CEMETERY PRESERVATION ALIVE and WELL (10/8/2014)

                        "Show me your cemeteries and I'll tell you what kind of people you are.”

                                                                 ---Benjamin Franklin

That quote inspired Dennis Taylor to get involved in a community project when he came across

a cemetery a few blocks from his house. Before reclamation, the Sylvester Cemetery off Clifton

Road had been abandoned, abused and vandalized for more than forty years.


“Cemeteries contain many beautiful stones and sculptures and hold the history to the area's

historical past,” says Taylor.

“In the olden days whole families came on foot or by buggy and made a day of it. After cleaning 

their loved one's grave site, they left decorations of flags, flowers, pinwheels and little statues. Then 

all joined in to have a picnic.”


Across the USA, local communities are embracing cemeteries like never before. Local

organizations are being formed to protect the past, creating new park spaces, as in the case of

Atlanta’s Oakland Cemetery.


Just up the street, Clay Cemetery has been refurbished for the Kirkwood Community. Until

about four years ago, it too had been forgotten. It was the first integrated cemetery in Atlanta.


According to the Clay Cemetery website, “…Evidence suggests that Clay Cemetery became an

integrated burial ground well before the area’s shift in racial demographics during the 1960’s.

Oral history from the Clay family reports African American burials in the cemetery beginning in

the 1950‘s. This would make this cemetery a very rare and possibly unique example of integrated

burials occurring much earlier than did elsewhere in the South (starting in the 1970’s).”


Volunteering at a cemetery is something to involve the whole family. Most are peaceful places

that time has forgotten. People can help with cleaning gravestones, raking gravesites, picking up

dead branches and removing noxious plants like Privet.


Historic Sylvester Cemetery, which spreads over twelve acres, has been serving the East Atlanta

area since 1836. The beauty of the place is coming back, and the area is covered with hundreds

of mature trees, shrubs and perennials.


Today families can visit a cemetery and Adopt a Plot, plant a flower garden, plant a shrub or tree

in someone's memory, marvel at old gravestones, all while enjoying the serenity.  Plus, it pays

tribute to the past,” says Taylor.


To volunteer contact Dennis Taylor, Sylvester Cemetery co-manager at 404-381- 0243. Historic

Tours available by contacting Larry Johnson, at 404-664- 2034.


-- -Ray Macon