Black Rock AME Church was established in 1868 by freedmen, most of whom had been members of the white Independence Methodist Church in nearby Tignall. The old church building was moved in 1870 to land given to the congregation by member John Stovall Poole, Sr. (1820-1893). The plain style church remained unchanged until the steeple and vestibule were added to the front circa 1900. The style is sometimes called “wedding cake” for its stacked construction and is quite rare in Georgia.

One of the large rocks that inspired the church’s name was engraved to commemorate their anniversary in 1940. Rev. J. Clinton chose Matthew 21:42 to represent the strength and faith of the congregation: The stone which the builders rejected became the cornerstone of the building.

Rocks of this type are common in Georgia’s “Granite Belt” and often give names to places and geographical features throughout the region.

Slabs of local stone are commonly used for headstones in most of the older cemeteries in this part of the state. I’ll update this one if I can decipher the name.

Monuments ranging from simple to formal are found throughout the historic cemetery. Many of those buried here were formerly enslaved.

Emily was the wife of Fate Hawes. The typical stenciled headstone is a common vernacular form.

Nancy was the wife of Arch Brinson.