Stephen Robinson

Stephen Robinson (born Stephany (or Stepheney or Stephaney ) 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, was the inspiration for Minerva in the book, and was portrayed by Irma P. Hall in Clint Eastwood's 1997 film adaptation. Boles's husband, Percy Washington, was a root doctor known as Dr. Eagle, who was renamed "Dr. Buzzard" in the film adaptation of the story. Dr. Buzzard was based on Robinson.

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.

Career Robinson was accused, by James Edwin McTeer, sheriff of Beaufort County, of practicing medicine without a license. The case failed when McTeer's primary witness collapsed on the witness stand.

Death Robinson died in 1947, aged 61 or 62. He was interred in Beaufort's Saint Helena Memorial Gardens.