Friends, family upset by missing bench that was a memorial to Bluffton artisit

A memorial placed in honor of an artist remembered for his dedication to the Bluffton arts community has disappeared.

When Jonathan "Jon" Merrill Nelson died in 2004 at age 52 after a long battle with lung cancer, his wife, Peggy Duncan Nelson, installed a bench near their former home on the Pine Island Road causeway in his memory.

Then last week, a friend of the couple noticed that the bright red bench was missing from its grassy spot under a pine tree overlooking the May River.

"The bench was placed there facing the May River for all to enjoy the peace and quiet of the little spot," Duncan Nelson said. "Needless to say, to myself and Jon's friends, it was a very special place to sit and remember him. I can't believe that somebody would do this."

Nelson was a Bluffton resident for 15 years and, as a founding member of the Society of Bluffton Artists, helped establish an organized support network for local artists. He was on the board of directors of Gallery 209 in Savannah and an active member of the Bluffton Old Town Merchants Society.

The local painter also was founder of the Guild of Bluffton Artists, and he and his wife were co-owners of Pluff Mudd, a Calhoun Street gallery.

"When he passed away, some members of SoBAand I placed the bench on the causewaywith a memorial plaque to his memory and chained it to the pine tree it lived under," Duncan Nelson said. "We even put out a litter bucket for those who are too careless and leave cans, bottles, cigarette butts. Neighbors help tend the area and kept the bench and little park area tidy."

Friends and loved ones now are wondering who would remove the bench.

"The bench has lived there undisturbed until the night of Nov. 3 or 4, when some person or persons stole it -- lock, chain and all," she said. "It is very disappointing."