This video concludes Cecil's and my Marion County, Georgia cemetery tour... for now. We explore two fascinating cemeteries: the Mahalia African American graveyard and the Old Philadelphia graveyard.
First, we visit the Mahalia African American graveyard. Interestingly, this cemetery also contains Caucasian graves that predate the African American burials. A brief history states that when you walk into the Mahalia Chapel graveyard, you find a rusted iron fence, which used to bear the name Peoples. The Peoples were a Caucasian family who had been using this as a burial ground before African Americans did from Mahalia Chapel. Sadly, only remnants of the old iron fence remain, as cemetery fences used to often get stolen, and it is evident that is what happened here.
Next, we venture to the Old Philadelphia graveyard on the other side of the county. This cemetery stands out with its elaborate monuments, reflecting the greater wealth of the area. One of the most striking memorials is a beautifully carved clamshell with a baby inside, marking the grave of a child. The craftsmanship and grandeur of the monuments here contrast sharply with those we've seen in other parts of Marion County. Unfortunately, our visit to this cemetery is cut short as our camera unexpectedly dies.
Join us for this poignant conclusion to our cemetery tour, where we delve into the stories and history preserved in these significant graveyards.
