Friends of Decatur Cemetery

The Friends of Decatur Cemetery is a devoted volunteer group that works closely with the city and other community groups to preserve, maintain, and improve the cemetery as a historic and cultural resource.

Since its founding in 1994, the Friends of Decatur Cemetery (FODC) has worked to organize structured improvement plans within the cemetery’s historic Old Section. In 1997, the cemetery’s entire 58 acres was included in the National Register of Historic Places.

The group’s efforts are broad, encompassing everything from tree planting and structural restorations to volunteer clean-ups, educational and cultural programming, and the purchase of needed amenities.

Committee projects have included:

• Replacement of dead and dying trees in partnership with Trees Atlanta
• Restoration of the 1881 wellhouse/gazebo
• Clean-up days in the historic section with the support of Agnes Scott College and other local community groups
• Creation and publishing of Guided Walking Tour brochures ( 2012 and 2018)
• Photography contests
• Storytelling festival in cooperation with the City of Decatur (2008)
• “Second Sunday Strolls” – educational tours (May through October)
• Guided tours for school groups and civic organizations
• Gravestone preservation workshop (2008)
• Gravestone repair and restoration (ongoing)
• Identification and placement of flags on graves of more than 1,000 veterans each November in observance of Veterans Day. (2009+)
• Restoration of the gravesite of “Miss Emily Pittman” in the Old Section (2012)
• Identifying and marking the burial site of Dr. Ormand Morgan, Decatur Cemetery’s first adult burial (c.1826)
• Purchase of an outdoor bulletin board to publicize events and volunteer opportunities (2017)
• Purchase and placement of a sundial memorial to our former FODC Chair, Nancie Sill (2018)
• Purchase of two picnic tables to enhance the enjoyment of casual visitors to the cemetery (2018)

How You Can Help

The Friends of Decatur Cemetery welcomes volunteers who share its passion for the preservation of this beautiful, peaceful place — a treasured greenspace within a bustling urban setting.

Here’s how:

Research

Collect life-stories about those buried at the cemetery. Contact: Cathy Vogel at friendsofdecaturcemetery@gmail.com for details.

Gardening Among the Graves

Work with a group of dedicated volunteers on Tuesday mornings to help beautify the cemetery through maintenance and seasonal plantings. Or, help organize a weekend project. To volunteer, contact Jim Rabb: jimrabb1884@gmail.com.

Tour Guides

FODC has been providing tours of the Decatur Cemetery and telling stories about its interesting occupants for nearly 20 years. Here’s your opportunity to help others learn about some of our famous and not so famous residents and how they’ve influenced history in Decatur, DeKalb, and even the state of Georgia. This is not a ghost tour. Extensive training will be provided. Contact: Cathy Vogel at friendsofdecaturcemetery@gmail.com.