Everly Winthrop is one of the three protagonists of Surviving Savannah. At the beginning of the novel, Everly is in grief at the death of her friend Mora. She is numb to life and has little interest in the world around her. She says, “Mora’s death had robbed me of joy, removed my curiosity and stolen my love of life’s adventure” (28). Everly is a history professor at the Savannah College of Art and Design and sometimes curator at the Rivers and Seas Museum of Savannah. It isn’t until she starts curating a new exhibit that she starts to be able to live again. Everly reflects on her trauma and how it informed her life for the past year. She can see her grief and survivor’s guilt mirrored back to her by learning about how Lilly, Augusta, and even Charles chose to live after surviving the Pulaski disaster. With each discovery, Everly can see that after surviving loss, she must choose if she is going to live or simply not die.

Her friends and family become aware that she has returned to her old self. By the end of the novel, Everly is able to accept the loss of Mora, knowing that her friend will always be a part of her, and can live and love fully.