People

John Flint | Image courtesy Agnes Scott College Archives
Mamie Bowdre Jackson | Image courtesy Caroline McKinney Clarke Collection, DeKalb History Center Archives
Emanuel Tolbert
Sarah Dickson Tolbert
Joseph Samuel Ebster | Image courtesy Deb Ebster
Sallie Durham, Clara Pitts, Mae Yates, Clara Hayley | Image courtesy Clara Axam
Lena Oliver Harper | Image courtesy Sylvia Kemp Clark
Samuel Harper | Image courtesy Sylvia Kemp Clark
Lena Harper | Image courtesy Sylvia Kemp Clark
Sylvia Clark | Image courtesy Sylvia Kemp Clark
Odessa Harper Harvey | Image courtesy Sylvia Kemp Clark
Horaim Poythress | Image courtesy U.S., Applications for Seaman's Protection Certificates, 1916-1940, National Archives
Mrs. Clark, Clark's Grocery | Image courtesy Sylvia Kemp Clark
Maggie Chewning Randolph | Image from DeKalb News, 2.24.82, courtesy Sylvia Kemp Clark

The earliest African Americans in Decatur arrived enslaved by the white settlers of the developing community as early as the 1830s. After emancipation, many who were enslaved remained and were joined by African Americans from counties all over Georgia to plant firm roots for generations to come.

Families