Restoring Legacy, One Grave at a Time

Honor Thy Roots Cemetery Preservation Organization INC. is a nonprofit cemetery preservation organization dedicated to protecting, restoring, and honoring forgotten ancestral burial grounds throughout Georgia and the Southeastern United States. Founded by Shawndrea Gay, a direct descendant of Augustus and Cherry Weems, our organization was created from a deep passion for preserving the history, dignity, and legacy of those whose stories have too often been overlooked or erased. We specialize in preserving neglected Black American cemeteries, formerly enslaved burial grounds, and historic cemetery land that holds deep cultural, historical, and ancestral significance. Our mission is rooted in remembrance, restoration, education, and community healing. We believe every burial ground deserves respect, protection, and recognition, regardless of how long it has been forgotten. At Honor Thy Roots, we work to safeguard sacred spaces by organizing community cleanups, restoration projects, historical preservation efforts, and public education initiatives that bring awareness to the importance of protecting these historic sites. Through advocacy and preservation work, we strive to ensure that future generations can reconnect with the stories, sacrifices, and contributions of their ancestors.

In addition to cemetery preservation, we provide genealogy research assistance and community support for individuals seeking to reconnect with their family history. We help descendants locate ancestral grave sites, trace family roots connected to enslavement, and uncover historical connections to plantations, enslaving families, and communities throughout the Southeast United States. Our work helps families restore lost connections and preserve generational history that may otherwise remain hidden. Honor Thy Roots exists to preserve cemeteries for the forgotten people of the United States — those whose names, lives, and resting places deserve to be remembered with dignity and care. Through restoration, research, education, and community unity, we are committed to honoring the past while preserving these sacred spaces for future generations.

What was once forgotten will be remembered.

What was once neglected will be restored.

What was once hidden will be uncovered.