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Stephen Robinson (root doctor)
American voodoo practitioner From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Stephen Robinson (born Stephany (or Stepheney[1] or Stephaney[2]) Robinson; 1885 – May 5, 1947) was an American root doctor. He came to prominence after his association with Minerva, one of the main characters in John Berendt's 1994 true-crime book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Valerie Boles, of Gullah tongue,[3] was the inspiration for Minerva in the book, and was portrayed by Irma P. Hall in Clint Eastwood's 1997 film adaptation.[4][5] Boles's husband, Percy Washington, was a root doctor known as Dr. Eagle,[6] who was renamed "Dr. Buzzard" in the film adaptation of the story. Dr. Buzzard was based on Robinson.
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Early life
Robinson grew up on Saint Helena Island, South Carolina. Reportedly the son of a witch doctor who emigrated from West Africa, he began practising "root work" in the early 1900s.[7]
Career
Robinson was accused, by James Edwin McTeer, sheriff of Beaufort County,[8] of practicing medicine without a license. The case failed when McTeer's primary witness collapsed on the witness stand.[7]
Personal life
Robinson married Molly Bleach, a native of Frogmore, South Carolina. They had one known child together, a son who drowned after driving off a causeway. It was at this point that Robinson decided to give up medicine, but not root doctoring. He passed his medical practise to his son-in-law, known locally as "Buzzy."[7]
He was a member of Saint Helena Island's Baptist Church, and donated funds to replace its sanctuary after a fire.
In 2016, Robinson's grandson was reportedly the only root doctor still practising on the island.[9]
Death
Robinson died in 1947, aged 61 or 62. He was interred in Beaufort's Saint Helena Memorial Gardens.
References
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