About Rock Spring Cemetery
Though Rock Spring Cemetery is the final resting place of many members of Rock Spring Presbyterian Church, the two entities have always been separate. Both plots of land were deeded by descendants of pioneer Atlanta families in 1870: the cemetery land was donated by Daniel Liddell Plaster and the land for the church was given by James Washington Smith, Jr. For nearly 100 years, the cemetery was maintained by family members of those buried there. Since 1960, it has been managed and maintained by the Rock Spring Cemetery Association, Inc., a non-profit organization made up of friends of the cemetery.
History
The earliest marked graves are those of James Washington Smith, Sr., and Foster Luckie, both buried around 1874. Some of the graves were moved from family cemeteries that were covered over as Atlanta developed. The first burial lots were sold by D.L. Plaster to families in the Rock Spring community, usually for $5 and a handshake. A few burial plot deeds are in the RSCA files and fewer still are on file at the Fulton County courthouse. A more detailed description of the history of the cemetery and the individuals buried there can be found in the book The Spirit of Rock Spring by Barbara Wright Cheshire.
Memorial Gardens
The Rock Spring Cemetery Memorial Garden was established in 2008 for the burial of ashes accompanied by an 8 inch bronze plaque to be placed on a surrounding rock wall. Space is available and inquiries can be made to contact@rockspringcemetery.org
More Information
Maintenance and enhancements of Rock Spring Cemetery are supported by donations. For information on how to donate, please email contact@rockspringcemetery.org. Inquiries about available burial space and necrology of the cemetery should be directed to the same email address.