Only 45

years old, Peachtree City now has its first historical

marker.

Dignitaries

last Sunday unveiled the marker at Holly Grove African

Methodist Episcopal Church, which predates the city by 54

years, and celebrated the importance of remembering the

past.

Placement

of the marker was a cooperative venture between the

Georgia Historical Society, the city of Peachtree City

and the Peachtree City Heritage Historic Preservation

Committee.

The church

dates back to 1896 when the first group of citizens met

to form a church and a school. It has been on its current

site since that time.

A hundred

interested persons, black and white, came together to

unveil the marker and to celebrate the heritage of the

church. Among those making remarks were Bob Lenox, mayor

of Peachtree City, Peter Wright, Atlanta area vice

president of the Georgia Historical Society and Carolyn

Cary, official historian of Fayette County.

After the

unveiling outside, the group proceeded inside where the

program continued with prayers, special music and remarks

director of national field operations for the National

Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

When God

instructed Joshua to build a stack of stones as high as

Joshua could get them, Rivers said, it was to be a

reminder to future generations to remember the work of

Joshua and their ancestors. "What means this?"

is taken from the Bible and would be the question asked

of those long ago concerning the stack of stones, he

said.

"Today,"

Rivers said, "people would ask `What's up'? When

future generations read the historical marker unveiled

today they will ask the meaning of it, why is history

important and what is a brush arbor. They will be

reminded of the importance of the past, just as those

people seeing that stack of stones."

Rivers was

introduced by church member Denise Speller.

The Rev.

Mark Baldwin of Peachtree City Christian Fellowship

Church offered a prayer, and scripture was read by the

Rev. Barry Odom, Braelinn Baptist Church.

The church

choir provided special music and church member Annie

Hammond recited the church history. She concluded by

saying, "Let us never forget to remember."

The marker

is at the edge of the church property, at 400 Holly Grove

Church Road.

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