Most People Don't Know That Ava Gardner's Gravesite Is Found Right Here In North Carolina
By Carolyn Harmon|Published December 11, 2023
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Carolyn Harmon
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Under Brown Mountain Lights the Beast of Blandenboro wanders this magical land where lighthouses shine on kingdoms only accessible by ferries. A Lost Colony of legends and pirates revealed in historical sites and majestic mountains with views that make us weep. The home of handmade sculptures and scrumptious cuisine. North Carolina leaves this long-time writer and artist breathless with endless surprises, including the unlikely warmth a winter walk on the beach can bring.
Did you know Ava Gardner (1922-1990) has a unique celebrity tie to North Carolina? Growing up in the rural South, she never considered acting until Gardner turned 18 when her photograph was discovered by talent scouts from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). She was under contract with the company for 17 years and later found more success with the dynamic director John Ford. This lady will go down in history as possibly the most beautiful actress in Hollywood. It seems fairy tales can come true.
Way before Ava Gardner's lovely face lit up the silver screen, she enjoyed the southern life in Grabtown, about eight miles east of Smithfield, North Carolina.
They starred in the 1949 drama "East Side, West Side."
Gardner's third and final marriage was to Frank Sinatra on Nov. 7, 1951, in a small ceremony in Philadelphia when Ava was 28 years old and Frank was 35.
According to reports, Frank Sinatra did not attend her funeral, but instead sent her favorite yellow roses with a note that read, “All my Love, Francis.”
View her world through fabulous costumes, photographs, stories, and other memorabilia at the Ava Gardner Museum.
Ava Gardner Museum, 325 E Market St, Smithfield, NC 27577, USA
To see her final resting place, watch this poignant video.
Did you already know that Ava Gardner has a unique celebrity tie to North Carolina? Have you been to her gravesite? If so, please share your experience in the comments below.
For more information about Gardner’s hometown, take the self-guided Ava Gardner Heritage Trail tour. And discover more memorabilia on Etsy.
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