Roswell To Host 'Mabry Rock' Dedication Ceremony

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The city of Roswell will honor one of its oldest and most influential families, the Mabry family, and host a dedication of Mabry Rock later this month.

The celebration will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 16 at Leita Thompson Memorial Park.

Robert Watson Mabry moved his family by covered wagon from the east Georgia town of Washington to the newly created Cobb County in 1841.

On the last leg of their journey, they stopped for the night at what is known as Mabry Rock, which is located in present-day Leita Thompson Memorial Park. Although the Mabrys were only about one mile from Lot 181, where they would go on to build the family’s log cabin, night had fallen in this remote area of virgin forest. Mabry Rock marked a place of sanctuary for the family on their first night near their new home.

The Mabry family is listed as an important pioneer family in The First Hundred Years, a history of Cobb County. More than 500 people in the Atlanta area can trace their ancestry directly to Robert Watson Mabry and his children.

Among them is former Roswell Mayor W.L. “Pug” Mabry, who is the great-great grandson of Robert Watson Mabry. Mabry served as Roswell’s mayor from 1967 to 1997.

Each year, more than 100 Mabry descendants gather for a family reunion at Mabry Rock.

At the event on May 16, the city of Roswell will dedicate a historical marker at Mabry Rock and honor the accomplishments of the Mabry family.

Pug Mabry and other family members will be in attendance, as well as current Roswell Mayor Jere Wood, members of the City Council and other city and community representatives.

Leita Thompson Memorial Park is located at 1355 Woodstock Road. The ceremony will take place adjacent to the dog park.

Photo: former Roswell Mayor W.L. “Pug” Mabry at Mabry Rock in 1985. Credit: city of Roswell