Tolbert Street Cemetery revitalization project

PRESS RELEASE

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A dedication ceremony was held Monday, May 2, for a cemetery located at 351 Tolbert St. following a recent Leadership Forsyth revitalization project of the property that contains unmarked and marked graves.

The ceremony featured remarks made by retired Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Bishop Othal Lakey, Forsyth County Board of Commissioners Chairman Alfred John and members of the
Leadership Forsyth Class of 2022 that provided the revitalization.

The restoration of the cemetery features various public amenities including a walkway through the site, maintained landscaping, benches, parking and signage with historical information on the property for those wishing to visit the cemetery. Funding and materials for site improvements were provided by community partners and Leadership Forsyth.

“So many people contributed to this process. The time, the materials, the resources, it’s just been
incredible,” said Chairman John. “To everyone involved, thank you for helping us preserve this
cemetery and the legacy of those buried here.”

As part of the revitalization project, Leadership Forsyth researched deed records on the property to determine historical information about the cemetery.

“We became curious as we started cleaning the property and began researching deed records at the County Courthouse that traced the land back to the Colored Methodist Church of Cumming, deeded in 1871, with headstones dating back to the late 1800’s,” said Leadership Forsyth class member Kathy Hines.

More information on the project and the history of the cemetery can be found by listening to the latest FoCo 15 podcast, the County’s official audio podcast. Additional information on the project can also be found by visiting the Leadership Forsyth website.

The cemetery property is located adjacent to the Tolbert Street Recycling Center and is owned by
Forsyth County and will be maintained by County Public Facilities.

“The County was thrilled that Leadership Forsyth wanted to provide this restoration project for this site s well as discover the history of the property,” said County Manager Kevin Tanner. “We are honored to preserve the cemetery and honor those buried there.”