A Savannah entrepreneur is honoring her family’s legacy of herbal medicine through the establishment of the Geechee Girl Apothecary. Located on West Bay Street, the shop features over 100 herbs, handcrafted soaps, and a full-service café, all deeply rooted in the Gullah Geechee healing traditions.
Marrisa Rawls, the owner, traces her journey in herbal healing back to her childhood experiences with her Gullah Geechee grandparents in South Carolina. As a child, Rawls faced numerous health challenges, including issues related to her lungs and digestion. “I was very sick when I was a kid. I was a preemie, so my lungs weren’t developed when I was born,” she recalled. Her grandparents, grandma Buella and granddaddy Willie, were her primary caregivers during these times, instilling in her the healing knowledge passed down through generations.
Rawls observed her grandparents utilize plants for various ailments, a practice that resonates within Gullah Geechee families. “My grandma Buella would be like, ‘Make sure that you mix a little this and that, and this and that,’” she noted. The loss of her grandparents spurred Rawls to formalize this traditional knowledge—her grandfather passed away in 1998 and her grandmother in 2019. “I didn’t really start this herbalism journey until later. It was 2020. My grandmother passed in 2019. My granddaddy Willie passed in 1998. And I was like, ‘Oh my God, no one’s left to make me a tea,’” she explained.
After studying herbalism, Rawls launched her own line of herbal products, beginning with Geechee Girl Tea. The apothecary’s inventory includes a range of herbs, such as alfalfa leaf and yarrow, along with plants significant to Gullah Geechee practices, including life everlasting—also known as rabbit tobacco—and mullein. Rawls has curated pre-blended teas aimed at supporting heart, kidney, and liver health, as well as promoting everyday wellness. One blend, titled Mommy’s Love, was inspired by her own challenges with painful menstrual cycles.
Customers visiting Geechee Girl Apothecary have the option to select herbs from an in-store weigh station or consult directly with Rawls about their health goals. “They can either shop the herbs themselves and weigh them at our weigh station, or they can come to me and say, ‘This is kind of my goal,’” she stated.
The offerings at the apothecary, which include herbal blends, handcrafted soaps, and the café, reflect Rawls’ desire to honor her ancestors. “Everything that we do ties back into something. Whether it’s because Grandma Sarah made soap, or Grandma White. It’s really me taking what they put into me and putting it back out. I hope when people leave, they feel the love. They feel at home. And they see you can honor your heritage and where you’re from in small, everyday ways,” Rawls expressed.
Geechee Girl Apothecary remains open to the public, offering a unique blend of tradition and innovation, and is closed on Sundays and Mondays. The shop not only provides herbal remedies but also fosters a sense of community and connection to heritage for its patrons in Savannah.
