Thunderbolt in Chatham County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

St. Pius X High School

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

1. St. Pius X High School Marker

Inscription. The Blessed Pius X High School opened as a co-educational Diocesan School in 1952 serving students from Savannah's Black community. The Society of African Missions donated land for the school on property purchased by Father Ignatius Lissner. The school's name changed to St. Pius X High School in 1955 after the canonization of Pope Pius X in 1954. St. Pius provided a Catholic education that had not previously been available for African-American high school students. Accredited in 1969, St. Pius was closed by the Savannah Diocese shortly afterward as part of its integration plan. The building became the public charter school Savannah Classical Academy in 2013. Notable alumni of St. Pius X include Savannah's first African-American mayor, Floyd Adams, Jr., and U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Clarence Thomas.

Erected 2022 by The Georgia Historical Society and Waters Foundation. (Marker Number 25-66.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1952.

Location. 32° 2.004′ N, 81° 3.096′ W. Marker is in Thunderbolt, Georgia, in Chatham County. It is on East Anderson Street near Atlantic Avenue, on the right when traveling east. The marker is located next to

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the Savannah Classical Academy. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 705 E Anderson Street, Savannah GA 31401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Georgia’s Coastal Plain, on the Georgia Coast and the Golden Isles,

and in Greater Savannah.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Roger Lacy (Lacey) (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); American Legion Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.7 miles away); Sacred to the Memory of Veterans of World Wars (approx. 0.7 miles away); Savannah State College (approx. 0.7 miles away); Little Gracie (approx. ¾ mile away); The Old Bonaventure Waterworks and Garden (approx. ¾ mile away); Julia Denise Backus Smith (approx. ¾ mile away); The History of Victor B. Jenkins Jr. Memorial Boys Club (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Thunderbolt.

More about this marker. The marker is included in the Georgia Civil Rights Trail (CRT).

Also see . . . Georgia Historical Society Dedicates New St. Pius X High School Historical Marker. (Submitted on December 25, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

2. St. Pius X High School Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on May 31, 2026. It was originally submitted on December 25, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 376 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 25, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.