The Majestic Diner opened in 1929 on Ponce de Leon Avenue. It was once a 24-hour staple. In response to the pandemic, the diner had to shorten its hours and is now open daily for breakfast and lunch; however, it is still operating, thankfully.
Greenwood Cemetery is one of my favorite cemeteries in Atlanta. Its diversity in markers and burial sections illustrates the different people who call Atlanta home. Greenwood has an extensive Jewish section. There are many people buried here who escaped Nazi Germany. After World War II, many Jews immigrated to Atlanta.
In 1964, Jewish Holocaust survivors created the Eternal Life-Hemshech. Their focus was to create a memorial where people could mourn and recite Kaddish.
The organization turned to Benjamin Hirsch, a Holocaust survivor who lost family during the Holocaust and an alumnus of the Georgia Tech Architecture program. He chose locally quarried Stone Mountain granite to symbolize trauma and resilience. The memorial contains four entrances, representing the earth’s four corners, and all were welcome through the “doors.”
Six torches extend into the sky from the center of the memorial. Each torch represents one million people who lost their lives during the Holocaust. During the annual Yom HaShoah services, they are lit. At its center rise six towering torches, each representing one million Jewish lives extinguished by the Nazis. During the annual Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) services, these torches are lit. Under the torches in a vault, there are ashes interred of some of the people who lost their lives at Dachau.
The memorial opened on April 25, 1965. There are annual services held at the memorial.
In 2008, the memorial was recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2024, the memorial was restored.
Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes (1971-2002) was a member of the pioneering rap and R&B group TLC. She combined creative and musical forces with Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas to create such hits as “Waterfalls” and “No Scrubs.” They were one of the most successful musical acts of the 1990s. Tragically, she died in a car accident in Honduras in 2002 at age 30.
She is buried in Hillandale Memorial Gardens in Lithonia, Georgia.
Chris “Mac Daddy” Kelly (1978–2013) was one half of the legendary ’90s rap duo Kris Kross, known for their 1992 hit “Jump.” Discovered by Jermaine Dupri at the Greenbriar Mall in Atlanta, Georgia, Chris Kelly and Chris “Daddy Mac” Smith became instant icons with their signature backward clothes. At the time, they were the youngest duo to break into hip-hop.
Unfortunately, his life was cut short in 2013 due to drug overdose. His final resting place is in Westview Cemetery.
The black-and-white image is courtesy of Wikipedia.
In the heart of Buckhead, there is an unassuming with an unexpected past. Built in 1924, the Ku Klux Klan built the three-story office building as their national headquarters. It served as their hub for producing and distributing their propaganda. Their infamous hoods, robes, and gloves were also made on the second floor. In fact, there used to be a sign on the building that said, “National Robe Manufacturers of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.” The third floor served as the KKK’s national office.
Due to the Great Depression, membership dwindled significantly, and headquarters were moved to Washington, DC. In 1939, the headquarters were moved back to Atlanta. Thankfully, the building ceased serving as the national headquarters when it was sold to be converted into apartments after World War II.
Paschal’s Restaurant and Motel in Atlanta, Georgia, is a historic building with deep ties to Atlanta and the Civil Rights Movement. Founded in 1947 by brothers James and Robert Paschal, the restaurant became a hub for a good meal and social change. Originally a small 30-seat luncheonette, it was known for its fried chicken, which was Robert’s secret recipe. Because of its popularity, Paschal’s expanded to include a full-service restaurant and a motel, which is photographed above.
Paschal’s was more than just a place to eat. It was a meeting place for civil rights leaders, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Maynard Jackson, and John Lewis, who often strategized there. Other famous visitors included Aretha Franklin, Dizzy Gillespie, and Al Gore.
While the original Paschal’s is no longer open, the restaurant can still be visited at their Castleberry Hill location on Northside Drive.
