Gullah Burial Traditions
January 26, 2026
During slavery, funerals were seen as a time to reconnect with the ancestors. Burials could only be held at night and by candlelight, after all of the day’s work was completed.
If you’re looking for everything on Gullah Geechee culture, its rich history, generational traditions and its incredible people, and cultural products that you can put in your home, you definitely landed in the right place! This blog is a collection of articles that will educate, inform and inspire you on the past as well as current issues that are important to the Gullah Geechee culture. Don’t forget to check out our online marketplace for great Gullah art by Sonja Griffin Evans, awesome Gullah cookbooks, delicious carolina gold rice, amazing books, cultural t-shirts, hats and more! Enjoy!!
Lowcountry Gullah
Latest Posts
The Lowcountry Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Tour
December 6, 2025
Click on the Cultural Heritage Tour link at the top of the page for more
Rediscovering Roots: A Journey Through the Lowcountry Gullah Cultural Heritage Tours
December 4, 2025
In a world where travel often means ticking off “must-see” sights, there are journeys that
More Than a Craft, A Woven Testimony
November 12, 2025
Sweetgrass basketry is more than artistry—it is survival made visible. Each coil, each stitch, carries
Gullah History
I AM Gullah
May 23, 2019
My genealogy research has taken me on a very fascinating journey of discovery that I never expected to experience. The information that I have uncovered has given me a clearer vision of not only my families struggles to make a life for themselves, but also their triumphs while facing amazing odds against them.
HILTON HEAD’S GULLAH HISTORY | The Birthplace of Freedom
May 23, 2019
Hilton Head’s social and cultural history dates back to the early 1700’s, and from the beginning, the Gullah people were central to the story. Enslaved, and then abandoned by plantation owners fleeing the Union army, they not only endured their circumstances, they displayed the intelligence, fortitude and survival instincts to maintain and develop a culture and a community that is vibrant, and rich in traditions that are alive today.
Gullah Culture
Rice Production and the Gullah Cuisine
May 23, 2019
By Luana M. Graves Sellars Harvest Time By Sonja Griffin Evans The Carolina’s and Georgia’s
The ‘1870s Slave Wall’
June 23, 2019
Most black people doing research get frustrated when they hit what I referred to as the “1870’s slave wall.” The “slave wall” is sometimes the end of most family tree searches, because most slave owners often did not record their slaves’ names or information because of their status as property prior to the abolishment of slavery in 1865.
Hilton Head’s Ancestral Impact on the Black Community
June 24, 2019
Being a part of the National Network of Freedom is an incredible opportunity for Hilton Head for a variety of reasons. One important reason is that it makes Hilton Head’s historical value an even greater part of the American story. Mitchelville is a strong piece of America’s history that needs to be shared.
hEY there! I’m luana
In African tradition, it is expected that one not only speaks in their voice, but also in the voice of our voiceless ancestors. Luana often says, like the African Akan symbol of the sankofa, “It’s so important that we learn from the past to improve the future.”
Her work and her passion for her culture stems from telling the untold stories of her ancestors, Catherine and George Ward, who survived being enslaved at Brookgreen Gardens, a rice plantation in Georgetown, South Carolina.
Luana is sustaining and preserving Gullah culture for future generations by telling the untold stories that educate and inspire people to understand more about who they are and where they came from.
For more information, check out www.luanamgravessellars.com