Who Is Buried in Oakland Cemetery Atlanta? A Local’s Guide to the City’s Most Historic Cemetery

Oakland Cemetery is one of Atlanta’s most historic and meaningful places, and the answer to “Who is buried in Oakland Cemetery Atlanta?” is: a cross‑section of the city itself.

From governors and mayors to Civil War soldiers, civil rights leaders, and everyday Atlantans, Oakland is both a burial ground and an outdoor history book.

Below is a clear, Atlanta-focused guide to who rests in Oakland Cemetery, why it matters, and what you can expect if you visit.

Overview: What Is Oakland Cemetery and Who’s There?

Founded in 1850, Historic Oakland Cemetery in downtown Atlanta is a public cemetery where more than 70,000 people are buried, including:

• Prominent political leaders (mayors, governors, senators)
• Civil rights and social justice figures
• Authors, poets, and artists
• Business leaders and philanthropists
• Soldiers from multiple wars
• Jewish, Black, and immigrant Atlantans buried in distinct sections
• Everyday residents from the city’s earliest days to the present

Oakland is not just for the famous. Many ordinary families from Atlanta neighborhoods—Grant Park, Old Fourth Ward, Inman Park, and beyond—have loved ones buried there.

Famous People Buried in Oakland Cemetery Atlanta

If you’re visiting or live in Atlanta, you’ll often hear Oakland mentioned because of the notable names buried there. Some of the best-known include:

Political and Civic Leaders

• Maynard Holbrook Jackson Jr.
  Atlanta’s first Black mayor, serving three terms. He played a major role in the expansion of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and in opening city contracts to minority-owned businesses.

• Ivan Allen Jr.
  Mayor during the 1960s who supported desegregation and helped bring major-league sports to Atlanta, including the Braves.

• Morris Brown
  A bishop and leader in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church; the historically Black university Morris Brown College is named for him.

• Georgia governors and local officials
  Several Georgia governors, state legislators, and Atlanta mayors from the 19th and early 20th centuries are buried in Oakland, reflecting Atlanta’s growth from railroad town to major city.

Authors, Artists, and Cultural Figures

• Margaret Mitchell
  Author of “Gone with the Wind”, one of the most famous novels connected to Atlanta. Her grave is one of the cemetery’s most visited sites.

• Bobby Jones
  Legendary Atlanta-born golfer, co-founder of the Masters Tournament and a towering figure in golf history.

• Poets, journalists, and local writers
  Oakland also includes well-known Atlanta journalists, publishers, and writers who helped shape the city’s cultural identity, particularly in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Business and Community Leaders

Many of the people buried in Oakland helped build Atlanta’s:

• Railroads and transportation systems
• Banks and major companies
• Hospitals, universities, and civic institutions

As you walk through, you’ll see family plots connected to long‑established Atlanta names that may still appear on office buildings, streets, or neighborhoods today.

Historic Sections of Oakland Cemetery and Who’s Buried There

Oakland is divided into distinct sections, each telling a different story about Atlanta.

Confederate Section

The Confederate section holds the graves of thousands of Confederate soldiers as well as some Union dead. There is:

• A large Confederate obelisk
• Rows of marked and unmarked graves
• Monuments reflecting how the Civil War was remembered over time

This section is often part of historic tours that discuss Atlanta’s role in the Civil War and how the city has dealt with that legacy.

African American Grounds

Before the end of slavery and well into the Jim Crow era, Black Atlantans were often segregated in burial as in life. Oakland’s African American Grounds include:

• Freedmen and formerly enslaved people
• Black professionals and community leaders
• Church leaders, educators, and families from historically Black neighborhoods

This area is one of the most important places in Atlanta for understanding Black history, resilience, and community from the 1800s through the 20th century.

Jewish Sections

Oakland also has Jewish burial sections that reflect the long history of Jewish life in Atlanta. Here you’ll find:

• Gravestones with Hebrew inscriptions
• Markers from Jewish families involved in Atlanta’s business and civic life
• A sense of how immigrant communities made Atlanta home

Potter’s Field (Public Burial / Pauper’s Section)

The Potter’s Field area historically served as a burial place for those who could not afford private plots or who died without family to claim them. This section underscores that Oakland holds people from all economic backgrounds, not just elites.

Children’s Graves and Family Plots

Throughout the cemetery, you’ll see family plots and early-childhood graves, reflecting earlier eras when child mortality was high. These areas are often very moving for visitors and locals alike.

Quick Reference: Who’s Buried Where at Oakland?

Here’s a simple overview to help you orient yourself when visiting:

Can You Find Out if a Specific Person Is Buried in Oakland?

If you live in Atlanta or are researching family history, you may want to know whether a specific ancestor or individual is buried at Oakland.

Common ways people check:

• Grave search tools / burial databases managed for Oakland Cemetery
• On-site assistance from staff or volunteers with access to plot records
• Genealogy research through:
  • Fulton County courthouse and records
  • Local archives such as the Atlanta History Center
  • Church records or family documents

If you’re local, visiting Oakland in person is often the most helpful, since maps, guided tours, and staff support make it easier to locate the correct section and, in many cases, individual graves.

Is Oakland Cemetery Still Active? Who Gets Buried There Now?

Oakland is primarily known as a historic cemetery, but some burials still occur, mostly in:

• Existing family plots with available space
• Occasionally in newly released or reclaimed plots, when allowed

Burials today tend to involve:

• Descendants of families already interred in Oakland
• People with strong personal or historical ties to Atlanta and the cemetery

If you’re an Atlanta resident considering burial or a memorial at Oakland, the best step is to contact the cemetery’s management office for current information on availability, rules, and costs.

Oakland Cemetery as a Place to Visit and Learn

Even if you don’t have anyone buried there, many Atlanta residents and visitors use Oakland as:

• A history destination to understand how the city evolved
• A peaceful green space near downtown
• A place for guided tours, photography, or quiet walks
• A way to connect to Atlanta stories you may already know—from the Civil War to civil rights to local sports and literature

You can stroll through on your own using posted signs and maps, or join guided tours that highlight:

• Famous graves (like Margaret Mitchell and Bobby Jones)
• Architectural styles of monuments and mausoleums
• African American, Jewish, and immigrant histories
• Seasonal themes, such as gardens or special events

If you explore on foot, it’s useful to bring:

• Comfortable shoes
• Water (especially in Atlanta’s summer heat)
• A map or photo of the section you’re interested in if you’re looking for a specific grave

Where Is Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta?

Location:
Historic Oakland Cemetery
248 Oakland Ave SE
Atlanta, GA 30312

It’s located just southeast of downtown, near the Grant Park and Cabbagetown/Old Fourth Ward areas. Atlanta residents often combine a visit to Oakland with:

• A walk around Grant Park
• A meal at nearby restaurants along Memorial Drive
• Other downtown or Old Fourth Ward stops

What Someone in Atlanta Should Take Away

If you’re wondering “Who is buried in Oakland Cemetery Atlanta?”, the essence is:

• Many of the city’s most famous names—from Margaret Mitchell and Bobby Jones to Maynard Jackson and Ivan Allen Jr.
• People from almost every community in Atlanta’s history: Black Atlantans, Jewish families, soldiers, immigrants, and everyday residents
• Both the powerful and the ordinary, reflecting what Atlanta has been over nearly two centuries

For Atlantans, Oakland Cemetery is less about one person and more about how all these lives together tell the story of the city you live in, are visiting, or are trying to understand.