On September 16, 2024, the Cobb County Remembrance Coalition (CCRC) in collaboration with the Cobb County Branch NAACP hosted a soil collection ceremony at the sites of the lynching and subsequent death of John Bailey in 1900. The purpose of this type of ceremony is to memorialize documented victims of racial violence and foster meaningful dialogue about race and justice today. 

In the morning, members of CCRC gathered at the old jail site and collected soil where Mr. Bailey was incarcerated and ultimately died from injuries sustained in his lynching and shooting.  Then at 5:30 PM, forty members of CCRC, the NAACP, and local community leaders gathered in Glover Park to collect soil where Mr. Bailey was lynched, shot, and left for dead.  

The soil was placed in two jars. One jar will be sent to the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, AL and will be displayed alongside the soil of other lynching victims across the United States. The second jar will be displayed at the Marietta History Museum.

On Juneteenth, CCRC was invited to speak at the Cobb African American Policy Forum held at Jim Miller Park. Hosted by Cobb County Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid, the forum featured a panel discussion about policies that impact the county’s African American youth. Coalition member, Atty. Mark L. Bryce, relayed the story of Mr. John Bailey, framing his 1900 lynching in the context of African American history and life in Cobb County. Bev Jackson, a coalition leader, shared CCRC’s purpose and relevancy to the community. The presentation was well received and garnered interest and additional support from constituents who attended.

In keeping with Citigroup’s commitment to diversity and social justice, CCRC members addressed an audience of more than 40 Atlanta corporate employees on Juneteenth. The coalition was invited by the company’s Black Heritage Network to share the story of Mr. John Bailey. The Coalition also discussed its partnership with the Montgomery, Alabama-based Equal Justice Initiative. Attendees were encouraged to engage, ask questions and support CCRC as we truthfully acknowledge the undeniably difficult truths surrounding Bailey’s lynching.

CCRC shared John Bailey’s story with community members at the NAACP’s Juneteenth Cultural Festival on Marietta Square, June 15, 2024. The CCRC was one of more than 100 sponsoring vendors and community groups represented at the all-day celebration. Coalition members were helped throughout the day by family, friends and volunteers from Cobb County fraternities and sororities. Dozens of passersby stopped by our exhibit to engage, converse and learn. Nearly 50 attendees signed up to join our mailing list.

On March 20, 2024, at Temple Kol Emeth, CCRC hosted and celebrated a Candlelight Vigil in memory of John Bailey, a Black man living in Cobb County who was lynched on March 18, 1900, and subsequently died two days later. Joined by community members, history buffs, civic leaders, faith leaders, members of Cobb’s Black Panhellenic organizations, and renowned musical artists, CCRC gathered to commemorate Mr. Bailey’s life.

Following a welcome by Rabbi Emeritus Steven Lebow of Temple Kol Emeth, attendees were greeted by Cobb County Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid, who reminded us that in remembering and acknowledging our past, Cobb County can move toward a brighter future. CCRC members shared our mission and described our partnership with the Equal Justice Initiative, founded by Bryan Stevenson. EJI’s work centers on criminal justice reform, racial justice, anti-poverty, and public education in addition to maintaining EJI’s Legacy Sites in Montgomery, AL.

CCRC then shared the story of Mr. John Bailey and his brutal lynching on the Marietta Square, his grievous injuries, and his 56 hours of suffering in a cell before succumbing to those injuries on March 20, 1900. As the gathered community sat with the impact of Mr. Bailey’s story, Dr. Oral Moses, renowned bass baritone, performed a moving a cappella rendition of Poor Pilgrim of Sorrow, simultaneously comforting and convicting the hearts of all in attendance.

CCRC traveled to the Equal Justice Initiative’s (EJI) Legacy Sites in Montgomery, AL. In addition to the astonishing Legacy Museum, the trip included a stop at the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, where 800 steel pillars hang – each representing a county in America where a lynching occurred. A pillar for Cobb County is there and on it the name of John Bailey is inscribed.

Wes McCoy, a CCRC founding member, described the group’s experience best by saying, “The legacy experience is one where you encounter history in great detail…and being with a group invites discussion about that experience through the lens of our personal histories”.

CCRC members were able to meet with EJI staff and share their current work and plans for the future. The feedback, advice and support from this powerful partner was invaluable. As one team member said, “The meeting gave us a great feeling of confidence that we were doing things the right way. In addition, EJI’s assurance that they were going to be with us at every step gave us confidence”.

The Cobb County Remembrance Coalition held three separate roundtable discussions to engage community leaders in the Coalition’s work. Each roundtable focused on a specific group – Interfaith, Pan Hellenic and Legal/Justice. A total of 27 participants were in attendance across all three roundtables.

At each session attendees heard Mr. Bailey’s story, learned about the origins of CCRC and its partnership with the Equal Justice Initiative. Also, attendees learned about the organization’s ultimate goal of installing a historic marker commemorating what happened to Mr. Bailey. Roundtable attendees were encouraged to share their ideas, concerns, and provide advice about how CCRC’s efforts can be successful. At the conclusion of each session, all were provided with resource materials and a “Call to Action” explaining ways to help CCRC spread the story of Mr. Bailey and its work.

Participants in all three roundtables gave positive feedback and asked insightful questions. Many remarked they were not aware of Mr. Bailey’s story. Some expressed surprise that this was a part of Cobb County’s history. All agreed his was a story worth telling and were enthusiastic about CCRC’s approach and partnership with the Equal Justice Initiative.

CCRC team members joined Rabbi Steven Lebow at the Leo Frank Historical Marker in Marietta, GA. Rabbi Lebow shared the terrifying story of Mr. Frank’s trial, incarceration and lynching. The team learned how community growth required moving the marker to a new location. This trip was a powerful lesson in maintaining a memorial over time and the challenges of this work. The marker was first placed in 2008 then moved in 2018.

CCRC took its first road trip and visited the Mack Henry Brown historical marker in Roswell, GA. Meeting with the North Fulton Remembrance Coalition, CCRC learned the shocking details of this missing person-turned-lynching story. North Fulton Coalition leaders explained how their painstaking, detailed work unearthed Brown’s story and allowed them to successfully engage local community members and officials. Partnering with the Equal Justice Initiative, the Coalition placed Mr. Brown’s marker in 2021.