Holly Grove African Methodist Episcopal Church is about to celebrate its place in history.

A special program is planned for Sunday, June 4 at 3 p.m. for the church's 103rd anniversary.

Guest preacher for the occasion is the Rev. Alexander D. Hamilton VI, who is a fifth great-grandson of Alexander Hamilton, first United States secretary of the Treasury, a third great grandson of Alexander D. Hamilton Sr., the first African-American elected to the Alabama legislature, a grand nephew of Henry Cooke Hamilton, the first African American to receive a doctorate in education and also a grand nephew of Grace Towns Hamilton, the first African American woman to be elected to the Georgia House of Representatives.

The event is open to all who wish to come.

This is just one of a number of activities taking place in the south Peachtree City church. A fellowship hall is near completion and members are expecting to have the first dinner in the new facility toward the end of June. It contains a kitchen as well as an office for the pastor and several Sunday School rooms.

The church has long recognized its historical role in Fayette County and last fall erected a historical marker in front of its sanctuary. As was mentioned at its unveiling, “When future generations read this historical marker they will ask the meaning of it, why is history important and just what is a brush arbor.”

“People must be reminded of the past,” said historical committee Chairman Gail Good. “For instance, the roles of black churches in the communities led to those churches holding schools. Many received their only education from these schools. Holly Grove is no exception and we are trying to put together a complete history of not only the school here, at the turn of the century, but of those throughout the county.”

Remembering the schools is only one phase of capturing the past; another one is maintaining the church's cemeteries.

Holly Grove has two cemetery locations, one directly behind the church and the first and older one on Wellborn Chase Drive, off Redwine Road.

In an effort to honor all of those buried in the cemeteries, not just those with gravestones marking their places in history, every effort has been made to mark those without gravestones.

Between now and the 103rd anniversary celebration, 46 gravestones will be placed on those sites of deceased members. “We have checked and double-checked these sites and are positive of the identification of the deceased. In checking with Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta on the best place to order gravestones, they suggested Robert-Shields Memorial Company in Atlanta and this company was very generous in giving us a rock-bottom price,” said Good.

“I'm hoping,” she said, “to begin putting a historical museum together that will contain items pertinent to our church in the fall.”

Honoring its past as well as honoring its future, the Holly Grove AME Church also honors Peachtree City and Fayette County.

The church is at 400 Holly Grove Church Road, which extends from Redwine Road over to Robinson Road. It can be reached at 770-631-7650.

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