PINE MOUNTAIN, Ga. (WRBL) — The Chipley Historical Center, based in Pine Mountain, is spearheading the early stages of a statewide initiative: the Georgia Black History Trail.

The grassroots project aims to connect and preserve significant Black heritage sites across all counties in Georgia, starting right here in Harris County.

“This is a living trail,” said Cindy Bowden, curator of the Chipley Historical Center. “We’re trying to put together a Black History Trail, which would start in Harris County. So far, we’ve gotten about 50 counties involved. We want each county represented to tell where the Black history sites are in their county.”

One of the first confirmed stops along the trail is Bethany Missionary Baptist Church, a historic Black church founded in the late 1800s. Located in Pine Mountain, the church’s cemetery holds generations of stories, many of which are only now being uncovered. 

Thanks to a grant from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and dozens of local volunteers, the cemetery is undergoing a significant restoration effort. So far, over 400 previously unmarked graves have been identified using GPS mapping and physical surveying. 

“It’s very important that we restore it,” said Marva Copeland, a member of Bethany Missionary Baptist Church and board member with the Chipley Historical Society. “There’s more people buried here than there are in the church now. This place has always been kind of like a community center to this legacy.” 

Among the graves are veterans, pastors, community leaders, and families whose names had been lost to time. Copeland said one of the church’s early pastors, a carpenter who helped rebuild the sanctuary in 1877, is believed to be buried on the property, but his headstone is still missing. 

While the project is still in its planning phase, organizers envision a digital trail powered by a GPS-enabled mobile app and website. Users would be able to access historical context, view photos of the sites, and, if applicable, trace their ancestry to those buried or memorialized along the route. 

The trail will include churches, schools, cemeteries, and even privately owned buildings, though privacy will be respected for sites not open to public tours. Organizers are seeking public involvement and want each county to designate representatives to help build their segment of the trail. Volunteers can assist in research, photography, community outreach, and digital content creation. 

A recent Zoom meeting brought together historians, nonprofit leaders, and county representatives from across the state to discuss strategy and next steps. The response was enthusiastic, with counties like Bartow and Polk sharing their own experiences creating local African American heritage trails and offering collaboration. 

“This isn’t just about plaques and markers,” said Bowden. “History is good and bad. You can’t change it, you can’t cover it up, but you can learn from it.” 

The Chipley Historical Center and its partners, including Explore Georgia and the National Religious Partnership for the Environment, are planning a statewide Zoom meeting on August 1 at 2 p.m. to continue organizing and recruiting for the trail. Anyone interested in helping represent their county or contributing historical information is encouraged to attend. 

“Georgia needs this,” Bowden added. “Our goal is to highlight the stories and the people who helped build this state, especially in the places history tends to overlook.” 

To learn more about the Black History Trail initiative or get involved, visit Chipley Historical Center’s website or contact the center directly.