Category Archives: Blountsville GA

Ammons Memorials, Jones County

A wooden schoolhouse served the Black community that remained in the Blountsville community, near Haddock, long after the village disappeared in the wake of the Civil War. The school was first known as Stewart Place, and later, Damascus. Damascus was also the name of the church. It is now known as New Damascus Baptist Church and is a large congregation. The large cemetery beside the church is the final resting place of numerous freedmen and their descendants. There are some fieldstone markers scattered about, and otherwise typical gravestones, but the memorials of Isaac R. and Clara Reid Ammons are of particular interest as vernacular landmarks. Isaac and Clara were born in the first generation after slavery at a time when Blountsville had all but disappeared. They lived well into the 20th century.

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Clara Reid Ammons (1877-1950)

Clara’s grave was damaged at some point, as can be seen here, but luckily, someone has repaired it as best they could.

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Isaac R. Ammons (1872-1961)

Considering their similarity, it’s likely that the two headstones were created by the same maker.