In a move to preserve and maintain four historical African American cemeteries, Cobb County has recently reached out for financial support from the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. The cemeteries – Sardis Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, Old Ebenezer Cemetery, Noonday Extension Cemetery, and Little Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery – have been recognized by the county as integral parts of its cultural and historical fabric.
Last year's research by the Cobb County Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) has led to a call for much-needed assistance. According to Cobb County's official news update, the areas historically associated with African American lives and deaths are in need to quickly be preserved. Tasks like maintenance, the delineation of boundaries, and the identification of unmarked graves are high on the priority list. Bev Jackson, Chairwoman of the HPC, emphasized the urgency of these needs in her statement.
"We see this as just the beginning of our plan to address the needs and concerns of our historic African American cemeteries in Cobb," Jackson said. The grant, if awarded, would fund archaeological surveys aiming to accurately delineate the burial grounds and pinpoint unmarked graves that have long been neglected or forgotten. Beyond the surveys, the grant would also allow for the creation of a maintenance manual intended to guide the upkeep of these significant sites.
The county is actively inviting community involvement to assist with this preservation effort. Volunteers who wish to dedicate time to restoring these historical sites can reach out to the Cobb County Historic Preservation Planner, Mandy Elliott, for more details. The manual, once completed, would also serve as a vital resource for property owners, specialists working in cemetery preservation, and volunteers who want to partake in ensuring these cemeteries receive the respectful attention they deserve.
