By Ashley Topham
As a resident spooky writer for the DiG, I’ve visited pretty much every cemetery within Gwinnett and its surrounding area. In fact, I make it my mission when I travel to visit a local cemetery because I love decoding the symbolism on headstones and mausoleums. If you’d like to do the same, here are five cemeteries within 50 miles of Gwinnett to check out!
Oakland Cemetery
374 M.L.K. Jr Dr SE, Atlanta, GA 30312
This is one of my all-time favorite cemeteries in Georgia! Known as Atlanta’s oldest public park, this cemetery spans 48 acres and is the final resting place of 70,000 residents, including the famous author Margaret Mitchell. My weekend go-to is grabbing a pastry across the street and picking a peaceful bench across from a mausoleum to spend the afternoon reading.
Decatur Cemetery
229 Bell St, Decatur, GA 30030
Located in Downtown Decatur, this local cemetery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It encompasses 58 acres featuring beautiful greenspace and has been used as a filming location for various movies. This is a great place to take a scenic walk with your dog or friends to admire the grounds before grabbing a bite at one of Decatur’s foodie spots. Just keep in mind that it’s an active cemetery, so be respectful and clean up after your pup!
Stone Mountain Cemetery
1025 Silver Hill Rd, Stone Mountain, GA 30087
Established in 1850, this historic cemetery is home to residents ranging from village settlers and granite cutters to farmers and townspeople. It’s very walkable and open to the public! Another unique feature of this cemetery is that it was used as a filming location for Stranger Things, making it a great spot for fans of the show.
Pleasant Hill Cemetery
Coordinates: 33.98610, -83.92580
If you’re looking for a cemetery that’s a bit off the beaten track, this is the place for you! My husband and I randomly discovered this spot while en route to a breakfast spot in Dacula. There isn’t an address listed but if you use the coordinates, it’ll take you there. One headstone that caught my interest is dedicated to Shirley Wootson Stanley, who was lost at sea aboard the U.S.S. Cyclops – another victim of the Bermuda Triangle!
Crowley Mausoleum
3624 Memorial Dr, Decatur, GA 30032 The Crowley Mausoleum is by far the most unique cemetery on this list as it’s located within a Walmart parking lot! James Crowley originally built a family cemetery on his land during the 1920s but after he passed, the area surrounding the cemetery was developed. While you can’t enter the mausoleum itself, you can walk over to the property to take a look at the 13 marked graves!