Resting peacefully beneath the Georgia sun lies Saint James Episcopal Cemetery. This isn’t just any cemetery. It’s a living history book etched into the earth. Founded in 1849 it holds stories of Marietta’s most prominent families. The Glovers the Lawrences the Sessions. These families shaped this town. Their legacies are subtly marked here.
Saint James Episcopal Cemetery sits on land originally part of the larger St James Episcopal Church property. It’s a beautifully kept space. An iron fence surrounds it. You can enter through a gate on Polk Street. It’s open daily except on major holidays or during severe weather.
Inside you’ll find more than just headstones. You’ll discover a columbarium and the Garden of Peace. Both located in the southeast corner. Every space here is sold. Every slot every tombstone belongs to someone. This place is full.
A fascinating rumor whispers through the years. Some believe slaves were buried here during the Civil War in unmarked graves in the southwest corner. It is just a rumor though. There’s no evidence to confirm it. Most of that section today holds marked graves from the 1960s and 1970s.
One notable burial is JonBenét Ramsey. The child murder victim. She rests here next to her mother Patsy and her half-sister Elizabeth. Their stories too become part of the cemetery’s narrative.
The St James Cemetery Board oversees this hallowed ground. It’s affiliated with St James Episcopal Church. This place is more than just a resting place. It’s a tapestry woven with the threads of a community. It’s a testament to lives lived and loved ones remembered. A quiet yet powerful piece of Marietta’s history. Take a moment. Reflect on the lives that made this town what it is. Walk among these stories. Let them speak to you.