The Georgia State Prison Cemetery is a part of the Rogers State Prison complex near Reidsville. It is a stark reminder of the realities of crime and isolation these men brought upon their lives, and the fact that the crosses are numbered with no names is striking.
This marker, provided by inmates on 1 July 1972, notes: “The first interment was on December 20, 1937. The state provides a Christian burial for all deceased inmates for whom private or family burial arrangements are not available.”
For many years, Reidsville was known as the home of Georgia’s electric chair, so I suspect some of these interments are of men who were executed for heinous crimes. There are nearly 700 graves located here.
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I would like to speak to an authorized person at Reidsville Georgia Prison to find out if my brother, who died nearly a month ago at Augusta Medical State Prison, has been received here for burial. The phone number (912)557-7301 listed on-line is “unauthorized.”
Seeing the cemetery can change your perspective on some things and I learned a lot from visiting Reidsville. My heart was heavy when I left and I continue to use this memory as part of my story that helped get me to where I am today. I work in the juvenile system, and it is broken. I cannot fix it on my own, but I try each day to make a difference so that no more kids have to die because another kid killed him.
Just hear about the cemetery today. Looking at their website most that are buried there have no family to claim their remains. If you go to their website and put in an * under the Last NAME field you can see the names of ALL buried there. But the earliest burials seem to not have been recorded. It is sad to see some graves have a birth and death date the same day, suggesting infants born in the prison died at birth. One sad case is James Hugh Moss that was electrocuted and buried was later discovered he was not guilty in Chatsworth, GA.
Please join us at the other prison cemetery where 1500 unmarked graves are behind the old State Farm Prison in Milledgeville. The prison moved to Reidsville in 1937 but left behind many graves of those electrocuted. My gt grandfather the chaplain for 14 years attended 144 electrocutions. Please join our group on FB Red Hill Prison Cemetery
I live in the housing available for the employees of the prison. As stated above Georgia State Prison and Rogers Prison. We have lived here for 7 years. The electric chair is no longer used and hasn’t been for decades. We recently went to visit the graves and pay our respects. There are over 1000 graves now.
There are over 900 graves there now.
914 graves
I wonder if there is a list and numbered crosses to identify the graves. It would be nice if someone would record them on FindaGrave. It could be a project of the Historical Society and maybe get help from a high school club. They did that years ago in the whole county where I lived, published a book for sale, raised money for the Society.
my daughter came by the cemetery one day she didn’t know what it was it told her more than likely it was where prisoner with out family was buried there. she said it was white crosses as far as you could see….. if you come from Reidsville and the prison is on your right you keep going past it to the next paved road on the left past rogers. I think you turn left on that road and follow it till you come up on the cemetery. if not I’m sure you can ask any one in Reidsville and they can tell you
I’m looking to visit this cememtry,is this possible?
Yes anyone can visit it, it’s right beside the road. Coming from Lyons on 280 go past Rogers to the next road to the right and it’s on the left
I CHANGED MY WICKED WAYS ONLY BECAUSE AFTER SPENDING TWELVE OF MY YOUNGER YEARS IN THIS PRISON I ENCOUNTERED SOME VERY NICE PEOPLE. BUT I ALSO ENCOUNTERED SOME INMATES THAT SHOULD NEVER EVER RE-ENTER SOCIETY . I WAS THERE IN THE SEVENTIES DURING RIOT AND IT WAS A BLOODY AND HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE RACISM WAS ENCOURAGED BY THE OFFICERS. THAT PLACE HAS TO BE ONE OF THE MOST EVIL PLACES ON GODS EATRTH
Someone misinformed you. The cemetery is a part of Georgia State Prison. Rogers State prison is a half mile up the road from there, but they are two separate and different institutions with different security threat levels. Rogers has never been known as GSP
According to the Tattnall County Heritage Book 256 inmates were executed ending in 1964. The highest numbered cross is 697, currently. I first saw this cemetery I guess back in 1989 when BRAG, Bike Ride Across Georgia rode past it. The scripture reference on the monument is Ezekiel 18:22. …21″But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 22″All his transgressions which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has practiced, he will live. 23″Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord GOD, “rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?… If you want to stop and look at the cemetery, apparently you will have to check with Georgia Corrections. They have a problem with folks dropping contraband for the prisoners.
does you know the address or road the prison cemetery is on my father is being buried there && I would like to know where he would be
Samantha I am sorry to hear of your loss. The prison cemetery in Reidsville is right down the road from Georgia State Prison. I do not know the address of the prison cemetery, but the address for Georgia State Prison is 1978 Ga Highway 147, Reidsville, GA 30453. The cemetery is no more than a minute or two from the prison… Hope this helps!
GSP’s address is 300 1st Ave S Reidsville GA 30453. The cemetery is located about a mile or so down Hwy 178 or Dewey Rush Hwy.
Went to High School in Reidsville. Lived 8 miles from the Prison.
My (Now Deceased Husband) worked there MANY YEARS at that Prison! I have even sit in the Electric Chair! Spooky feeling! lol. BUT it was Beautiful Place,when you walked inside,so Upkept,with that Huge Symbol in the Floor! I know some Amasing Stories about that Place,and STILL HOLD a PIECE OF GA.History,the Warden,then,was SO NICE TO GIVE TO MY Husband! It will Be Forever Cherished! +