The Praise House Project at
South-View Cemetery
Honoring the African American History of Atlanta
Looking back to see forward
“Blacks had grown tired of the disrespect they were forced to endure in order to bury their family members and friends. They had to enter cemeteries through back gates, and even wade through swamps to conduct funeral services. They were told “If you don’t’ like it, start your own cemetery.”
And so they did.
In February 1886, nine courageous Black businessmen including Jacob McKinley, George W. Graham, Robert Grant, Charles H. Morgan, John Render and Albert Watts petitioned the State of Georgia for a charter to establish a cemetery. The charter was granted in April of the same year and the legacy of South-View Cemetery began.”
The Praise House Project at South-View uplifts the efforts of historic preservation and remembrance at South-View Cemetery
On View:
SEPTEMBER 21, 2025 - MARCH 29, 2026.
During the Praise House Project open hours, SUNDAY SERVICE is a creative love offering to the South Atlanta community, rooted in faith, wellness, community, and resistance, in acknowledgement of Atlanta’s history from the Reconstruction Era through the Civil Rights Movement, much of which rests at South-View Cemetery.
Next up
BLACK HSTORY MONTH KICK-OFF
featuring
DJ Salah Ananse
The composer of RITE TO FREEDOM the Praise House Project Song.
with a Story Quilt workshop with
Jasimine Agape Pennywell,
The New Freedom Studio at South-View Cemetery
1884 Jonesboro Rd. SE, Atlanta, GA 30315
February 1st
Open Hours, Sundays 12-5pm
Creative Offering, 1:30 - 3:30pm
Historic Tour of South-View, 4-5pm
FIRST FRIDAY ILLUMINATION
FEBRUARY 6TH @ SUNSET - 10PM
Bonfire Fellowship at the Praise House
Potluck Dinner and Dialogue co-hosted by ADRIA KITCHENS
Rythm and Dance at the New Freedom Studio with
DJ PHREESPIRIT
February Series
February 1, 12-2pm - BLACK HISTORY MONTH KICK OFF DAY PARTY with DJ Salah Ananse and a quilting workshop with Jasimine Agape Pennywell
February 6, (sunset) 7-10pm, First Friday Illuminations with DJ Phree Spirit, with dinner and dialogue co-hosted by theater artist Adria Kitchens.
February 8, 12-5pm - SUNDAY SERVICE: Pop-up Community Choir, Praise Song Circle led by vocalist Thessalonian.
February 15, 12-5pm - SUNDAY SERVICE: - Community Hair Braiding Circle with visual artist, Courtney Brooks, founder of Journey of a Black Girl.
February 22, 12-5pm SUNDAY SERVICE: Oral History Day with Sean Jones and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH).
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
LOCATIONS: Both 1884 and 2017 Jonesboro Rd SE - see schedule
PARKING: While parking is available along the streets, there is also parking at the Ali Center at Lakewood (\front and back) and behind Freedom Holiness Church next to the gas station at the corner.
ACCESIBILITY: Please note that the walk over to the Praise House is over slightly rocky terrain. Please be careful. The New Freedom Studio (1884) will serve as our primary site for the event. This location does not have a ramp. There are 3 short steps leading on the porch and then once insde the entire space is on one level.. We will have volunteer (ushers) on site to assist our differently abled community members and our elders to enter and get settled.
WHERE TO ENTER: The actual entrance to the Praise House location is at Merrilyn Dr. and Jonesboro Rd. Please refrain from climbing the short fencing to access the Praise House, Please follow the signs to this entrance.
WHAT TO BRING: The entire family. Cozy warm clothing to stroll the community, a lawn chair to enjoy the fire, comfy shoes, oral histories, love offerings for the gift shop and deserts! UNITY in the COMMUNITY!
FOOD & DRINK: There will be water, hot tea from our Sister Plantnomad, and coffee complimemnts of our neighbors, Black Coffee, with small bites. We also encourage you to patronize our neighbors, Pappy2s BBQ across the street or Collard Green Cafe, on your way in - and for our vegans - you may want to check out Purely Plant (Haitian). YUM!
On view until March 29th
1st Friday Illuminations
Sunday open hours starting in January: 12-5pm
Historic Tours
Special Events
Presented in collaboration with the Coalition to Remember the 1906 Atlanta Race Massacre, the South-View Cemetery Foundation, Culture Centers International, and Focus Community Strategies, in partnership with the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, Fulton County Arts and Culture, the Imlay Foundation, the Homestead Foundation, the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta, ReBuildATL Coalition (Lifecycle Building Center, ReGen Community Advisory, Georgia Tech Center for Sustainable Communities) RCE Greater Atlanta, Atlanta Global Research & Education Collaborative (AGREC) and Emory Arts through funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, Our Town Grant.
Images are by Julie Yarbrough of Charmaine Minniefield at South-View Cemtery, Tambra Omiyale Harris of Giwayen Mata and Edeliegba Senior Dance Ensemble. Moving images of the Praise House prvoided by Skyview Soren Christiansen of SkySee Videos.