airport in the world,” explains Lori Lynah, the airport’s Director of Marketing & Air Service Development. “I don’t think we’re weird, but it’s kind of cool that we have graves on the runway.”

That’s right--there are graves in a runway. According to the airport’s website, the graves are the only ones in the world embedded in an active runway with general and commercial aviation operations.

“That’s what we’ve heard,” said Lynah. “We have not researched it to see if there’s anyone else, but that’s what a lot of reporters from all over the country tell us.”

The graves belong to Richard and Catherine Dotson. Two other relatives are also buried nearby: Daniel Hueston and John Dotson. The airport says the graves remain undisturbed both in and beside the airport’s most active runway. As air traffic grows, the graves don’t often see visitors.

“You either have to pause flights or find a decent window that we can get out there,” said Lynah. “We had one distant cousin visit a few years ago, and that was kind of interesting. But no you can’t just walk out there.”

In 1942, the military negotiated with the City of Savannah for 1,100 acres of land to start Chatham Field, which is now the present day airport. The federal government then began a program gaining more acreage to enlarge Chatham Field. Part of the acquistion included the Dotson family’s private cemetery.

The Dotson’s great grandchildren negotiated with the federal government to relocate all but four of the graves. Airport records show the cemetery contained one hundred or more graves that were relocated to Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah.

“It was a deal that was worked out between the families and the government and we honored it,” said Lynah.

The family wished for the graves and markers to remain in place when the East to West runway was extended due to requirements during World War II.