Johns Creek To Begin Maintaining Macedonia Cemetery

JOHNS CREEK, GA -- The city of Johns Creek has formally declared it will assume maintenance and upkeep of a historically black cemetery located at the corner of S.R 141/Medlock Bridge Road and State Bridge Road.

Council members on Monday voted unanimously to approve taking over from Fulton County regular maintenance of the two-acre Macedonia African Methodist Church Cemetery, which is on the east side of Medlock Bridge Road across the street from Fairway Package store.

The cemetery was ushered into the public spotlight after plans to construct an 80-foot tall by 48-foot wide LED billboard drew the ire of local residents.

Assistant City Manager Justin Kirouac said getting Fulton County to transfer the easement rights so the city can begin maintaining the cemetery has been a long process.

“We’re really glad we can start taking over the maintenance issue that has not always been accomplished over the last 10 years," he said.

Johns Creek estimates it will cost about $3,600 each year to maintain the property, and that funding will come from the city's Public Works budget.

According to a report compiled by an archaeologist with the Georgia Department of Transportation, the property where the cemetery is located is believed to have been part of a plantation owned by George Morgan Waters operating in the early 19th century in the Warsaw community. The property was later conveyed around 1905 to establish a place of worship with predominantly black membership that became known as the Macedonia African Methodist Church.

The report also notes there are about 23 marked and 30 unmarked graves, the earliest of which date back to 1900, on the site. The church building was razed in 2008 after the structure became a hazard.

There is no regular schedule of maintenance on the property, which has been vandalized and is in disrepair. A city crew has recently cleaned the property and disbanded a homeless encampment that was based on the land.

Now that it has the easement rights, Kirouac said the first priority would be to get the site presented in a "dignified manner," which calls for removing the debris that's accumulated over time and trimming weeds.

Kirouac told Patch the city has not had conversations that extend beyond maintenance, but noted plans for the future would include preserving the property in a manner that one associates with cemeteries.

“We look forward to the appropriate method of preservation in the future," he added.

The news from Monday's meeting was a positive outcome for resident John Bradberry. Bradberry, a member of Preserve Johns Creek, was on the forefront in fighting the billboard and lobbying the city to consider doing what it could to maintain the property.

Bradberry and others contend GDOT's plans violated a state law that prohibits the construction of billboards within 500 feet of a cemetery. The archaeologist's report concluded that the location of the billboard did not violate state law, as its closest point from the proposed site was 545 feet.

"I think it’s very interesting that Fulton County considers the entire 2 acres to be a cemetery and now Johns Creek is accepting the entire 2 acres as a cemetery," he added. "I wish that GDOT had correctly seen it that way as well. The good thing is that this is an important piece of history that will become more valuable as generations pass."

Bradberry added he'd like the city to secure the site so the headstones and gravestones won't be damaged or disturbed. He also added he hopes the site will become one where local school children can learn about the history of the area.

"I think this is a prime example of preserving the best of our past, which says a lot about our community," Bradberry added. "I think a good community will value and preserve its history, and I’m just glad to see it happening."

Image via John Bradberry