Clayton in Rabun County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Lillian E. Smith

1897-1966

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

1. Lillian E. Smith Marker

Inscription. Lillian Eugenia Smith was born in 1897 in Jasper, Florida, moving with her family to Clayton, Georgia, In 1915. After attending Piedmont College and Peabody Conservatory, she taught in China before returning to Clayton to work at Laurel Falls Camp, her family's camp for girls. As camp director she led discussions about controversial social issues, particularly on gender and race. Smith openly challenged Jim Crow and provided a critical White voice on Southern race relations through her writings, including the novel Strawer Fruit and memoir Killers of the Dream, and a literary magazine co-edited with her life partner Paula Snelling. Through her involvement with Civil Rights organizations, Smith became friends with Martin Luther King. Jr., who referenced Smith in his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail." Smith died in 1966 and is buried at Laurel Falls Camp.

Erected 2022 by The Georgia Historical Society, and the Lillian E. Smith Center at Piedmont University. (Marker Number 119-2.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Civil Rights •

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Location. 34° 51.756′ N, 83° 23.471′ W. Marker is in Clayton, Georgia, in Rabun County. It is at the intersection of U.S. 76 and Old Chechero Road, on the right when traveling west on U.S. 76. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Clayton GA 30525, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Georgia’s and he Mountains in the Golden Corner. It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Rabun County Korean War Memorial (approx. 1.2 miles away); Robert H. “Bob” Vickers 1908 - 1984 (approx.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, October 26, 2025

2. Lillian E. Smith Marker

1.3 miles away); Rabun County Confederate Monument (approx. 1.3 miles away); Rabun County War Memorial (approx. 1.3 miles away); Rabun County Service Memorial (approx. 1.3 miles away); Rabun County (approx. 1.3 miles away); The Rabun County Courthouse (approx. 1.3 miles away); William Bartram Trail (approx. 2.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Clayton.

More about this marker. This marker is included in the Georgia Civil Rights Trail (CRT).

Also see . . .
1. Lillian Smith. (Submitted on December 19, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. Georgia Historical Society Dedicates New Civil Rights Trail Historical Marker Recognizing Lillian E. (Submitted on December 19, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, April 19, 2023

3. Lillian E. Smith Marker

Lillian E. Smith image. Click for full size.

Courtesy of the Library of Congress

4. Lillian E. Smith

Credits. This page was last revised on November 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 19, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 243 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 19, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. 2. submitted on November 23, 2025, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. 3, 4. submitted on December 19, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.