College View Cemetery

Oct 8

Written By Sarajane Smith

Site Brief:

Founded: 1896

Location: College Park, GA

Additional name(s): College View Memorial Cemetery

Affiliate group(s):

The One Square Mile Project “A City within a City”

History:

College View Cemetery is a historically African American cemetery located in College Park, GA. It appears to have been founded in 1896 or 1900, and it was one of the first cemeteries in southern Fulton County designated for use by African Americans and surrounding cities. During segregation, this community was thriving and economically self-sustaining with businesses. In the latter 1970's thru the latter 1980's, the citizens of this community were uprooted after the land was purchased by Atlanta-Hartsfield Airport with the intent of building additional runways. The homes and businesses were torn down, and the only remnants of this once vibrant thriving community is a couple dilapidated buildings and College View Cemetery.

This community was full of possibilities and achievements. It contained places of worship, residences, workplaces, medical facility, educational institutions, entertainment venues, shopping venues and much more. Let me not fail to mention–the airport runways were never built in this area. This community was left desolate, no lively activity. Since early 2026, volunteers have been diligent in helping to clear the overgrown cemetery. Every other weekend, volunteers have taken interest and shown up to work. Also, for a couple months we even hired goats to clear the kudzu in places we couldn't reach. We have appointments for Georgia State University to have classes for outreach and community to clean and restore headstones. In addition, we have organized a community day for past residents to view the cleaned areas, find their loved ones’ burial plot, and build fellowship throughout the day.