Madison in Morgan County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
Segregated Burial Grounds
Photographed By David Seibert, August 4, 2010
1. Segregated Burial Grounds Marker
Inscription.
Segregated Burial Grounds. . Historic burial traditions parallel both the societal structure and economic status of the period. Old Cemetery reveals racially distinct sections reflected in the notable absence of family plots and headstones on the hill’s slope, where a memorial honors the final resting place of the town's early black residents. Later cemetery development followed the traditional family plot design for both races but still segregated burial grounds. The plans for New Cemetery provided an area “north of Division Avenue for colored people” and the plans for Fairview Cemetery provided a portion “laid off for (the) negro cemetery.” A memorial marks the unidentified burials in New Cemetery where copings and headstones are relatively sparse except for the early leaders of the black community. Individual headstones are more prevalent throughout Fairview Cemetery. The Civil Rights era led to the creation of private “whites only” cemeteries such as Morgan Memorial Park, Inc. This cemetery was later acquired by the City who removed the race restrictive covenants and changed the name to Madison Memorial Cemetery.
Historic burial traditions parallel both the societal structure and economic status of the period. Old Cemetery reveals racially distinct sections reflected in the notable absence of family plots and headstones on the hill’s slope, where a memorial honors the final resting place of the town's early black residents. Later cemetery development followed the traditional family plot design for both races but still segregated burial grounds. The plans for New Cemetery provided an area “north of Division Avenue for colored people” and the plans for Fairview Cemetery provided a portion “laid off for (the) negro cemetery.” A memorial marks the unidentified burials in New Cemetery where copings and headstones are relatively sparse except for the early leaders of the black community. Individual headstones are more prevalent throughout Fairview Cemetery. The Civil Rights era led to the creation of private “whites only” cemeteries such as Morgan Memorial Park, Inc. This cemetery was later acquired by the City who removed the race restrictive covenants and changed the name to Madison Memorial Cemetery.
Erected 2010 by City of Madison, Madison Bicentennial Commission.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans
Location. 33° 35.78′ N, 83° 28.375′ W. Marker is in Madison, Georgia, in Morgan County. Marker is on Unnamed cemetery road, 0 miles east of Central Avenue, on the left when traveling east. The marker is on the cemetery road which parallels the railroad tracks in the cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Madison GA 30650, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Old Cemetery is to the left; New Cemetery is to the right, across the railroad tracks
Photographed By David Seibert, August 4, 2010
5. Segregated Burial Grounds Marker
Looking across the railroad tracks to the New Cemetery
Credits. This page was last revised on November 7, 2018. It was originally submitted on August 27, 2010, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. This page has been viewed 1,683 times since then and 61 times this year. Last updated on November 4, 2018, by Kenneth Kocher of Madison, Georgia. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 27, 2010, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
