A Lowcountry Legend by Geralyn Ryan and Donna Chapman

A Lowcountry Legend - Beaufort’s Beloved Tootie by Geralyn Ryan and Donna Chapman

The last stop before you hit the Atlantic lies a sleepy southern town where a future legend relocated with his family and called Beaufort his home.

Wilson Lane Bourke was born December 10, 1931 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Luckily for everyone in Beaufort, he and his family moved to South Carolina when he was a young child. Affectionately known by his friends and family as “Tootie”, Wilson never let his physical and mental limitations bring him down. Tootie’s tender heart and gentle demeanor, coupled with his bright, giving spirit, made him Beaufort’s hometown treasure.

Tootie’s love for Beaufort, its citizens, and his pure, childlike understanding of the world around him translated into a heart of caring and sharing that enabled him to improve the lives of all he touched.

Always helping others, Tootie swept sidewalks in front of Bay Street businesses, carried groceries for elderly patrons, and worked unofficially as a school crossing guard to help children cross the road to and from school safely.

He would pick up lunches for teachers, assist with parking school buses, lead all of the parades held in Beaufort, and help direct street traffic when needed. It’s no wonder Beaufort’s citizens loved and depended on Tootie.

In gratitude for Tootie’s efforts, he was presented a Beaufort City Police hat and whistle which he wore proudly. But the best example of how Tootie’s sincere belief in the goodness of others helped improve the community happened in the early 1960’s when Tootie sat down to eat his meal at a segregated white restaurant.

The restaurant owner couldn’t convince Tootie to take his order to go, as was the custom. By doing this, Tootie unknowingly played a pivotal role in the desegregation of Beaufort’s white restaurants and businesses without court orders, demonstrations, or violence of any kind.

Pat Conroy’s depiction of Tootie’s historic integration of Harry’s Restaurant in downtown Beaufort was captured in his cookbook, Recipes of My Life.

Tootie was known by other variations of his nickname. “Tootie Fruitie,” “Toots,” “Tootsie,” and “Tooda-loo” most memorable is “Mr.Fruit” as he was characterized in Pat Conroy’s novel, The Prince of Tides.

Gerry, who loved Tootie from childhood, visited him at the nursing facility in 2010. When Tootie saw Gerry and realized that he had a visitor from Beaufort, he threw up his hands in a waving gesture to gather folks closer. When he had their attention, he shouted, “Hey, everybody!” pointing to Gerry as he cried jubilantly, “She came to see ME!”

He reiterated the same bold statement as he pointed once more at Gerry.

“She,” Tootie shouted with joy, then pointed back to himself, “came to see ME!”

It’s heartbreaking that this local legend, someone who did so much for others and took such joy in being remembered, has no headstone to mark his grave. So Gerry Ryan and Donna Chapman decided todo something about it. They’ve started a fundraising project to purchase a headstone for Tootie and you can help!

Contact Marshel’s Wright-Donaldson Home for Funerals to make a charitable donation by check or postal money order. Please indicate on the check that this donation is for the Wilson Lane “Tootie” Bourke headstone purchase fund.

GO TO DECEMBER'S ISSUE TO READ THE ARTICLE IN FULL AND LEARN MORE ABOUT BEAUFORT'S BELOVED TOOTIE