Monument planned at Freedom Park to remember Sapelo Seven
Two years after a gangway collapse on Sapelo Island claimed seven lives during an annual Gullah Geechee celebration, Jacksonville city leaders are advancing plans for a memorial at Freedom Park to honor the victims known as the Sapelo Seven. Hundreds had traveled to the island for the gathering when the accident occurred.
Jacksonville City Councilman Rahman Johnson is leading the effort to install the monument, which he said is intended to reflect the victims’ shared purpose: learning and preserving history. Four of the seven people killed in the collapse were residents of Jacksonville, and the city has focused its commemorative efforts on those ties to the community.
“Every one of those members of the Sapelo 7 all were just wanting to find out more about history,”
Johnson highlighted two Jacksonville residents among the victims: 74‑year‑old Cynthia Gibbs and 93‑year‑old Carlotta McIntosh. He described McIntosh as an educator who taught many students in the community and said Gibbs had worked with the Urban League and been active in her church.
Community impact and choice of site
At least 20 other people fell into the water when the gangway collapsed, authorities have said. The selection of Freedom Park for the monument was deliberate; the park is dedicated to the Gullah Geechee tradition, and city leaders said it was the most appropriate local site to honor the victims and the cultural context of the trip that drew many participants.
- Four of the Sapelo Island victims were Jacksonville residents.
- Freedom Park was chosen because of its dedication to Gullah Geechee history.
- A legal complaint tied to the collapse remains active and could lead to trial.
Litigation over the collapse continues
A 100‑page lawsuit filed in 2025 seeks to hold four construction companies that built and maintained the gangway accountable. The complaint alleges the gangway was poorly designed, poorly constructed and "destined to fail," and it initially requested $35 million in damages.
Savannah attorney Chad Mance, one of the lawyers involved in the case, described the litigation as hard fought. He said witnesses have been interviewed since the filing and that the case is moving forward with the possibility of a trial ahead.
"We have been in this litigation for, I count, a year and four months. And so this litigation has been pretty hard fought,"
"Soon we hope we'll be moving toward a trial in the case,"
The suit’s progress is likely to remain of interest to Jacksonville families and community organizations tied to the victims. Beyond financial recovery, the litigation seeks accountability from the firms responsible for the gangway’s design and upkeep.
What the memorial means for Jacksonville
For many in Jacksonville, the monument is intended both as a place of mourning and as a catalyst for conversations about public safety, preservation of cultural pilgrimage sites and municipal recognition of the Gullah Geechee heritage. City officials and community leaders say the memorial will acknowledge the lives lost and the civic contributions of those victims who were active in Jacksonville schools, civic organizations and churches.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total killed in collapse | 7 |
| Jacksonville residents among victims | 4 |
| Others who fell into the water | At least 20 |
| Pages in lawsuit | 100 |
| Initial damages sought | $35 million |
As plans for the Freedom Park memorial proceed, city officials have emphasized remembrance and education. The monument will stand as a visible reminder of the Sapelo Seven and the connection many Jacksonville residents had to the trip to Sapelo Island. Meanwhile, the pending lawsuit keeps attention on the technical and legal questions surrounding the gangway’s failure.
Local residents and organizations with ties to the victims are expected to participate in memorial events as details about the monument’s design, dedication date and funding are finalized by city officials.
