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Forgotten cemetery
gets new life
By
CAROLYN CARY
ccary@thecitizennews.com
The Norton-Drennan Cemetery
on South Jeff Davis Drive is one of the many cemeteries that sat in wilderness
for many years and is now in the backyards of some very expensive homes.
The forogotten cemetery is now getting some attention.
While Fayette County was originally laid out in 202.5-acre plots, a lot
of it was sold sight unseen by those who drew it in the Land Lottery of
1821. Records show that a John G. Norton bought land from an Alexander
Stewart of Morgan County in 1829. A nearby neighbor, Hugh Drennan, also
was an early pioneer.
While between 15 and 20 people are believed to be buried there, the only
grave markers were originally for two small children.
In 1989 a developer discovered the site when a bulldozer exposed some
graves, and the developer marked the boundaries as best he could. However,
descendants sued and a settlement was reached when the developer agreed
to put several larger markers in it with as many names on it as could
be verified.
Much work on establishing specific information on the people thought to
be buried there has been done by descendant Judy McCleskey Webb in Texas.
She has shared all of her information with the Fayette County Historical
Society.
Her research showed that two Drennans served in the Civil War, William
B. Drennan and John M. V. Drennan. They served in the 10th Georgia and
the 53rd Georgia respectively.
Sharpsburg Sharpshooters Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp Commander Eddie
Lanham ordered Confederate grave site markers for them and he and Webb
put them at the appropriate sites.
Lanham has placed more than 700 such stones in a five-county area for
those serving in the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Mexican-American
War, Civil War and the Spanish-American War. If you know of any unmarked
sites, contact him at 770-719-8583.
Eddie Lanham and Judy Webb
place a confederate marker at the Norton-Drennan Cemetery on South Jeff
Davis Drive. Photo/Carolyn Cary.
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